Why visit Hollywood when a new and upcoming celebrity goes to your school? On August 14th, sophomore Davis Barnes released his very own album titled, “Rex”. This came as quite a surprise since not many students were aware of Barnes’ passion for music. Although high school students are typically harsh music critics, students’ reaction to the new album was remarkable.
Barnes’ interest in music began 7 years ago when his mom signed him up for music lessons. Before his lessons, he had never dabbled much with music. He was thrown into a world that was completely foreign to him. Barnes credits his first music teacher, Chris Wise, for helping him fall in love with the world of music. Once Barnes was introduced to music, he began experimenting with different types of instruments and tools. He found that the technological side of music creation is what he truly felt drawn to. On Christmas of 2023, Barnes was gifted a computer and it was exactly what he needed to fulfill his interest. “I had been wanting to make an album for about 5 years, but I never had the resources,” said Barnes. “Once I got a computer, I got right to work on an album.”
Barnes began developing beats and writing lyrics in January of his freshman year. With his new computer, he was able to program all sorts of sounds onto a keyboard. By the end of July, Barnes had 14 original songs ready to be released. These songs revolved around a tragic love story he devised. In this story, a girl’s father passed away, so the album, “Rex,” is named after him. Barnes’ songwriting and music-making impressed many North Atlanta students, such as freshman Oliver DiCristina. Dicristina is an experienced musician, playing the drums, piano, and guitar. “I think it’s cool that he has the drive and talent to produce an album as a high schooler,” said DiCristina. “His music inspires me to create an album someday, and maybe we could even collaborate.”
The North Atlanta community is unlike any other. Students love to celebrate and support their peers. Barnes explained that he was astonished by the flood of positive feedback from students and teachers alike. In particular, Barnes’ AP Language teacher Dandra McPhail showed a great interest in the album. On the Friday after the album was released, McPhail held a listening party for Barnes’ class. Students brought snacks to share while cheering and clapping after every song. Sophomore Liza Hagy was one of many in this class who enjoyed her time at the listening party. “It was a great experience to see one of my peers release an album and receive such good reactions,” she said.
Producing an album as a high schooler isn’t an easy feat. It’s even harder to make an enjoyable one. With AP classes, track, and cross country, Barnes already had plenty on his plate. Somehow, Barnes was able to accomplish this. Fortunately, the journey isn’t over yet. Barnes plans on releasing a new album in the next year, so be on the lookout!
