Solange's Evolution: A Look Back at Sol-Angel and The Hadley St. Dreams
Revisiting Solange's sophomore album, Sol-Angel, which carved her niche in the music industry.
Solange Knowles released her debut album, Solo Star, in December 2002 under the umbrella of Columbia. After living in the shadow of her sister's success for years, Solange was ready to make a name for herself. Working with a group of avant-garde talents such as The Neptunes, Jermaine Dupri, Timbaland, and Linda Perry, among others, Solange created an “industry-ready record.” While these prominent producers and songwriters contributed to the album, Solange also co-produced and co-wrote several tracks . Despite her family name and vocal allure, Solo Star did not meet expectations for mainstream success.
Following her whirlwind romance with Daniel Smith, her first husband, Solange found herself in Moscow, Idaho, in 2003, where Smith was pursuing his education. The couple worked earnestly to nurture their relationship and co-parent their infant son. These personal and professional experiences ignited a newfound confidence in Solange's artistic abilities. She began writing prolifically, documenting her experiences and ensuring that they would serve as inspiration for a follow-up to her debut album, Solo Star. This time, however, she was determined not to compromise her authenticity for commercial appeal.
After signing a deal with Geffen Records in 2005, Solange spent two years meticulously creating her second album, Sol-Angel and The Hadley St. Dreams, following her divorce from Smith and move to Houston, Texas, with her son. The album’s title was a clever play on Solange’s name and a street in Houston that held personal significance for her from her childhood.
Solange was deeply involved in the creative process for her second album by collaborating with a talented team and taking charge of every aspect of the writing process to tell her story. The guest list for the album was impressive, with top-tier names such as Pharrell Williams, Q-Tip, Bilal, Mark Ronson, and Marsha Ambrosius, among others, lending their talents to Solange’s musical journey.
The co-writers and co-producers gathered together to ensure that Solange remained determined to incorporate her diverse musical preferences into the album. One of her major influences was the Motown girl group archetype, which is evident in tracks such as “I Decided, Part 1,” “Dancing in the Dark,” and “Would’ve Been the One.” Solange flawlessly captured the charm and energy of this beloved Black pop blueprint within a contemporary framework, demonstrating her undeniable commitment to research.
Listeners were in for a treat with the funky “I Told You So” and the lively soul psychedelia of “Sandcastle Disco,” which featured an irresistible percussive riff borrowed from The Monkees’ “Mary Mary,” one of the most prominent pop groups of the 1960s. The tracks "This Bird" and “White Picket Dreams” on Solange’s album had a personal touch to them, unlike the more abstract “Cosmic Journey” and “ChampagneChroniKnightcap.” Her songs “God Given Name,” “T.O.N.Y.,” and “Valentine’s Day” also had a confessional quality to them, where she shared her experiences with marriage, divorce, motherhood, and social issues affecting Black people. Solange captured her entire range of interests and life experiences through these compositions in her album.
Sol-Angel and The Hadley St. Dreams received widespread critical acclaim. The album featured three popular singles (“I Decided, Part 1,” “Sandcastle Disco,” and “T.O.N.Y.”) Despite their positive reception, the singles struggled to gain commercial success. This was partly due to the constantly evolving landscape of contemporary Black music during the late 2000s. Solange’s unique ability to blend conventional and avant-garde genres made it challenging for Geffen Records to promote her music effectively.
Despite being involved in various activities, Solange remained focused on music as the core of her creative pursuits in the decade after releasing Sol-Angel and The Hadley St. Dreams. She received high praise from fans and critics for her post-modern synth soul EP titled True, produced by Devonté Hynes released in 2012.
After four years, the highly anticipated follow-up to Sol-Angel and The Hadley St. Dreams finally arrived as A Seat at the Table. This contemporary masterpiece, followed by When I Get Home in 2019, was timely in representing Black womanhood. It seamlessly blended vintage and modern R&B while maintaining strong ties to Sol-Angel. It is clear that Solange’s second album was both ahead of its time and divergent from the prevailing trends of its release period. It was a powerful indication of the singer’s limitless artistic vision, establishing her identity as an artist.