Stephanie Phillips
, May 1st, 2021 08:18
In an exclusive extract from her new book
Why Solange Matters, Stephanie Phillips explores the significance of appropriation in indie music
Solange performing at Coachella on April 19, 2014. Photo by NeonTommy CC BY-SA2.0
The whiteness of indie rock matters because the participants’ poor understanding of race and unexamined privilege had a lasting effect on Solange, and it all started back in August 2009 at a free Grizzly Bear show in Williamsburg, New York. At the gig, onlookers tried to focus on the cerebral indie act but couldn’t keep their eyes on the stage. As they swayed to the band’s haunting rhythms, to the side of the stage stood Solange, Beyoncé, and Jay-Z. The blogosphere could barely process the moment; Solange brought pop music royalty to a free show in Williamsburg. Overnight, Solange became one of the most powerful influencers of the era. Speaking to
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