Solange: She Chose New Orleans

Solange Chose New Orleans

Solange Knowles wasn't born in New Orleans. She was born in Houston, and yes, she's Beyoncé's sister, and no, that's not what this story is about. This story is about why one of the most critically acclaimed musicians and visual artists in the world chose New Orleans as her home.

In 2013, Solange relocated to New Orleans — not for a movie shoot, not for a temporary project, but to live. She settled into the city, immersed herself in its culture, and in 2014, she married music video director Alan Ferguson at the Marigny Opera House, in one of the most photographed weddings New Orleans had seen in years.

The city's influence on her art was immediate and profound. A Seat at the Table, her 2016 album, was a meditation on Black womanhood, identity, and belonging that drew deeply from the cultural currents of New Orleans — a city where Black identity is celebrated, complicated, and constantly evolving. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and was named one of the best albums of the decade by multiple publications.

Solange's relationship with New Orleans goes beyond residency. She's performed at Jazz Fest, collaborated with local artists, and engaged with the city's art community in ways that go beyond celebrity tourism. She chose New Orleans because it matched her artistic sensibility — a city that values creativity, community, and cultural expression in ways that Los Angeles and New York simply don't.

New Orleans has always attracted artists who need a city that understands them. Solange Knowles found that understanding here, and the art she's made since arriving has been among the most important of her career. She chose New Orleans, and the city was better for it.