So far, 2016 has not been so great when it comes to the election, untimely deaths, and tragedies, but this year has produced amazing music. Queen Bey gave us life with Lemonade, Rihanna rocked stadiums all over the world with ANTI, and now you may be wondering when Solange’s new album comes out. Well, Solange is releasing her new album this Friday, Sept. 30. The eclectic singer announced the news on Twitter earlier this week and released a digital book to accompany the album on her website. Solange also revealed the gorgeous album cover – a picture of her with long, black hair adorned with beauty salon clips. In the photo, Solange stands alone with a blank background and a striking stare.
Her fourth studio album is entitled A Seat at the Table and features several under-appreciated, yet immensely talented, artists like Kelly Rowland, Tweet, BJ the Chicago Kid, Kelela, Q-Tip, and Sampha. She’s also bringing rapper Lil Wayne and longtime collaborator Dev Hynes into the mix. It’s been four years since her EP True was released, and a lot has happened in the United States and her personal life since then, so we know this album will be incredibly introspective and socially conscious.
My Album, A Seat At The Table, will be released this Friday September 30th.
Visit https://t.co/s5tfNaqtt7 to experience the digital book… pic.twitter.com/lOWTzrfeyX— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) September 27, 2016
The news about A Seat at the Table may have seemed to come out of the blue, but Solange has been dropping hints for quite some time. Last week, she debuted her new website and let her fans know that 86 of them would receive a seat at the table – “first come, first served” via website sign-up, of course — and they were sent a copy of the poetry book accompanying the album. The number 86 is important to Solange, as she was born in 1986 and celebrated her 30th birthday back in June. On her birthday, she told her Instagram followers that she had completed an album after three years and said she was “proud” of her work.
One look at A Seat at the Table’s song titles is enough to let us know the direction Solange will go with this album. Artistically, she has always marched to her own beat and has been known to be very direct about her views on everything from police brutality to natural hair. With titles like “Don’t Touch My Hair,” “Weary,” and even two interludes about her parents (“Dad Was Mad” and “Tina Taught Me”), it seems we will get a true glimpse of Solange’s personal journey in life as well as her fed-up-with-the-bullshit attitude about systemic racism against black people. Solange herself said this album is centered on identity, empowerment, grief, and healing, so be prepared to feel a ton of emotions within a two hour time span.
Track listing for my album, A Seat At The Table, out this Friday September 30th
Visit https://t.co/s5tfNaqtt7 for the digital booklet now pic.twitter.com/ZSFZyANJC9
— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) September 27, 2016
As a long-time fan who still bumps True on the regular, my heart and soul are ready for this album. I’ve always felt a personal connection with Solange because I too am the younger of two sisters who has always been viewed as “different.” She’s a friend in my head whom I hang out and listen to old records with while throwing back brews. I feel like she will sing to all the areas in my life – the frustrations, the joys, and the desperate search to find peace and solace in a world filled with turmoil. And, I can’t wait to hear Tweet (who has the voice of an angel) and BJ the Chicago Kid’s contributions to the album. Is it Friday yet?
During our impatient wait, we can fill our time scrolling through Solange’s digital book on her website. The book accompanies the songs on the album and includes lyrics to the different titles. Some pages seem to be venting sessions for Solange’s frustration. She explores her weariness with the world and how she tried to avoid a depressive state by filling her life with material things – something many of us can relate to. One of the most interesting pages features a list of years dating back to 1619 – the same year Africans arrived in North America via the slave trade — with the word “explaining” beside them. It’s like Solange is holding a mirror up to America’s face.
A Seat at the Table will be available digitally Sept. 30th. God Bless the Knowles sisters for their contributions to society.
Original by: Tai Gooden
