VCU students work to create alternative R&B debut EP

Julius Brown
Contributing Writer

After being featured on MTV and Slapdash RVA, two VCU students are working on their debut EP, titled “Maktub.”

Mass communications major Caelon Reed and photography and film major Devyn Young have spent the better part of this last year putting together their EP under the name Noleac Yahsin.

The vocal half of the duo, Reed came to VCU knowing she wanted to be involved in music but was not sure how. During her first few years at VCU she gained experience working for the university radio, WVCW, and interning for a local recording studio.

Young was more aware of her interest in music production. Having learned to play the piano at a young age, she said she took her music seriously in high school when she bought a $50 midi keyboard and began making beats.

“I always had more of an interest in production when I was growing up, but something would always get in the way,” Young said. “Eventually I stuck with it and got better.”

After meeting unexpectedly through a mutual friend last June, the two aspiring musicians clicked and began exchanging ideas and having fun. Reed presented an early recording of her song “par.T” to Young and from there the two expanded creatively until their first song together was finished.

Over the summer the two began working seriously to pursue their musical passion, and began production on “Maktub.”

“I had a period after an old roommate moved out where I had the house to myself and I was reading a lot,” Reed said. “I put into perspective what I wanted to do and how important it was to get that done. I was reading ‘The Alchemist’ and the author mentioned Maktub which meant, ‘It was written,’ and that really stuck with me.”

Reed and Young dedicated countless hours to the creative process in their recording sessions. The two bought their own equipment and recorded in Young’s apartment room.

“The creative process happens pretty naturally,” Young said. “First we relax, then I will play a beat and Caelon will go into her corner to write some stuff and we keep building from there.”

After months of production had gone by, the Noleac Yahsin video for “Back in Five” was released in July to the public and was picked up by various blogs, including MTV’s “Artists” page.

“We started getting a lot of positive feedback that we didn’t necessarily expect,” Reed said.

By the beginning of November, videos were released for two of the EP’s singles, “Back in Five” and “par.T.” From then a bit more than a week was left before “Maktub” was to be released, and the anticipation was at full force.

The Noleac Yahsin sound differs from traditional R&B. Their musical style has been described as PBR&B, which is a new-wave sub genre of R&B, characterized by an emotive down-tempo trend.

Young said she has spent many days adjusting each song to perfect her sound. She engineered the songs, directed the videos and took the photography for promotional use.

“Since we’ve started working together we’ve become close, we’re twin cousins,” Reed said.

On Nov. 11 “Maktub” was made available on the Noleac Yahsin website and was picked up by many online blogs and music platforms. Reed and Young celebrated their hard work on the day of the release by having a few drinks at Plaza Azteca and immediately discussing their next moves with their management. Their plans include a possible Noleac Yahsin performance in downtown Richmond in January.

Reed called Richmond a great outlet for the duo’s music, due to the community of artistic people who have respect for each other’s art.

“People here are definitely open minded,” Reed said. “I’m from Newport News and if we had brought some of the art we’ve made in Richmond (back home) people would be shocked.”

Reed and Young graduate from VCU in May 2015 and have no doubt about what they will do after earning their degrees.

“New York is next,” Reed said. “We’re going to a bigger Richmond and we will keep creating music.”