Growing up in the middle of nowhere Kansas, there are only so many car rides a teen can take before their parents stop paying for their gas and every parking lot has been explored. Instead, junior Dezi Massengale has taken everything he has and put it into a passion project of music. 

Massengale has been making music since Easter of 2024 and has started performing in places, ranging from a friend’s backyards to Switch Wicked, located in downtown Manhattan. His journey to becoming a musician started when he was just four years old.

“My mom got me into music when she taught me how to play piano when I was four, and I have just been playing since then,” Massengale said.

Growing up, music was always Massengale’s passion due to how it made him feel and how it allowed him to let his creativity run wild. Producing music on GarageBand was used as a way to express what he felt at any point in time. 

“My journey to why I wanted to make music and everything was because of how music has made me feel during horrible times,” Massengale said “I struggle with PTSD and it is insanely difficult to function with that, especially growing up like that. It was really hard and music has always been there to help me through those times.”

Like every musician, Massengale has many supporters and plenty of other artists who continue to inspire him and his journey, none bigger then his girlfriend.

“I would say my biggest supporter is my girlfriend, I’ve got a lot of supporters out there, but I feel like my girlfriend’s whole family are all very honest with me about how they feel as consumers listening to my music,” Massengale said. “My girlfriend is very honest to the point where sometimes it hurts but it’s kind of necessary because I really love how honest she can be where she can say she doesn’t like something, and I just appreciate how honest and supportive she is. It’s really nice to have someone who cares about you like that.”

Along with his supporters and fans, Massengale had an early supporter who had him believe in himself at first. 

“Thanks to my first ever drama teacher/producer, Robert Rodriguez. He showed me you just have to believe in yourself,” Massengale said. “If you just think you can do it, you will, with determination.”