Meeting with Solange Knowles: “I Never Stop Making Music”

A house muse alongside her mother for the Gucci Gift campaign for the holiday season, Solange Knowles opens up about her journey, her family, and her upcoming musical adventures.

Is there a more famous dynasty than the Knowles family in the music industry today? Perhaps, but few are led by such impressive female figures as Tina and Solange Knowles. The latter has managed to carve out her own path after early beginnings (since the age of 13), notably through landmark albums like A Seat at the Table, released in 2016 and widely acclaimed by critics (her single “Cranes in the Sky” earned her first Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance). And if you think the former has little to do with music, aside from the successful careers of her daughters, think again: before becoming a recognized entrepreneur, she sang in a high school group, the Veltones, heavily inspired by the Supremes and Motown, one of the most prestigious labels in music history (home to artists like Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder). However, it was by creating stage outfits for her other daughter, a certain Beyoncé, that Tina Knowles gained recognition—at a time when no major fashion houses wanted to dress a group of young R&B singers, due to a mix of latent racism and class prejudice.

Today, Solange and Tina Knowles are the new faces of the Gucci Gift campaign, a celebration of the holiday season, highlighting moments of reunion and sharing with loved ones. This is the perfect opportunity to talk with Solange about her journey, her family, and her upcoming musical adventures.

© Gucci

Vogue: From the age of 13, you wanted to pursue a career in music, while your parents preferred to wait. How did you eventually convince them?

Solange Knowles: I was very lucky that both of my parents were passionate about art, each in their own way. My mother was an artist in clothing design and hairstyling, and my father was an artist in the field of image creation, messaging, and marketing, which I also consider a form of art. They were both storytellers, each in their own way. I think once they saw how dedicated I was to my art, they really opened up the discussion and possibilities for my future. I believe my mother always had faith and understood that I would find balance, that I would create a space where I could exist on my own terms. I’m very grateful that she always supported and encouraged that.

What is the best advice your mother ever gave you?

Invite spirituality, prayer, and devotion into my daily life. Although it has taken different forms at different stages of my life, it has always grounded me and given me a compass to navigate through the ups and downs of life, work, and everything in between.

By the way, you invited her to be part of your third album A Seat at the Table (2016). Why was it important to hear her voice?

Growing up, I think we see so much of ourselves in our parents’ past lives. We begin to connect the dots between nature and upbringing, past stories, and that guides us on how we want to evolve in the present. I see so much of her in the way I am in the world: the way I want to express myself, the fact that I refuse to be silent, but also the way I allow myself to be human, to invite grace and poetry into my life. She is always part of my artistic process, even if it’s not always directly visible.

© Gucci

One of the things you had to fight against was the accusations of selfishness when you boldly proclaimed that you wrote your own songs. How did you manage to overcome that?

I know my mother faced these kinds of obstacles in her own journey. I remember people in the fashion industry rejecting her creations or trying to take credit away from her, and I’ve always been very proud of her for standing firm. She had a vision that helped shape culture. Even today, I see so many of her creations being referenced across generations. I’m very proud to call her my mother.

What is your connection to the Gucci brand?

I’m a big fan of iconography in design, particularly the iconography in logos and graphic design. Since my teenage years, I’ve paid close attention to how we communicate with symbols, and Gucci has always been at the forefront of that conversation. I have a song called “My Skin My Logo,” in which Gucci Mane and I mention Gucci at least 50 times. I’ve also had the opportunity to build a relationship with Sabato De Sarno, and I really appreciate the kindness, warmth, ideas, and curiosity he brought to my experience in fashion. There was an incredible synergy of ideas and philosophies, and the way we were able to integrate them into our respective worlds really inspired me about what fashion can communicate.

How do the Knowles family celebrate the holiday season?

To be honest, I go back and forth with holiday traditions. I started traveling with my son very early, to places where I wanted us to create new memories. Between the ages of 5 and 13, we spent our holidays in Jamaica, Senegal, Rwanda, and Morocco. But as he got older, we started to establish traditions with the whole family, because I couldn’t compete with the meals and gifts from his grandmother! Now, I enjoy alternating between big family celebrations and quieter, more introspective trips to center myself before the new year.

What gifts are you hoping to receive this year?

Peace, taking care of my nervous system, rest. But I won’t lie, if someone wants to give me one of those DJ Screw cassettes I spotted on eBay, especially the Final Chapter cassette from 1997, I wouldn’t say no!

Your sister has often said that you’re always on the lookout for the latest musical trends… what are you listening to right now?

I love my sister for saying that, but honestly, I feel so annoying being the one who says “this is the latest thing.” But if I had to answer, I’d say I’m listening to the new SahBabii, and I love Laila! I’ve also been listening a lot to the artists who participated in our Saint Heron Eldorado Ballroom series at Walt Disney Hall: a lot from the GMWA Women’s Choir of Birmingham, Mary Lou Williams, and Julia Perry. I’ve also been listening a lot to a French composer, Philippe Athuis, whose music I recently used for a film project.

I’m going to be honest: I often dream of your next album… what can you tell us about it?

Honestly, I never stop making music. I’ve never stopped, and I’ll probably dedicate myself to it full time next year. Over the past five years, I’ve focused on creating works that I hope will inspire and occupy a space-time far beyond my own existence. I’m preparing spiritually, physically, artistically, and mentally for my future self at 60 or 70. I’m incredibly grateful for everything I’ve accomplished, even if it meant being a little uncomfortable in the moment. I’ve built a library, created objects, published books, made sculptures, composed ballet music, and created a performance program. It’s been a very rich time, but I must say I picked up the drums again a few weeks ago, and I feel like music is meant to capture the spirit. It freezes it in time like no other art form.

This article was originally published on Vogue France.

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