Photo credit: Rina Yang
In April, FKA twigs returned with her first new music in over three years in the form of new single ‘Cellophane’. The song, her most vulnerable and connective to date, was accompanied by her most ambitious and powerful video yet, in collaboration with director Andrew Thomas Huang. Together they provided an enticing glimpse of what to expect of FKA twigs’ second album; the follow up to her Mercury Prize and Brit Award nominated LP1.
“twigs’ delicate voice is just impossibly moving here. In between short gasps, she sings uncomplicated words that seem drenched with complicated feelings… But by the end of the song, her falsetto soars, calling upon a philosophy that twigs has often invoked in her songwriting: Vulnerability is your greatest strength” – Pitchfork
Today, FKA twigs reveals a stunning live version of ‘Cellophane’. ‘Cellophane, Live At The Wallace Collection’ features twigs’ first ever live piano performance. Directed by twigs herself, the intimacy of the performance strikes a deep contrast with the conceptual scale of Huang’s original video. Filmed in London’s renowned The Wallace Collection, a place that has long inspired both twigs and one of her favourite designers, Vivienne Westwood. In celebration of both the iconic space and the designer she admires, twigs is seen wearing pieces from her own collection of vintage Westwood. Watch ‘Cellophane, Live At The Wallace Collection’ HERE
FKA twigs will release the fifth instalment of her AVANTgarden digital Instagram zine tomorrow, featuring exclusive imagery from her time at The Wallace Collection. AVANTgarden Issue 5 will be available via https://www.instagram.com/fkatwigs”
“to perform cellophane at the Wallace Collection is a dream come true – this is my love letter to the artefacts and paintings held within its walls and to one of my favourite designers Vivienne Westwood whose portrait collection was inspired by these pieces. it was an emotional experience to perform in that magical place, and to be wearing these beautiful clothes I’ve spent years collecting.” – FKA twigs
‘Cellophane, Live At The Wallace Collection’ Credits:
Director – FKA twigs
Production Company – Object & Animal
Producer – Morgan Clement
Director of Photography – Rina Yang
Creative Director/Styling – Matthew Josephs
Performance Director – Theo Adams
Make-up – Thom Walker
Hair Stylist – Rio Sreedharan
Steadicam – Josh Brooks
Live Audio Recording – Joe Brown
Edit – Charlie Von Rotberg @ Stitch
Grade – Joseph Bicknell @ CO3
Cellist: Lucinda Chua
Performer: Sakeema Crook
Praise for twig’s recent shows in Los Angeles’ Palace Theatre and New York’s Park Avenue Armory:
“As the show comes to an end, FKA twigs goes back to where she started – single-handedly dazzling the audience in front of those red curtains – while performing her stunning new ballad Cellophane. She is multi-dimensional: a once-upon-a-time video girl who is too big for any screen, an otherworldly talent who has suffered and been shaped by heartache like the rest of us, a woman on the quest of what being a woman means, and a performer who is finding artistic answers.” – The Face
“She ended the night where she began, in front of the hulking black curtain to perform her most recent single “Cellophane.” On record, the song reads as an aching grasp at equilibrium in a waning partnership. But as a finale, it took on a different perspective. As twigs asked, “didn’t I do it for you?” the sentiment pointed directly toward her attentive audience, faces enraptured by years of practice condensed into one nights performance. FKA twigs belongs to a rare tier of artists putting absolutely everything they have into sharpening their craft. The very least we can give back is patience.” – The FADER
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