FKA twigs - MAGDALENE

Image Source: Pitchfork

By Ava Fineza

For all the strife that heartbreak can bring, in special cases, it can bring beautiful music that blesses my ears as FKA twigs did with her 2019 album, MAGDALENE. Of course, I would never wish a breakup on her, but for now, I’ll discuss the beauty of an album that was partly influenced by one. 

While James Blake’s Assume Form (I only reference this as I wrote another spotlight on this album) is a journey about falling in love, MAGDALENE is a story of a breakup. Produced wonderfully as all of twigs’ songs, MAGDALENE gives the listener a range in tempo and tone, with faster-paced songs such as holy terrain and fallen alien cutting through the slower, more somber tones of the rest of the album. But do not be mistaken - each song is truly individual and important in its own way, and though a similar speed is adopted by many of the songs they each give off a different feel. Songs like thousand eyes and mary magdalene are especially unique for their special layering of synths and instruments, one of them being twigs herself. I live for high production quality, and the sounds of this whole album seem to take me away from my surroundings and put me in a whole new space. The final song, cellophane, is angelic and depressing and when paired with the award-winning music video it’s even more magical. FKA twigs shows off her vocal talent in songs like home with you and mirrored heart, her range extremely impressive as she beautifully hits high notes in the former and belts fiercely in the latter. This, combined with the soft piano and odd synths and sounds (I just call any noise I can’t describe a synth lol) creates a haunting, sensual, otherworldly feeling that I’ve never heard before, and it’s always a treat to give MAGDALENE a listen. If I had to describe the feeling, it would be a light body, heavy heart.

The full album on YouTube, here you go!