The crowded noise of entertainment can make it substantially difficult for an artist to stand out. The influence of social media, where there’s always an urge to satisfy the ever-so-painful high consumption of content, causes some artists to compromise the art for the sake of the quantity of output.
But, the undeniable Solange Franklin, formerly known as Solange Knowles, doesn’t have that issue at all. Full of grace, mystery and eccentricity, Solange not only embraces walking to the beat of her own drum, but she also isn’t afraid to challenge her artistic limits.
Recently, the singing songstress did a text, yes a text, interview with rap diva Trina for L’Officiel USA magazine. After the two stars caught up with each other, Solange delved into how she took this year to focus on owning her fears and working past them.
Photography by Rafael Rios, fashion and creative direction by Solange.
“…There are certainly some days where I have to work a lot harder to own my fears,” Solange texted. “That’s what I’ve been trying to work on the most this past year. Moving past fear. It may look like I’m owning all of it, but some days I’m most certainly struggling, too. Those are the days I just try to be silent. Reflective. And just sit in it all. It sucks, though! It’s really not fun or sexy to have to confront those parts in that way. But I really am trying.”
In March, Solange released her fourth studio album When I Get Home, the follow up to her 2016 smash hit album A Seat At The Table. When I Get Home paid a great amount of homage to her hometown Houston, TX.
When asked about her creative process creating her latest album, she admitted that her environment played an important role. “So much of this album was created in Houston at an incredible art space called Project Row Houses in the neighborhood I grew up in called Third Ward. Just having the space to say, “Hey, this is where it started.” What do I feel here? Who do I become here? Do I speak different, dress different, see the world differently?”
There’s no question that Solange is very independent. She expressed to Trina how she coped with collaborating to create a film to accompany When I Get Home. “There are people who are going to be a trillion times better at a specific scope of expression or a skill or just time and experience, and I feel such appreciation when I’m gifted that access into someone’s process,” Solange told Trina. “I used to be stubbornly DIY. And that shit is important too. You have to! And that spirit will never go away within me. I need to be able to do my own shit. But I’ve really learned the last couple of years to ask for help.”
While the industry tried its hardest to put her in the shadow of her superstar sister, Beyonce, Solange has been able to create on her own terms and standout from the pack. Her evolution is a testament to the kind of growth that can be accomplished if one can find that quiet place of inspiration and confidently release the resulting vision to the world, imperfections and all.
Solange covers the Fall 2019 issue of L’Officiel, available now online and in stores.
