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Solange: 'I knew success would come by existing in my truth'

Written by . Published: December 01 2017

Solange Knowles revealed she had spent a long time discussing with her father the type of artist she wanted to be, as she was honored at Billboard's Women In Music event on Thursday (30Nov17) evening.


The Cranes in the Sky hitmaker was feted with the American Express Impact Award at the Ray Dolby Ballroom gala in Los Angeles for "using her voice to empower and develop new leaders of tomorrow through (her) on-air persona, platform, and philanthropic efforts to inspire social change across the masses."

Her 2016 album A Seat at the Table grappled with issues of feminism and social justice, helping to propel her into the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart.

And at the star-studded event, which was attended by Selena Gomez, Ciara and Mary J Blige among others, Solange reflected on her childhood days when her father, music manager Mathew Knowles, used to read Billboard Magazine to her.

"We spoke a lot about how I would define success as an artist, and existing in my truth," Solange explained to the audience about the conversations she had with her father as a young singer-songwriter. "...About silencing outside noise no matter how painful or worrying that it was, about creating with the purpose of self and getting to know myself more clearly."

The two discussed how the singer, the sister of pop superstar Beyonce, would claim her success thanks to a combination of talent, determination, and by "existing in her truth."

"I have so much gratitude in my soul for how the way my work connected with people," she continued, discussing the reception to her album. "When I think about the word impact, I can't think of a more humbling way to articulate the mark that I would have liked to leave on the world with this work."

Along with stars such as her sister Beyonce, Adele, and Katy Perry, Solange is enjoying how much the industry is being driven by female artists.

"It's a new goddamn day and I'm loving it," she smiled.

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