Manny King John
Name: Solange
Representing: Houston, Texas
Genre: R&B/Soul
For fans of: Destiny’s Child
Single from: A Seat at the Table
Produced by: Solange Knowles, Questlove, Raymond Angry, Majical Cloudz, Raphael Saadiq
Song of the Day: October 10, 2016
Label(s): Columbia Records/Saint Records
Rise now or fall.
Delicately harmonized, ‘Rise’ is Solange’s first pluck on the harp. It frames the generational classic ‘A Seat at the Table‘. Majestic and celestial, this hushed melody seeped into my soul reclaiming the purpose I left when starting my new 9-5.
Play ‘Rise’ via our review article
Fall in your ways so you can crumble/Fall in your ways so you can sleep at night/Fall in your ways so you can wake up and rise — Words from ‘Rise’
This unconventional sonnet to self gave me rushes of pre-accomplishments. You know that list of brilliant ideas that you haven’t completed as yet? The ones [that are] too good to forget, let alone quit? Years to come, ‘Rise’ will be seen as a genesis of sorts becoming a score to new art movements, specifically scoring the work of black creatives. Solange is here to build and lift you up this Monday morning. Take heed!
Read more about Solange
Solange Piaget Knowles; (Born June 24, 1986) is an American singer, songwriter, model, and actress. Knowles was born in Houston, Texas to Mathew and Tina Knowles. Expressing an interest in music from an early age, Knowles had several temporary stints in Destiny’s Child, before signing with her father’s Music World Entertainment label. At age 16, Knowles released her first studio album ‘Solo Star’ (2002).
Twelve years ago, Knowles married Daniel Smith, eventually giving birth to their son Daniel Julez J Smith Jr, which prompted a move to Idaho. Between 2005 and 2007, Knowles had several minor acting roles, including the direct-to-video ‘Bring It On: All or Nothing’ (2006) and continued writing music for her older sister Beyoncé and for ex-Destiny’s Child band members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams.
Nine years ago, Knowles divorced Smith and moved to Los Angeles, California, beginning to write and record music again. Furthermore, her second studio album ‘Sol-Angel and the Hadley St Dreams’ (2008) deviated from the Pop-oriented music of her debut to the Motown Sound of the 1960s and 1970s. As a result, it peaked at number nine on US Billboard 200 and received positive reviews from critics. Presumably, she followed this up with the 1980s Pop/R&B–inspired extended play ‘True’ (2012) and her third studio album, ‘A Seat at the Table’ (2016) on Columbia Records and her imprint Saint Records. The latter became her first number-one album in the United States.
Above all, Knowles is heavily influenced by Motown girl groups and says that her first passion is songwriting. Also, she has been recognized as a fashion icon, and despite receiving frequent comparisons to her sister, Beyoncé, from the media, she insists they have different aspirations and are musically disparate. In conclusion, her other ventures include an endorsement deal with Rimmel London and a line of Hip-Hop-oriented merchandise for young children, which was inspired by her son. On November 16, 2014, Knowles married music video director Alan Ferguson in New Orleans, Louisiana.
