Verdi Degbey ’16 is a student with a voice that will stop at nothing to be heard.

His musical pursuits began at the Williston Northampton School in 2013 when he and three other classmates started a band. Degbey’s original plan, to perform as the lead vocalist, was hindered when their drummer could not continue. Degbey was forced to take over the vital position. Never having touched a drum kit, Degbey illustrated his unique method of teaching himself, “I got drum sticks and just sat at a drum set for basically a month and a half… until I got better and better.”

In the summer of 2013 Degbey began writing. Words poured out of him as he discovered a new form of self-expression. Degbey revealed how he never intended to perform. “When I came here [to Williston] I met other students who were interested in poetry, [speaking to them ] helped me create a way to deliver my message.”

He exhibited his first spoken word poem at an open mike night at the Williston Northampton School. His performance of “Oreos” received more attention than he could have ever imagined, on campus and outside of school.

This year, Degbey decided to take advantage of an opportunity to continue his passion for spoken word. He joined the Performing Arts Williston Scholars class and quickly became inspired to put his words with music and evolve his poetry into rapping.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do”, Degbey expressed as he began to talk about the EP he is working on.

The first completed track, “Differences” has the sophistication of an experienced musician, lulling you into the dream state Degbey’s words create.

Apart from “Differences,” which echoes as an ode to a broken heart, Degbey’s vision for the rest of his project is to emulate what it feels like to be an outsider. He also plans to critique the world around him.

Degbey explained, “Anything that I see that I think is wrong with the world, I am creating my own commentary on that.” Expanding his description of the theme of being an outsider Degbey articulated, “It’s not always a bad thing to be an outsider because you can look at things through a different lens.”

Teaching himself as he goes, Degbey is working to manifest his musical vision. Buying and requesting beats and samples from the internet, Degbey edits the sounds together and manipulates them to resonate with his own distinct style. Then, Degbey raps over the track. Describing the process he admitted, “I’m not completely sure of what I am doing, I’m just doing it.”