Solange Piaget Knowles 32, is an American song writer, musician and actress. Born to an African American father and Creole mom, Solange grew up around music. She began writing songs at 9, started working on her debut album at 14, got signed to her father’s record label at 16 and released her first studio album ‘Solo Star‘ same year. As Beyonce’s younger sister her musical creativity has been questioned severally by media and over and over Solange has proven she has her niche, is musically different from her sister and not in a competition with her.
“People think there should be this great rivalry between us, but there’s never been any competition. There’s a big age gap and we are two very different characters.”
Solange’s ‘Cranes in the Sky‘, first single in her third studio album ‘A Seat at the Table’ won the Grammy for Best R&B Performance 2017. The album which she describes as “a project on identity, empowerment, independence, grief, and healing.” features themes on the black experience and black pride. She speaks on identity, racial violence and integration. she has also won the Impact award for Billboard Women In Music, Centric Award at BET Awards, Best Female Artiste, Album of the year at Soul Train Music Award, and profiled alongside other talents as 100th most successful dancer of all times by Billboard Magazine.
Apart from song writing and recording, she also has interest in painting. According to her,“It definitely provides a different outlet.” Speaking on the art which she considers an hobby, she says “I think that painting, for me, is such an affirmative expression in that sometimes you don’t know what the outcome is gonna be and each stroke and each brush for me is an emotion and, in the end, it comes out as a piece which is the most amazing thing.”
Solange is also seen as a fashion icon in many quarters and has carted quite a few awards for her style. Her love for African prints and the global recognition starring a La Sape fashion theme for her ‘Losing You’ Video is definitely inspiring. Her natural hair is yet another striking feature. The transition from straight weaves to bold black and sometimes colored natural hair which many have criticized as a ‘fashion rebellion’ is ‘uber inspiring. If you are in doubt, you should listen to ‘Don’t Touch My Hair‘ which celebrates hair and also highlights Solanges’ insistence to embrace her African identity.
