FKA Twigs explores contrasts on her album 'Eusexua'

The experimental artist blends organic and electronic sounds in her most daring work yet.

FKA Twigs performs at Beams in London, England, on September 16, 2024. Photo by Jordan Peck/Getty Images

By Adila Ghina and Fasa Billa

English artist Tahliah Barnett, famously known as FKA Twigs, continues to defy classification with her third studio album, Eusexua. Twigs is a creator who exists on the edges of mainstream recognition and experimental artistry, celebrated by critics and revered by fans for her ability to push the boundaries of music and performance. With Eusexua, released on Friday under the Young/Atlantic label, Twigs reaffirms her position as an avant-garde force in pop music. This record balances opposites, juxtaposing the ethereal and the industrial, the organic and the electronic, resulting in a daring and emotionally charged collection of songs.

Twigs is no stranger to innovation. Despite collaborating with major artists such as the Weeknd, Dua Lipa, and Future, her personal work has remained largely independent of mainstream trends. Her sound is not designed for chart dominance but instead focuses on crafting intricate and deeply emotional sonic experiences. Her latest album draws inspiration from the driving pulse of European techno, seamlessly integrating this influence with her classical training and her penchant for technological experimentation.

While her music may not always dominate streaming charts, her cultural presence is undeniable. Twigs has graced the cover of British Vogue, starred in a Calvin Klein campaign, and gained a devoted following for her unique blend of music, dance, and visual artistry. Through her work, she has become a key figure in the future-pop movement, influencing a generation of artists who seek to challenge and redefine pop music conventions.

The heart of Eusexua lies in its ability to explore and harness contrasts. The album’s opening title track is a masterclass in blending opposites, setting Twigs’ operatic vocals against a backdrop of tightly sequenced electronic beats. The track begins with her voice soaring above minimal instrumentation before gradually transforming into a layered, pulsing soundscape. As the song progresses, her vocals take on an electronic flutter, merging human and machine in a way that feels both disorienting and mesmerizing.

This theme of contrast continues throughout the album. “Drums of Death” pairs a thunderous, stadium-ready groove with glitchy, fragmented vocals that seem to stumble and fall forward, creating a sense of chaotic momentum. The track’s duality—heavy yet agile, structured yet unpredictable—exemplifies Twigs’ ability to walk the line between accessibility and experimentation.

On “Room of Fools,” Twigs invites listeners into a rhythmic journey that begins with syncopated beats and tumbling hi-hats before transitioning into a hypnotic two-chord synth loop. The track evolves into a club anthem, with Twigs repeating the phrase “it feels nice” as the disparate elements of the song coalesce into an exhilarating climax. These moments showcase her skill in crafting compositions that are both innovative and emotionally resonant, drawing listeners into her world of sonic exploration.

Lyrically, Eusexua delves into themes of intimacy, desire, and emotional exposure. Twigs approaches these topics from unique angles, often intertwining physical and emotional vulnerability in ways that feel deeply personal yet universally relatable.

“Sticky,” one of the album’s standout tracks, begins with a delicate piano melody, over which Twigs sings, “It hurts so bad / To shed my skin with you watching.” The lyrics capture the raw pain of emotional exposure, likening it to a physical act of peeling away layers. As the song progresses, it erupts into an EDM-inspired bass drop, underscoring the intensity of the emotions she conveys.

Similarly, “Striptease” uses a rumbling drill-inspired bassline to explore the sensation of being emotionally stripped bare. The track’s dense production mirrors the complexity of vulnerability, with Twigs’ lyrics evoking imagery that is both visceral and poignant. “24hr Dog” takes a different approach, examining themes of submission and devotion through a lens of fragility and strength. The song’s meandering electronic textures provide a fitting backdrop for Twigs’ digitally enhanced vocals, which rise and fall like a fragile yet unbreakable thread.

While much of Eusexua thrives on its experimental approach, the album also includes a few tracks that lean toward more conventional structures. “Girl Feels Good,” for example, features a rock-inflected backbeat and an earthy melody, offering a moment of groundedness amidst the album’s more abstract compositions. Similarly, “Perfect Stranger” ventures into electro-pop territory, delivering a solid yet unremarkable track that feels somewhat out of place among the album’s more daring material.

“Keep It, Hold It” is another track that experiments with more traditional elements, incorporating a choir, harp, and piano into its arrangement. However, despite its lush production, the song struggles to find cohesion, with the individual components failing to come together in a meaningful way. These moments, while less successful than the album’s highlights, serve to underscore the importance of risk-taking in Twigs’ work.

What sets Eusexua apart is its willingness to embrace extremes. The album’s most memorable moments are those that teeter on the edge of excess, where avant-garde sound design meets the communal energy of the dancefloor. Tracks like “Drums of Death” and “Room of Fools” exemplify this approach, offering a blend of experimental production and emotional release that feels both challenging and cathartic.

Twigs’ ability to balance vulnerability and strength, chaos and control, is what makes her music so compelling. Her lyrics, often disarmingly intimate, are framed by bold, unconventional production choices that push the boundaries of pop music. This tension between opposites lies at the heart of her artistry, creating a sound that is as unpredictable as it is emotionally resonant.

With Eusexua, FKA Twigs has delivered another record that defies categorization, blending classical influences with cutting-edge electronic production to create a work that is as challenging as it is rewarding. The album’s exploration of contrasts—between organic and artificial, vulnerability and strength—underscores her status as one of pop’s most enigmatic and influential figures.

While Eusexua may not be for everyone, it is a testament to Twigs’ ability to push the boundaries of what pop music can be. By embracing risk and experimentation, she continues to carve out a unique space in the music industry, inspiring a new generation of artists to follow in her footsteps. For fans and newcomers alike, Eusexua offers a glimpse into the mind of an artist unafraid to challenge conventions and explore the unknown.

In a world where music often prioritizes commercial success over artistic integrity, FKA Twigs stands as a beacon of creativity and authenticity. Eusexua is a bold, boundary-pushing album that captures the essence of her artistry, blending emotional vulnerability with sonic innovation. Whether you’re drawn to her experimental soundscapes or her poignant lyrics, there’s no denying the impact of her work. As Twigs continues to evolve, one thing remains clear: her music will always challenge, inspire, and captivate those who dare to listen.

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