Who Is The Poet
William Boyd Burns III
aka Willywill The Poet
Since the age of four, William Boyd Burns III has envisioned himself onstage. One of his earliest dreams remains vivid: descending from a helicopter onto a floating glass platform, surrounded by water, lit by soft lights and red petals, a white grand piano beside him. That image wasn’t just fantasy—it was prophecy. It represented the voice he would fight for, the silence he would one day break.
But his journey didn’t start in the spotlight—it started in Mobile, Alabama, a place where dreams were ridiculed and imagination got you laughed at. “Fighting was the only art form I got to enjoy,” he recalls. After failing sixth grade, William moved to Clermont, Florida, and it was there that music finally reached him. His classmate Jay-Mercy (Devante Graham) introduced him to songwriting. When William wrote a hook that closely mirrored Mario’s “Let Me Love You”, he had a moment of realization: “Maybe I really can do this.”
Soon after, William joined his first group, Zero Labels, with Jay-Mercy, Magic Brooklyn, and Jame Baetyl. It was during a school lunchroom cipher that Magic Brooklyn heard William rap and declared, “You’re not a rapper. You’re a poet.” The crowd snapped. And Willywill The Poet was born.
The group eventually became Anechoic Birds, and while they didn’t record much at first, William’s reputation grew. A devoted fan named Val typed out all of his lyrics and mailed them to studios across the country, begging them to listen. Though every envelope returned unopened, her belief in his voice stayed with him forever.
At East Ridge High School, William became legendary. He would burst into classrooms and rap for students before the bell rang, earning respect and a devoted following. It was during this time that he met R’shad (formerly PrinCe-Ray), whose sharp lyrical skill pushed William to grow.
His first live performance happened at a church called O.I.C., where he performed “Pray With Me” with a shy choir girl he encouraged to share the mic. By the end, people were in tears—and his mother had seen him perform for the first time. From that moment, he knew: this was his purpose.
His choir teacher Ms. Gretchen Kemp helped him understand the importance of sound as much as lyrics. A trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, where he sang on a mountain, showed him music’s spiritual weight. Despite an offer from Jay-Mercy (who later became Jay-Premier) to move out of state and pursue music full-time, William hesitated—held back by self-doubt.
He later attempted to organize a major concert to raise $90,000 for Lake County music programs. Though the effort failed, he met business mentors from JCPenney, Graffiti Junction, and others who reshaped his mindset and lit a spark in his entrepreneurial heart.
Then came the rebirth of Anechoic Birds, this time as a serious group with William, David “B Boy Blessing”, and a new voice: Joessette. William’s high school friend Joel Castrol introduced her while helping cast voices for William’s album Floetics. Together, they featured on “Ain’t No Woman,” a remake of “Ain’t No Woman Like the One I Got.” The song’s emotional breakdown, featuring Joessette and Joel voice-acting, marked Joessette’s first moment with the group.
With David, William recorded “Breakthrough” at G&M Studios, and started crafting Floetics, a collection of older hits and new creations. During this time, William bore all the group’s financial weight—paying for studio time, equipment, videos, custom beats, photography, and more. It was exhausting but necessary.
Then came their first official show: First Flight. When David and Joessette said they wanted to perform live, William had just two weeks to make it happen. He bought all the stage equipment, brought on DJ Guido Papi, and booked R’shad and Apollo from Speak Greek as openers. Pam and Rob, local DJs at the Clermont Bowling Center, supplied the sound system. Over 80 people showed up to what was expected to be a 20-person show. William performed “I Am An Artist” and “I Am Shoe”, while Joessette performed “This Is Who”, the first song ghostwritten by William. The performance earned a standing ovation.
From there, Anechoic Birds began doing open mics—mainly with William performing solo. At one open mic at Lilly on the Lake, Anechoic Birds packed the bar with fans, impressing the bartender Orlando, who invited them to host a second show, “Anechoic Birds Night Show.” Tickets were even being bought from out of state—but just before the event, the venue shut down.
Undeterred, William launched plans for the Big 300 Showcase, an outdoor concert aimed at drawing 300 supporters. It would’ve put them on the map. But the event was canceled after William lost his job at the Clermont Bowling Alley. Though heartbreaking, the Big 300 taught him a lot—and ironically brought in more support than anything before.
The group regrouped to release the Blessed album. Tracks like “Bad Lil Thang”, featuring David B Blessings and Willywill The Poet, made waves. William helped direct the music video for “Switching Lanez” with David Gomez, though fans were upset not to see him in the video. He had hoped working behind the scenes would be enough—but COVID-19 hit shortly after, and the power duo of William and David came to a sudden stop.
The Spoken Word Awakening
In the months that followed, William found himself depressed and disconnected. Music wasn’t giving him peace anymore. He struggled to stay in rhythm with modern sounds. But something unexpected revived him: spoken word.
Performing regularly at Laziza in Evans, Georgia, William began to find joy again—not in trying to keep up with the beat, but in simply being heard. Spoken word reconnected him to his purpose. The courage he received from the Laziza crowd helped him let go of rap and embrace a new lane. The unfinished comeback album I Am The Poet became something greater—it became a movement.
Anechoic Birds Reimagined
No longer a group, Anechoic Birds became a platform—a place where artists could speak freely and be heard without being crushed by the weight of chasing their dreams. To William, “freedom of sound” is more than a slogan. Growing up, he didn’t feel like he had a voice. Music became his spiritual outlet—his way to reach heaven. Now he wants other artists to experience that same liberation.
William began organizing “I Am A Poet”, his most ambitious show to date—set for September 28th at Lux Events in Grovetown, Georgia. The journey to that show was tough:
Most Elevated Deepness gave him his first stage opportunity in Georgia.
His sister, known as JazzDi Queen Lioness, fighting her own battles to become a flight attendant, promised to perform by his side.
Kourtney, owner of It’s Lovely food production, partnered to cater the event.
Bugsy Calhoun joined the mission and introduced him to his wife, Wintah Storm, who brought William into the South Carolina poetry circuit.
Through that connection, William performed at the Healing Through the Arts Festival, debuting two powerful pieces: “My Cracks Let the Light In” and “Another Me.” After seeing Most Elevated perform at Mayfest, he joined her open mic series Poetry, Pasta & Patron, performing “Welcome Back” and “The Mile and Me.”
Legacy in Motion
Many of William’s fans have followed him since high school—the kid who would rush into classrooms to perform. They’ve seen his transformation from a quiet student to a superhero behind the mic. He’s taken fans like Darius and Joel to see Kevin Hart live. They describe his style as lyrical storytelling with a powerful cadence—a voice that commands the room.
Now, Anechoic Birds is becoming a home for other voices. William’s mission is to pass the mic—interviewing creators, building safe spaces, and teaching the next generation how to pursue their dreams wisely. From marketing to music production to live performance, he wants to revolutionize the music industry one voice at a time.
With a full breath in his lungs and years of silence transformed into strength, he now steps forward and declares:
“I AM THE POET.”
