Stationed in the Caribbean Islands of the Bahamas, 13-year-old Peter Deveaux-Isaacs was chubby, introverted and establishing his rapping skills. He began experimenting with rap music at age 12. 

Music had been the center of Deveaux-Isaac’s life. His grandfather was a professional piano player and Deveaux-Isaac’s family had a grand piano inside their home.

“The house was always filled with church hymnals and spiritual songs, and that provided me with a base,” Deveaux-Isaac said. “I took the liberty to build on top of that.”

Deveaux-Isaac recalled locking himself inside of his bedroom and downloading copies of music.

“You name it, I had it,” he said. “At some point and I knew the ins and outs of it by 17.”

Deveaux-Isaac, junior in political science, credited his rapping skills with the development of his writing. He can write any song in any type of musical genre and his musical exposure blossomed into musical production.

“I didn’t want to download other people’s beats or anything else they own. I wanted to do it all on my own,” Deveaux-Isaac said.

With the credit card system being much different in the Bahamas than the United States, Deveaux-Isaac said it became harder for him to afford to purchase musical beats from other people. With Deveaux-Isaac’s interest turning into a passion, he uncovered multiple tools to help guide him toward his goal. Deveaux-Isaac’s iPad was the first hardware he used to develop his music. 

“It was basically where I started everything,” Deveaux-Isaac said.

Deveaux-Isaac said he incorporates the beats that he created on the iPad in his music today. He credited the internet for being a beneficial tool in his venture into musical production. It was the internet that gave Deveaux-Isaac the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded individuals.

“I collaborated with YouTube rappers over the internet using file sharing systems and emails,” Deveaux-Isaac said. “I was communicating with people in Canada and London.”

Deveaux-Isaac would indulge himself in everything he could that related to music, from listening to news to writing album reviews. While he found solace in his musical abilities, worries about his family’s reaction to his commitment to music began to surface. He remembered being afraid of his family’s perception.

“It was hard to get support,” Deveaux-Isaac said. 

But Deveaux-Isaac managed to find support from his mom, who was a former musician. She once had desires of becoming a recording artist. Deveaux-Isaac described her reason behind not pursuing music as a realization of reality, meaning she knew she had to make money to support herself and her future family. Deveaux-Isaac’s said his mother refused to give support if he wasn’t serious about pursuing music. 

“That’s when I decided I wanted to take music lessons,” Deveaux-Isaac said.

Deveaux-Isaac began taking lessons in music theory and practical. He spent two years in tutoring before taking the test. With eight different grades, Deveaux-Isaac stopped at two before receiving his credentials, but he hopes to return and move up in the ranks and complete grade eight.

After developing his passion, Deveaux-Isaac knew that he wanted to incorporate music into his future career. After graduating high school and receiving his music credentials, Deveaux-Isaac found himself in a stalemate not knowing if he should pursue a music career or a law degree. 

“I always knew music was going to be a constant no matter what,” Deveaux-Isaac said.

Deveaux-Isaac found himself most worried about his family and their perception. He described his family as being more practical and less dreamy. 

“Nassau, my hometown, is a dream deathtrap because if you get trapped there, it’s hard to get out,” Deveaux-Isaac said. 

Despite this notion, Deveaux-Isaac became determined to leave his hometown in an effort to avoid losing hold of a dream he wanted to make into a reality. He found Iowa State as his way out.

“I knew I had to pursue something practical and that was law,” Deveaux-Isaac said.

After receiveing mentoring from his father and a few diplomats, Deveaux-Isaac found law to be his professional aspiration.

At Iowa State, Deveaux-Isaac was able to pursue both interests. He said that his experience at Iowa State has created a “marriage” between the two subjects. After arriving at Iowa State to begin his undergraduate studies, Deveaux-Isaac continued to create music, but elevation occurred once he met Devin Wilmott. 

The two met their freshman year when they both were working at the Iowa State Daily.

Wilmott, now a senior in kinesiology and health, had been singing from a young age. She bonded right away with Deveaux-Isaac, and the two began to use Deveaux-Isaac’s music equipment in his Friley dorm. Wilmott would sing over Deveaux-Isaac’s beats, and that led to the beginning of the first song the two collaborated on.

Deveaux-Isaac finds himself very choosy in the selection of artists that he works with, but with Wilmott, he sees something special. Deveaux-Isaac believes that an artist should have a narrative, and he knows that Wilmott will always provide that.

“[Wilmott] doesn’t hold back from emotion,” Deveaux-Isaac said. “People want to hear that you’re just as broken.”

Deveaux-Isaac believes that he has separated himself from from other music producers. Deveaux-Isaac’s versatility and desire to find influence in what he can helps him stand out from other producers.

While some producers embrace being called a beatmaker, Deveaux-Isaac wants to stray away from it.

Through it all, Deveaux-Isaac’s most important mission has been to remind his people from the Bahamas of their uniqueness and their talents. He hopes that will help the people realize how great they are.

“You can achieve the heights you want to,” Deveaux-Isaac said.

Deveaux-Isaac wants to return to the Bahamas. He intends to pay it forward and be an inspiration to those on the island. By becoming an inspiration to others, Deveaux-Isaac said that anyone has the capability to create music.

It all started with a Gateway PC, computer keyboard and minimal equipment, but Deveaux-Isaac created himself to be the up-and-coming versatile music producer.