Solange Knowles and Gucci Gift: "I never stop making music"

Is there a more famous dynasty in the music industry today than the Knowles? Undoubtedly, but few are led by such impressive female figures as Solange and Tina Knowles. The former has carved out her own path after a precocious start (from the age of 13), notably thanks to masterful albums like A Seat at the Table, unveiled unveiled in 2016 and widely acclaimed by the critics (her single 'Cranes in the Sky' earned the artist her first Grammy Award for Best R'n'B Performance). And if you think the latter has little to do with music, apart from the resplendent careers of her daughters, think again: before she became a successful entrepreneur, she sang in a high school band, the Veltones, largely inspired by the Supremes and Motown, one of the most prestigious labels in music history (where artists like Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder flourished). But it was while designing the stage outfits for his other daughter, a certain Beyoncé at a time when none of the major fashion houses would dress a group of young R'n'B singers, in a mixture of latent racism and class contempt.

Today, Solange and Tina Knowles are the new faces of the Gucci Gift campaign, a celebration of the festive season as a time for reunion and sharing with loved ones. An opportunity to chat with Solange about her career, her family and her next musical adventures.

From the age of 13, you wanted to pursue a career in music, but your parents preferred to wait. How did you manage to convince them?

Solange Knowles: I was very lucky that my parents were both passionate about art, each in their own way. My mother was an artist in clothing design and hairdressing, and my father an artist in image creation, messaging and marketing, which I also consider an art form. They were both storytellers, each in their own way. I think when they saw how dedicated I was to my art, they really opened up the discussion and the possibilities for the future. I think my mother always trusted and understood that I would find a balance, that I would create a space in which I could exist on my own terms. I'm very grateful that she always supported and encouraged that.

What's the best piece of advice your mother could have given you?

To invite spirituality, prayer and devotion into my daily life. Although it took different forms at different stages of my life, it always anchored me and gave me a compass to navigate through the ups and downs of life, work, and everything in between.

By the way, you invited her on your third album A Seat at the Table (2016). Why was it important to hear her voice?

Growing up, I think we see so much of ourselves in our parents' past lives. We start to connect all the dots between nature and nurture, past histories, and that guides us on how we want to evolve in the present. I see so much of her in my way of being in the world: the way I want to express myself, the fact that I refuse to be silent, but also the way I allow myself to be human, to invite grace and poetry into my life. It's always part of my artistic process, even if it's not directly visible.

One of the things you had to fight against were accusations of egocentricity when you proclaimed loud and clear that you wrote your own songs. How did you manage to overcome them?

I know that my mother encountered these kinds of obstacles on her own journey. I remember people in the fashion industry rejecting her creations or trying to take credit away from her, and I've always been very proud of her for standing her ground. She had a vision that helped shape culture. I still see so many of her creations being referenced across generations. I'm very proud to call her my mother.

What is your connection with Gucci?

I'm a big fan of iconography in design, especially iconography in logos and graphic design. Ever since I was a teenager, I've paid close attention to the way we communicate with symbols, and the House of Gucci has always been at the forefront of that conversation. I have a song called 'My Skin My Logo' in which Gucci Mane and I mention Gucci at least 50 times. I've also had the opportunity to build a relationship with Sabato De Sarno and I really appreciate the kindness, warmth, ideas and curiosity he brought to my fashion experience. There was an incredible synergy of ideas and philosophies, and the way we were able to integrate them into our respective worlds really inspired me about what fashion can communicate.

How do you celebrate the festive season in the Knowles household?

To be honest, I come and go with the holiday traditions. I started traveling with my son very early on, to places where I wanted us to make new memories. Between the ages of 5 and 13, we spent our holidays in Jamaica, Senegal, Rwanda and Morocco. But as she got older, we started to establish traditions with the whole family, because I couldn't compete with her grandmother's meal and presents! Today, I like to alternate between big family celebrations and quieter, more introspective trips to refocus before the New Year.

What gifts do you hope to receive this year?

Peace, taking care of my nervous system, rest. But I'm not going to lie, if someone wants to give me one of those DJ Screw cassettes I spotted on eBay, particularly the Final Chapter cassette from 1997, I wouldn't say no!

Your sister has often said that you're always on the lookout for the latest musical trends... what are you listening to these days?

I love my sister for saying that, but honestly, I feel so annoyed to be the one to say "this is the latest thing". But if I had to answer, I'd say I'm listening to the new SahBabii, and I love Laila! I've also been listening a lot to the artists who took part in our Saint Heron Eldorado Ballroom series at Walt Disney Hall: a lot of the GMWA Women's Choir of Birmingham, Mary Lou Williams and Julia Perry. I've also been listening a lot to a French composer, Philippe Athuis, whose music I used recently for a film project.

I'll be honest: I often dream about your next album... what can you tell us?

Honestly, I never stop making music. I've never stopped, and I'm probably going to devote myself full-time to it next year. For the past five years, I've been concentrating on creating works that I hope will inspire and occupy a space-time far beyond my own existence. I'm preparing myself spiritually, physically, artistically and mentally for my future self of 60 or 70 years. I'm incredibly grateful to have accomplished everything I wanted to, even if it meant being a little uncomfortable in the moment. I founded a library, created objects, published books, made sculptures, composed ballet music, created a performance program. It's been a very rich period, but I have to say that I took up the drums again a few weeks ago, and I have the impression that music serves to capture the spirit. It freezes it in time like no other art form.