For years, Solange was known as Beyoncé’s younger sister who, as hard as she tried, just can’t seem to match the success of her famous sister and I’m sure that for many years, Solange felt inferior to her sister. However, with the release of her third studio album ‘A Seat At The Table’, Solange has finally stopped trying to be someone she’s not and has released an honest, powerful piece of work.
Although Solange has finally come into her own as an artist, ‘A Seat At The Table’ has a similar message to that of Beyoncé’s ‘Lemonade’ – one of strength, prejudice, rage, despair, empowerment and blackness. However, while Beyoncé opted for a hip-hop approach to tell her story, Solange does so with a blend of soul, R&B and jazz. Solange has always been an outspoken, strong individual (only she can take on someone like Jay-Z in an elevator in a bid to protect her sister) and this is clear through the content on this album.
This is not necessarily a commercial record. Solange has an important message to share on the record. Lyrically, the album is a very personal one. Not only is the singer open about many controversial issues, but she also shares her dad Matthew and mom Tina’s stories and views on racism in particular. Solange put her heart and soul into the lyrics on the album and there are songs that will touch every person who hears it. In fact, the songs are more poetic than you expect while being educational to white people and empowering to black people around the world.
Solange also created a beautiful album sonically. The instrumentals are fantastic and highlight the message the singer is trying to share rather than being the star of the show. I love the jazz elements on the album. It gives the soul and R&B aspect of the album a different approach and both highlights the strength of her vocal ability and makes the overall sound of the record pretty interesting. Another interesting aspect of the record is the interlude between tracks. They’re filled with thought-provoking speeches and insights that give the listener a clearer understanding of the songs and messages Solange is trying to get through. While I’m not usually a fan of interludes, they make a lot of sense on this release.
Solange has always been a talented musician but it’s with this record she proves that she is in a league of her own. It’s a beautifully crafted piece of work and will go down as a turning-point in Solange’s career. This is an album everyone should hear.
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