Talented sisters, Beyonce and Solange had a fun interview session with Interview Magazine when the Queen B took on the role of interviewer.
The discussion covered issues of womanism, growing up in Houston and Solange’s recently-released album, A Seat at the Table.
‘Are you exhausted?’ Beyonce started, enquiring about a parent-teacher conference which Solange had attended.
Beyonce then told Solange how proud of her she was as they discussed her love for music which started a long time ago, with the little sister saying having a legendary sister was certainly inspiring.
On the subject of being such a strong black woman who joggled music production, writing her own lyrics, singing, playing instruments and all the rest of the incredible things she managed to do all at once, Solange said the one thing she had to fight against was not feeling arrogant whenever she had to say every single lyric from her new album had been written by her.
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‘I remember Björk saying that she felt like, no matter what stage in her career, if a man is credited on something that she’s done, he’s going to get the credit for it. And, unfortunately, that still rings true.’
Solange went on to say, ‘It’s something I’ve learned so much about from you, getting to be in control of your own narrative. And, at this point, it should be an expectation, not something that you’re asking permission for. I feel like I’m getting closer to that, not taking on all the baggage when I have to just stand up for myself and say, ‘No, I’m uncomfortable with that.’ And I really appreciate you and mom being examples of that, being able to speak about our achievements, these things that deserve to be celebrated, without feeling bashful about it.’
She also spoke about her fan love for Nas and iconic singer, Diana Ross.
Find some more excerpts from the interview below.
BEYONCÉ: You have an ability to see things before they happen that I’ve never really seen in anyone else as consistently as you do. You always know the new artists two years before they come out. Or the new DJs or producers or the new fashion brands … How do you do that?
SOLANGE: I’m probably on the internet way more than I should be. [both laugh] I don’t know. I love connecting people. I love introducing people to other people who are doing incredible work in the world. And I’m just on the internet too damn much. [laughs]
BEYONCÉ: You and Alan—who is my brother, your husband—worked together on the visuals for this project, and y’all outdid yourselves. What was that experience like?
SOLANGE: The experience was one I will cherish for the rest of my life. I remember telling you years ago that I wanted to work with him, but I was scared because I felt like our relationship, by the grace of God, is the one thing that I can count on to be intact and to be solid.
When I go out in the world, I know that when I come home, I’m going to find peace with him. And I didn’t want any variable that could interrupt that. And you actually encouraged that and said, ‘I swear, you guys are going to be just fine and will probably make the best work that you have ever made because of the way that you love and respect one another and each other’s vision.’
And through the process of making this record, every time I would come home from the studio, I would be really depleted. And it was Alan who would encourage me and help lift me back up and give me that coach speech to go back into the studio and start a new day.
So he knew these stories better than anyone did. And when it came time to talk about the visual aspects of the project, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that he had to be the person to help bring the vision to life. And he really saw this through in every single detail that he possibly could have.
Only a person who loves me would say yes to shooting 21 scenes in one week and climbing mountains and literally crossing waterfalls with million-dollar equipment strapped to his back.
We started off with huge ideas, a sizeable crew. We were in two RVs that we drove from New Orleans to New Mexico with about ten to fifteen stops along the way. And, at the end of it, people were so tired, rightfully so. They were cranky and ready to go home, rightfully so.
And Alan and I were like, ‘We just got started!’ We were maybe a quarter of the way through what we actually wanted to achieve. And only a person who loves you would say, ‘Let’s fly back to New Orleans, rent a car, and just you and I do that trip all over again.’
I was so happy to have a partner in crime, because visual storytelling is just as important, if not more important in some ways, to the overall storytelling of my projects.
It’s really a meditation for me when I’m coming up with these concepts and painting these pictures—that is one of the few times that my brain shuts off in that way.
And Alan was there to say, ‘Hey, the light is fading. Everybody is telling us that we can’t get this much light in the aperture. We need to wrap. But I think that this is when the light is just beginning. This is the color the sky needs to be.’
BEYONCÉ: Okay, now I’m going to go to the speed round … Lady Sings the Blues [1972] or Mahogany [1975]?
SOLANGE: Mahogany! Without a doubt. You know, that’s the first movie that Alan and I watched together. That was our first official date.
BEYONCÉ: That I know. When do you feel most free?
SOLANGE: When I’m in a musical meditation.
BEYONCÉ: ‘No Me Queda Mas’ or ‘I Could Fall in Love’?
SOLANGE: This is so unfair! ‘No Me Queda Mas.’
BEYONCÉ: What is the funniest text you got from our mom this week? [both laugh] That’s too personal, never mind. You’ve got to love Mama Tina. How does it feel to have the dopest wedding photo of all time?
SOLANGE: Oh my God, that is subjective!
BEYONCÉ: What makes you laugh the hardest?
SOLANGE: The Real Housewives of Atlanta, hands-down.
BEYONCÉ: Really?! I didn’t know that.
SOLANGE: I watch it religiously, and I am in stitches the whole time.
BEYONCÉ: One of my proudest moments as a sister was when I was able to introduce you to your hero, Nas, and you cried and acted a fool. I was so surprised that Mrs. Too-cool-for-everything was acting a fool. Is there another human being that would get that reaction out of you now if you met him or her?
SOLANGE: Diana Ross. For sure. I broke out in some hives when I went to her concert. Alan was like, ‘Uh, you’re breaking out into hives. Calm down.’
BEYONCÉ: And, honestly, growing up, how did I do as a big sister?
SOLANGE: You did a kickass job. You were the most patient, loving, wonderful sister ever. In the 30 years that we’ve been together, I think we’ve only really, like, butted heads … we can count on one hand.
BEYONCÉ: I was expecting something funny, but I’ll take it. Thank you.
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