FKA Twigs has shed light on how she balances artistry and joy with some of the “brutal and violent” moments she’s experienced.
- READ MORE: FKA Twigs – ‘Eusexua Afterglow’: a throbbing testament to experimental pop artistry
The British singer-songwriter spoke to ELLE UK for their February cover, and reflected on experiencing moments both “beautiful and amazing” and “really brutal and violent” as she reaches her late thirties.
Looking back to the creation of ‘Eusexua‘ – which NME hailed a “transcendent artistic experience” – Twigs said that with age, she had learned to listen to herself more. “I’ve always wanted to be at this perfect cross point of growth and youth – to be able to be young and sexy and healthy – and also not be an idiot like I was in my 20s,” she said.
“I’m reaching that age where I can really look back at my life, and I can see so many things that have been beautiful and amazing, and other things that have been really brutal and violent.”
“I’m realising that I can hold my love of life and my artistry and the beauty of my life, and I can also hold the brutality and the sadness and the violence,” she continued. “I can hold things at the same time, and that feels really good.”
Going on to compare life to a raspberry, she said it’s “bitter, but it’s sweet.”
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The musician has been open in the past about allegedly experiencing violence throughout a former relationship with Shia LaBeouf. She sued the Transformers actor in December 2020, accusing him of physical and verbal abuse, sexual battery and emotional distress. She claimed that he was a danger to women and had slammed her into a car, tried to strangle her and knowingly gave her a sexually transmitted disease.
LaBeouf has consistently denied Twigs’ claims of abuse. His lawyers responded at the time of the suit by saying he did not cause her harm, and the actor has said he denied “each and every allegation” raised against him.
Back in July, she dropped her assault and sexual battery lawsuit and settled the case outside of court, with attorneys for each saying they wished each other “personal happiness, professional success, and peace in the future”.
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Later this year, the singer-songwriter will head out on the road in Europe, where she’s due to play a run of arena concerts in Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Paris and Berlin in June this summer, following a North American leg in the spring, with only one stop set for the UK on the ‘Body High’ trek, when she takes to the stage at London’s O2 on June 10. You’ll be able to buy your tickets here – while tickets for the US and Canada shows will be available here.
Meanwhile, the ‘Eusexua’ track ‘Room Of Fools’ has landed at Number 25 on NME‘s 50 best songs of 2025 list.
We also gave the record a glowing five-star review, writing: “Twigs has successfully shown that the connection of music, movement, mind, soul and body can be converted into sound”, while it’s follow-up, ‘…Afterglow’, earned four stars: “Does it live up to the lofty marketing of its predecessor? Perhaps not. But it still proves that Twigs is one of the most prolific and original alt-pop icons of our times.”
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
The post FKA Twigs opens up about balancing “brutal and violent” experiences with artistry months after settling Shia LaBeouf assault suit appeared first on NME.