Noleac Yahsin
1 ) Whats your name and where are you from?
My name is Noleac Yahsin, I was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana and raised in Newport News, Virginia. My blood family being in Louisiana and my additionally blessed family and friends in Virginia so I claim both places.
2) When did your journey with music begin and what inspired you to start ?
I have always had an affinity to music but I was always too shy to take myself seriously in that way. I can remember only singing around my little brother in comfort and him boosting my head to believe I was really talented. It wasn't until my sophomore year in college, that I decided to give music a try. I was working at a recording studio, learning how to record people as a side hustle. One day, I told myself that since I knew how to record I may as well give it a shot. I found a beat on Soundcloud and recorded my first song on my laptop. I kept it to myself a few months before showing my manager at the studio, who was really excited after I played it. I then showed more people little by little and the good reactions gave me the confidence to keep trying, and so I did.
3) If you could describe your sound how would you describe it?
I describe my sound as Experimental ModeRnB, because my voice is rooted in traditional R&B as far as tone goes but my melodies, instrumental choices, and song structure vary. I also pull inspiration from a range of genres, which is always to me an experiment.
4) Whart artist dead or alive inspire you ?
I have two, Amy Winehouse and Jim Croce unfortunately both are dead. I love them both for their art of storytelling, I'm really big on the beauty of personal recollection. Amy taught me how to use my voice, and Jim showed me how to channel my emotions into a song.
5) How do you balance music and your perosnal life ? Has music ever effected your personal life?
When I first started I balanced music and college life, which was really fulfilling because I felt like I was so busy with building myself up. Since graduating two years ago, I've had to balance my craft with outside expectations. Although I have more time now to focus on myself and music, the need to balance now comes in me remaining patient in the midst of the unknown. My family and friends really support me and believe in me as far as my craft goes, even if they don't agree/understand the method in which I'm taking to get there. Sometimes that puts a lot of weight on me because my lifestyle is so unconventional from the corporate career route, other than faith I don't have a renowned system to fall back on if I messed up.
6) Where can we find your music ? Do you have any thing we should be on the look for ?
I have music on major streaming sources like Apple, however the majority of my music is on my Soundcloud (NoleacYahsin). I have a project I'm releasing towards the end of June!
7 ) Whats your advice for Women out there pursuing music?
My advice to women pursuing music, is to always remember why you started. To stay true to yourself, and share your story because you never know who can be helped by or who can identify with your truth. It's also therapeutic to be able to artistically counsel yourself through your craft, so use that to your advantage.
8) If you weren't doing music what else could you see yourself doing ?
That questions renders me blank because I am a person of communication. By that I mean I am only alive when I am helping others by way of my personal truths. Music in my life doesn't just play out as singing, but by any way I am able to share my truths. So far that reason I strive to always do my "Music". Melodies are just the sound of my brain finding an alternate way to reach a resolution/clarity, the lyrics are my story, and the beat is my guiding light and canvas for expression.
9) Do you ever get writers block?
I definitely get writer's block, but I've found it to stem from a buildup of other issues that are blocking what is natural to flow through. When I get writer's block, I have to remind myself to release and not resist.
10) If you could collab with any body who would it be and why?
So many people, but James Blake popped in my head first. James because I would really be content with being a fly on the wall in his creative process, to me his art is the epitome of purity. He has mastered the art of letting the art, art and flow without interference.
