About to Pop: Solange

Nadine Cheung

PopEater

posted: 311 DAYS 23 HOURS AGO

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filed under: Music News

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Geffen

Who: Solange
Album: 'Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams'
Video: 'Sandcastle Disco'
Hails From: Houston, TX
For Fans Of: Beyonce and The Supremes

Why She's About to Pop: Solange Knowles was born with a passion for the arts, much like her big sister, Beyonce. As a child, Solange was trained in four different areas of dance, which let to her stint as a backup dancer for Destiny's Child. By age 16, she released her debut album, 'Solo Star,' and also took on a role in the movie 'Johnson Family Vacation.' However, within a year, Solange went on a bit of a hiatus from singing and acting to start a family. Now, at age 22, the triple-threat has released her sophomore LP, 'Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams,' on which she worked with the likes of Cee-Lo, Mark Ronson and the Neptunes. Her first single, 'I Decided,' climbed both U.K. and U.S. charts, while her current single, 'Sandcastle Disco (featuring Q-Tip),' is getting heavy rotation on MTV. Catch Solange on 'TRL' on August 26, as well as the MTV Video Music Awards and Fashion Rocks.

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Three Questions with Solange:

What inspired the songs on your record?

I was really inspired by '60s and '70s music on this record. I listened to a lot of "old school" growing up. In fact, my mother was in a '60s girl group herself. The Supremes, the Marvelletes, Stevie [Wonder] and Marvin Gaye were always in rotation. I’ve also been heavily inspired by downbeat electronic music. I wanted to merge the past with the future, so I added subtle hints of electric sounds in some of the records. Ttowards the end, it gives you a taste of where my next record is going to be.

If you could have any musician's career other than your own, whose would it be?

Bjork's. Having the success completely on your own terms has to be so fulfilling. Doing that while still managing to be politically-aware, fashionable and make art on that scale is breathtaking.

What did you think life as a musician would be like when you first started out and how does it compare to what it's really like for you now?

I had the opportunity to have a sneak peak of what it would be like, so it wasn’t any surprises. The great thing is I’m still learning and taking note of what I would like to do differently next time. I may sneak an album on you guys and have a whole different name. I want complete musical freedom.

Buy the album on iTunes

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2008-08-25 15:52:23

Christopher Peterson, BuzzFoto / FilmMagic

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