Beyonce and Solange Team Up for Interview Magazine Cover Story

Solange covers the latest issue of Interview Magazine alongside big sister Beyonce Knowles. Beyonce and Solange have long solidified themselves as one of the world’s most famous sibling duos. As of late the sisters are proving that they can share the music charts as well. Beyonce gave us Lemonade and then Solange offered us a Seat at the Table . Both dynamic, poetic and possessing a unique poignant style. The media has always put a certain amount of distance between Beyonce and Solange. Not including, the Jay Z and Solange controversy, of course. So exactly who are Beyonce and Solange – as sisters?The moody cover, lensed by photographer Mikael Janssen, features Solange posing confidently, yet vulnerable. Voluminous natural curls and matching nude lipstick and eyeshadow evoke a very natural, introspective feel. Inside the issue, au natural beauty vibes reign as Solange flaunts her signature natural hair. The style direction is modern and somewhat masculine. Earthy collection pieces from DKNY, Marni, Balenciaga, and menswear brand David Hart create a 70s Euro Street Style aesthetic. Beyonce also joins offering a rare, intimate interview with Solange. During the sit down, Beyonce and Solange discuss everything from growing up in the Knowle’s household to the recent release of Solanges album, A Seat at the Table.BEYONCÉ: 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: You write your own lyrics, you co-produce your own tracks, you write your own treatments for your videos, you stage all of your performances, all of the choreography … Where does the inspiration come from? SOLANGE: It varies. For one, I got to have a lot of practice. Growing up in a household with a master class such as yourself definitely didn’t hurt. 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. If she conjured up an idea, there was not one element of that idea that she was not going to have her hand in. She was not going to hand that over to someone. And I think it’s been an interesting thing to navigate, especially watching you do the same in all aspects of your work: Society labels that a control freak, an obsessive woman, or someone who has an inability to trust her team or to empower other people to do the work, which is completely untrue.BEYONCÉ: I was with you the week leading up to your release, and it’s the most nervous time for any artist, but I know it was a nervous time for you. SOLANGE: Yeah. I was breaking out into hives. I could not sit still. It was terrifying. This was going to be such an intimate, up-close, staring-you-right-in-the-face experience, the way people would see me and hear me. It was one thing to make the record and have those reservations; it was another to finish it and actually share it. I just feel so much joy and gratitude that people have connected to it in this way. The biggest reward that I could ever get is seeing women, especially black women, talk about what this album has done, the solace it has given them.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. I remember Björk saying that she felt like, no matter what stage in her career, if a man is credited on something that she’s done, he’s going to get the credit for it. And, unfortunately, that still rings true. 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. See all of the images from Solange x Interview magazine below.