VCU class produces album with past, present Rams

Sofia Hussain, Contributing Writer 

Carolyn Slingluff, Contributing Writer

Students in MASC 410, a media entrepreneurship course, are producing a collective album under the group name the 410 Collective, consisting of music from past and present VCU students, according to Robert Milazzo, the course’s professor.

The theme of the album is “What’s Your RVA Mantra?,” according to Milazzo.

The album will go through a submission and production process in which students can submit music with the possibility of it being featured in the album, Milazzo said.

“We will decide what music we feel should live on the album,” Milazzo said. 

People in the class are in charge of talent, artists and repertoire; they work with musicians to get their music in the best possible shape, according to Milazzo.

He wants MASC 410 students to be encouraged to try new things and lead projects regardless of the project’s success, Milazzo said.

“Failure is okay,” Milazzo said. “You have to be able to try now and learn because when it happens again you would have at least lived through that process.”

Milazzo hopes the album can give an opportunity for VCU students to submit music they never made public before, he said.

“I want young artists to know that they can make an impact now, and hopefully we can be the proof of their impact,” Milazzo said. “I want them to see that the path to accomplishment is both artistic and practical.”

The album is also intended to build and represent a community and culture in the larger Richmond music scene, according to third-year media production student Addie Lawrence. She’s also the co-lead on content and strategy and lead on partnership and outreach in the 410 Collective. 

The 410 Collective serves the purpose of opening up a “third space” where new musicians can be heard. A “third space” creates a student culture beyond academics, and music is a shared passion among many students at VCU, Lawrence said 

“The whole kind of idea is ‘What’s your mantra?’ so we want to really tap into what students at VCU are feeling — just checking the pulse on culture here,” Lawrence said.

Emmanuel Buachie, a fourth-year media production student and also a member of the content and strategy team, came up with the concept of the album, he said.

“I want to bring people together in such a divisive world right now. People need to have their voices heard.” Buachie said. “Songs and music, you can listen to it passively and you can have so many different messages that just translate just like that.”

In-person collaboration and a passionate team are what sets this project apart from others he has worked on, Buachie said.

The students will also be creating a documentary around the production process to spotlight artists whose music is in the album, according to Spencer Pannill, third-year media production student and member of the video production team.

“We are giving them the opportunity to get out there and take the first step into their artistic career,” Pannill said.

Pannill hopes students will feel more confident in publishing their music without having to worry about the production and promotion process, he said.

“I hope VCU students can gain confidence from this project,” Pannill said. “It takes a lot to put yourself out there.”

Chase Kidder and Luke Headley are fourth-year media production students, and also members of the video production team. They remark on the music submissions ramping up in a really exciting way as they close in on their first deadline.

“We got a really interesting email today of someone pouring their heart out about the song they made and I thought it was very sweet. I was like, ‘alright, this is pretty cool.’” Kidder said.

Richmond is a cultural hotspot popular for musicians and artists who can be represented by this project, according to Myles Black, fourth-year media production student and a part of the content and strategy team.

“This album may be a way to connect word of mouth with call-to-action and have people start to listen to each other’s music,” Black said. 

Black hopes the project can bring a better sense of connection within different majors at VCU, he said. 

“We wanted it to be a way for VCU students across disciplines to come together — mending those gaps between disciplines and trying to be a part of general culture at VCU,” Black said.

Anastasia Hines, a third-year media production student and member of the content and strategy and video production teams, said the ultimate goal of the project is to shed light on the diverse music on and off campus.

“I think it’s amazing that I can just walk down the street, and someone that I walk by is a music creator and I have no idea they’re an artist,” Hines said.

The 410 Collective can be reached at its Linktree where VCU students and alums can submit their work, and supporters can reach their Instagram and TikTok.