Wycombe Abbey Pupil Shines with Debut Music Release
17 February 2026 - All
LVI pupil Abbey recently debuted her first single ‘Exit Signs’, a song inspired by her journey at Wycombe Abbey and a significant milestone in her emerging music career. Her love of music began early; although she started formal singing lessons at the age of six, she says she has been ‘singing for as long as [she] can remember.’ The spark ignited not on a stage, but in the back seat of a car. ‘I fell in love with it during car rides with my sister, when she would play CDs and I would sing along, even before I understood the lyrics.”
Building on that early passion, Abbey’s musical journey continued to flourish at School. Following her incredible performance before Long Leave in Wycombe Abbey’s Got Talent, she spoke to us about how her craft has evolved and the inspirations that continue to shape her work.
After performing publicly for the first time at around seven years old, Abbey realised music was more than a hobby. ‘I felt completely at home on the stage,’ she recalls, ‘I was amazed by the way music created a connection between me and everyone in the room, and that experience made me want to continue performing as much as I could.’
Her debut single captures that instinct for connection, blending thoughtful lyrics with melodies shaped by close emotional observation. ‘Most of my inspiration comes from the emotions and moments I experience,’ she explains, ‘I’ve always kept a diary where I write everything down, even the esoteric details most people might overlook. I often return to those pages and write a song based on the emotions I felt at the time.’ Abbey writes primarily on piano and guitar and believes that, ‘each instrument highlights a different aspect of a song’, and has recently added toplining to her creative repertoire.
Representation is another driving force in her artistic ambition. ‘Since I was a child, I always looked up to the biggest artists on the global charts, but I rarely saw anyone who looked like me,’ she reflects, ‘being able to represent my background through my music feels important, and I hope I can inspire other artists to pursue their dreams confidently and see every identity represented on the global charts.’
Her advice to aspiring musicians is grounded and empowering: ‘No dream is ever too big to be chased. If people judge you or criticise your work, there will always be many more who appreciate what you’re creating. The people who judge you are not living your life, so they shouldn’t be the ones changing it.’ She hopes younger artists know, ‘it is okay to take risks, make mistakes, and have ambitious dreams, because that is how you grow and discover what you truly want to do.’
Wycombe Abbey itself is woven into the heart of ‘Exit Signs’. Abbey’s first year of boarding shaped the emotional landscape of the song. ‘All the emotions I went through of settling into a new environment, ended up shaping my debut single,’ she says.
The School’s musical platforms, from Roc Soc and lunchtime concerts to GlastonAbbey, have helped her develop confidence and broaden her musical outlook. She is grateful for the guidance she has received, especially from, ‘the Music department, and in particular Mr Reid, who has had a huge impact on my compositions and all the opportunities I’ve had. House staff, particularly Mrs Hurribunce, have also supported me through every high and low and encouraged me at every step.’
Looking ahead, Abbey’s ambitions are thoughtful and grounded, ‘In the next five years, I hope music can help me grow both as a person and an artist. I hope to continue releasing projects I’m passionate about and to connect with people around the world who resonate with my music.’
Well done Abbey, we can’t wait to see where your music journey takes you!
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