Solange Knowles

“I have been writing songs since I was 9 years old, so writing has and always will be my first love and passion.”

“I'd rather be the cool aunt than the authoritative aunt.”

“I'd rather live in the U.S. than Europe.”

“Once I had my son, I stopped shopping in stores because it's not an easy process to try on clothes - and I'm not an impulsive buyer. I need to do the dance in front of the mirror, the whole nine yards.”

“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.”

“I had my own little quirks as a child.”

“Beyonce has set the tone as an aunt. I've set the tone as a mom.”

“When you're younger, you get shoved a lot. You don't really have a say-so.”

“I'm really good at telling people 'no.'”

“I'm making the music I want to make, in my own space, and it's just incredible to be able to continue to do that.”

“If I had to define 'sexy' now, as Disney as it sounds, I would have to say it's about complete and utter confidence.”

“The Fela Kuti Queens - the band members and wives of the late African musician Fela Anikulapo Kuti - are my fashion icons.”

“I still stand behind the stuff I did early on, but I was on a record label, and I didn't have a lot of creative control. Another side of that is just being young and having bad taste. There was plenty of that, too.”

“For me, I always have looked at 'indie' as a term of 'independence.' Never associated a sonic gesture with that in the same way that pop music has always meant 'popular' to me; you know, it didn't define a sound.”

“The one thing I'm really excited about is that the Saint Heron shop is not grounded in just fashion and clothing. We have connected with artists and artisans in every landscape.”

“I don't ever claim to be a hip-hop head.”

“I'd rather be on the cast of 'Love & Hip-Hop' than 'Project Runway.'”

“I'm super-sensitive when it comes to my sister. I've been known to snap off a little bit behind her.”

“I really feel like because I had my son so young, I didn't want everyone's help. I think people felt entitled to give advice, so I'm always very sensitive to moms and letting them feel their way out.”

“You get educated by traveling.”