I first met Solange at a party for her gorgeous and inspiring website, Saint Heron. I'd already had so many phases of listening exclusively to 2012's 'True' and admired her activism and radiant style.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I really wanted people just to get to know Solange on my first album, just to establish Solange's sound, just to establish Solange's personality.
To play June, I had an immediate connect with her background and culture. We grew up with the same religion and shared a lot of the same values of family and spirituality. But I was really so inspired by what a modern woman she was.
My name, Solange, means 'Angel of the sun,' and I'm completely enamored of my African history. The culture is so expressive.
When the suggestion was made that I might consider doing music of Joni Mitchell, I thought it was a fantastic idea. Joni, I admire not only for her music but for her person, because she's a person that really stands out for what she believes in.
With Saint Heron, I really wanted to celebrate and continue to cultivate the community for genre-defying R&B artists.
In our romantic groves I adored her like a divinity.
I've met Shonda Rhimes a few times, and certainly she's an inspiration for me in television.
I don't admire one particular style, but for evening events, I always look to Grace Kelly for inspiration.
Meeting Helen Mirren was a fabulous experience. I had played it out in my mind, how I should greet her when we would be introduced. But the way we met was funny because I just didn't recognise her!
I met India Arie, who is one of my favorite artists of all time. It was really sweet; I was broken up with a month before, and she stayed up texting me all night and was helping me through it. Her text message looks like a song of hers. She's sort of become my fairy godmother.