COVER STORY: SOLANGE
Creators will create and Solange is one of the most creative artists we’ve seen. I remember first really paying attention to her back in 2008. She released her second album Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams. I remember hearing Sand Castle Disco, T.O.N.Y., and I Decided. Solange was writing music that sound like it belonged in the Motown era and it still felt present day. Of course, now we celebrate Solange as a standard in black culture for her clear messages in her music. But even in 2008, she was getting love from Pharrell, Q-Tip, and Marsha Ambrosius.
Like I said before Solange showed her Motown influence on her second album. In 2012, four years later she released the True Ep. In my opinion, this is where Solange as we know her today starts to appear. The seven-track Ep would be considered a full album by today’s standards. She leads with a single called Losing You. Solange has stated that this album is essentially a dance album but the lyrics can be a little dark at times. Creators are humans too.
After The True Ep, another four years go by. Solange almost effortlessly releases A Seat at the Table. This is most likely her magnum opus. Solange makes timeless music about things that are never going to change. For example the idea of making a song called “Don’t Touch My Hair” refers to the many instances black women or men for the matter are asked to essentially get petted. To me, that song refers to a time in history where black people were setting boundaries in society. Solange captured that feeling in one song.
Finally, her most recent effort, When I Get Home. I think this album is a classic just like the previous. I feel like I had to defend this album in debates. it’s not for everybody. Solange had songs like Things I imagined, Way to The Show, and Stay Flo. A bunch of fun records that had a nice bounce to them. Sounded like she had been spending quite some time in New Orleans and just put her spin on it. I love the album. Recently Solange played some unreleased music on her IG hopefully that means more music to come. Let give the creator some time to create.
