Matt Descouteaux sings his abstract, hop-hop, neo-soul music.

Whether through words or music, the Urban Villiage Art Series, or UVAS, showed how people are inspired in different ways. The second performance in this year’s series highlighted three UML graduate students, a pianist, a drummer and a poet. Each performer was given 20 minutes to tell a story, any story, that reflected on his or her life.

Matt Descouteaux, a visual artist and musician, spent his first three years of school at the Massachusetts College of Art. In his senior year, he decided to leave the world of art behind, temporarily, and fulfill a career in music at UMass Lowell.

“The art I do is definitely a gift,” said Descouteaux. “The music is something I’ve had to work at.”

Descouteaux showed off his piano skills by playing everything from jazz, blues and oldies to gospel, R&B, hip-hop and soul. He brought the audience through each musical phase he went through and then attached it with a life experience. Descouteaux began learning the piano with a jazz instructor, rather than taking the traditional classical training. He soon changed his styles to fit into the Elton John and Billy Joel genre when he realized it was what the girls like to hear.

Descouteaux eventually found that he could connect with all types of music and now he categorizes himself as “abstract, hip-hop, neo-soul music.” He continues to paint and draw, and put many of his pieces on display. He works as a graphic designer for the Lowell Sun and has his first original music project, titled “Milk Money,” being released soon.

“It’s all very fulfilling,” he says.

Chicago native Stanley Swann started learning drums at the age of 11. By 13, he was playing in area clubs. Swann later played in a military band and traveled the world for many years. After retiring, he moved to Lowell and now teaches music in the area.

“I’m really doing anything I can do for the city,” says Swann. “I fell in love with Lowell.”

Through his own development, he learned that the drum set itself has also improved over the years. He brought the audience through the decades and showed how the drums affected all aspects of music. From jazz and swing to rock, Swann showed how even the most subtle changes make a difference.

“The role of a good drummer is to keep the beat so the other parts of the band can be free,” he says.

Sophia Wadsworth, a part-time faculty member, showed how words can be their own type of music by reciting poetry. She dedicated her reading to her poetry professor, mentor and friend Hugh Ogden, who died recently. Wadsworth discussed her inspiration for her books, and how she was moved by things all around her.

When she found a collection of letters from her great grandmother, she decided to use them as the basis for her collection of poetry, titled “Letters from Siberia.” Through the letters, Wadsworth got to know her great-grandmother, as a person and a poet.

“I like to think that a couple of generations down, she’s still a moving pen through my poetry,” said Wadsworth.

The third and final UVAS performance, which will give four other artists a chance to share their work, will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. at the National Parks Visitors Center in Downtown Lowell. The evening will feature Andre Dubus III, author and UML English professor; Jean Monahan, a local poet; T.W. Walsh, musician and songwriter; and Melvern Taylor, ukulele master.

Stanley Swann keeps the beat.