Solange Knowles
For me, I always have looked at 'indie' as a term of 'independence.' Never associated a sonic gesture with that in the same way that pop music has always meant 'popular' to me; you know, it didn't define a sound.Collection: Independence
You get educated by traveling.Collection: Travel
When you think back in history about producers and artists or writers who've had good synergy, a lot of times they date, or they're married, or there's a friendship and a kinship.Collection: Friendship
Beyonce has set the tone as an aunt. I've set the tone as a mom.Collection: Mom
When you take care of yourself, you're a better person for others. When you feel good about yourself, you treat others better.Collection: Good
Colors and prints are part of my style.
I'm surrounded by such beautiful, creative people, and I just love sort of sharing their stories and their journeys.
Any decision I make is based on myself, and the only person I have to give an explanation to is God.
I was diagnosed with ADHD twice. I didn't believe the first doctor who told me, and I had a whole theory that ADHD was just something they invented to make you pay for medicine, but then the second doctor told me I had it.
Just going through a marriage and a divorce - which I essentially did by 21 - will give you an insane amount of perspective on life.
I'm trying to cut down my cursing.
We are getting an education of a lifetime. We're actually out there in the real world.
Self-love is really a foundation for everything, and however you practice or express that is so, so important.
You have Vampire Weekend who have more African references musically than most African-American artists.
The Fela Kuti Queens - the band members and wives of the late African musician Fela Anikulapo Kuti - are my fashion icons.
If I had to define 'sexy' now, as Disney as it sounds, I would have to say it's about complete and utter confidence.
I try to transition my energy into just having fun.
With Saint Heron, I really wanted to celebrate and continue to cultivate the community for genre-defying R&B artists.
I feel like I was 30 when I was 17, and I decided to get married and have a baby.
When you're younger, you get shoved a lot. You don't really have a say-so.
You're just so excited that you have this record deal or this movie opportunity that you don't stand up for yourself and say, This is what I want to do.
Traveling is definitely something that your average 17-year-old doesn't get to do. One week we're in Japan, one week we're in Australia, one week we're back home going to football games.
The Hadley Street Dream is a tribute to making a vision come to life. My father built a compound on a dessert city block, he saw something in that space we couldn't see. It was years later the album was born right there on Hadley St. He built the studio I started recording the album at.
I have been writing songs since I was 9 years old, so writing has and always will be my first love and passion.
It is always an honor to work with those that share your passion for music and just enjoy making great music.
I actually love my natural hair when it's in a twist out and it's been slept on for five days and revived by the steam of the shower.
I felt like when I took my weave out, I wasn't pretty, I wasn't noticeable.
Through style, you can communicate to the world who you are and what you stand for.
My beauty ethos? Well, I'd love to tell you it's something like 'less is more,' but honestly, it all starts with happiness. If only someone could bottle that up - when I'm happy, I'm at my most radiant and glowing. It does me better than any product ever could. And I stand by how cheesy and cliched that sounds.
My ultimate beauty icon is Diana Ross.
Whether it be a red eyeliner or a graphic line on the crease of my lids, I'm more attracted to the ideas of something interesting than being 'pretty.'
Motherhood is such an evolving journey.
People who live in L.A. don't like to leave their homes because they have so much space. They have the nice kitchens and a cook and a pool. When you live in L.A., there is a sense of isolation in terms of raising a family.
Opening Ceremony is my number one favorite place to shop here. It's the only place I'll shop in New York with my son. All of the sales people are so cool; the music is great; it's just like a big fun house, so he stays entertained.
Once I had my son, I stopped shopping in stores because it's not an easy process to try on clothes - and I'm not an impulsive buyer. I need to do the dance in front of the mirror, the whole nine yards.
I'm a lot more interested in style than fashion - style is what makes us who we are.
Why is it so important for you to give back? I honestly feel like it's our responsibility as citizens of the world to ground ourselves in selflessness and all do our part.
My name, Solange, means 'Angel of the sun,' and I'm completely enamored of my African history. The culture is so expressive.
I wear short shorts. After 10 years of strenuous ballet, it's the least my legs can do for me.
Every mom believes her kid's school doodles are amazing, and I'm no different.
In my experience, as a young black artist, you have to fulfill an archetype, or be a token - and I was unwilling to do that.
Beyonce adores my little boy. She takes him everywhere.
Luckily, I dated all of the losers ages ago. My love life has been stable for a while.
I have a lot of guy-like quintessential relationship qualities that I have had to work on.
I have a mother who never took no for an answer when it came to her creative pursuits. She started a hair salon in her spare bedroom and four years later had 30 employees.
I have a father who was the first black student at his junior high and high school and had to do a lot to get to that point.
I really feel like because I had my son so young, I didn't want everyone's help. I think people felt entitled to give advice, so I'm always very sensitive to moms and letting them feel their way out.
My sister and I truly are best friends.
I'm not very good at writing songs when I have a lot of clutter in my mind.
My parents constantly tried to talk me out of being an artist. They had gone through the whole journey with my sister and just wanted me to have a normal teenage life.