Singing sisters Solange and Beyonce celebrate their familial ties and mutual respect for one another in the latest issue of Interview Magazine.
Covered by Solo, the feature – which supports her chart-topping album ‘A Seat At The Table’ – sees her older sibling conduct the chat.
With the ‘Don’t Touch My Hair’ singer answering an array of interesting questions, the Knowles sisters prove they’re just as compelling behind the camera as they are in front of it.
Peep pics and excerpts below…
SOLANGE KNOWLES INTERVIEWED BY BEYONCE KNOWLES
On what attracted her to music and art from a young age:
BEYONCÉ: Well, it is a bit strange, because we’re sisters and we talk all the time, to be interviewing you. But I’m so happy to interview you because, clearly, I’m your biggest fan and I’m super proud of you. So we’ll start from the beginning. Growing up, you were always attracted to the most interesting fashion, music, and art…What else attracted you growing up?
SOLANGE: I remember having so much perspective about my voice, and how to use my voice, at such a young age—whether it was through dance, poetry, or coming up with different projects. I guess I always felt a yearning to communicate—I had a lot of things to say. And I appreciated y’all’s patience in the house during all of these different phases. They were not ever very introverted, quiet phases.
BEYONCÉ: No, not at all. [both laugh]
On what her mother, Tina, taught her:
SOLANGE: And, as far back as I can remember, our mother always taught us to be in control of our voice and our bodies and our work, and she showed us that through her example.
On their hometown:
BEYONCÉ: Well, I am so glad we grew up in Houston. And I know that it’s such a big inspiration for all of us: you, myself, my mom, my dad … everybody that lives there. How can you describe growing up on Parkwood, and what about our hometown do you carry with you?
SOLANGE: Growing up on Parkwood was so inspiring because we got to see a little bit of everything. We grew up in the same neighborhood that produced Scarface, Debbie Allen, and Phylicia Rashad. So, culturally, it was as rich as it gets.
On being a strong woman:
BEYONCÉ: What are some misconceptions about being a strong woman?
SOLANGE: Oh my God, they’re endless! [laughs] One thing that I constantly have to fight against is not feeling arrogant when I say I wrote every lyric on this album. I still have not been able to say that. That’s the first time I’ve actually ever said it, because of the challenges that we go through when we celebrate our work and our achievements… 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.
On her latest album, A Seat at the Table:
SOLANGE: It was very intentional that I sang as a woman who was very in control, a woman who could have this conversation without yelling and screaming, because I still often feel that when black women try to have these conversations, we are not portrayed as in control, emotionally intact women, capable of having the hard conversations without losing that control.
On working with her husband:
SOLANGE: 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… 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.
On what makes her laugh:
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.
On being star struck:
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/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.”
On Beyoncé as an older sister:
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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