The Track Forecast: FKA twigs’ ‘Eusexua’ takes a deep dive into transcendence and artistic freedom

Music meteorology: predicting the next wave of megahits and earworms with the tracks they’re teasing and releasing now.

As the cravings for instant gratification and the next viral hit remain elsewhere, twigs again dares to defy convention.

Words: Dan Harrison.

FKA twigs has never been one to colour within the lines, and with her latest single ‘Eusexua’, she’s pushing the boundaries of music, art, and self-expression even further into the realm of the transcendental. Released as the lead track from her forthcoming third studio album of the same name, the song sees twigs embarking on a transformative journey both musically and conceptually.

It’s been five years since ‘Magdalene’ – two since her critically acclaimed mixtape ‘Caprisongs’ – and twigs’ new single marks a notable jump forwards. Co-produced by Koreless and Eartheater, ‘Eusexua’ draws deeply from her experiences in Prague’s underground rave scene. While the track doesn’t fully immerse itself in techno, its influence pulses beneath the surface, building from ethereal whispers to a throbbing, rave-infused beat. In capturing this spirit, twigs channels the euphoria and physical release that defines those late-night dance floor epiphanies.

At the heart of ‘Eusexua’, though, lies a concept that goes beyond traditional musical storytelling. Twigs has coined the term ‘Eusexua’ to encapsulate the most intense moments of human experience — the deep connection with a lover, the spark of inspiration before an idea takes flight, the sensation of losing oneself entirely in a moment. It’s about transcending the human form, melding with another, and achieving a state of pure presence.

This ethos permeates not just the song, but also its visual counterpart, directed by Jordan Hemingway. The video is nothing short of a visual odyssey, clocking in at nearly eight minutes — a lifetime in the age of the three-minute pop hit. It begins in the sterile confines of an anonymous office, where twigs, clad in a grey suit with cropped hair, blends into the sea of corporate monotony. As the music builds, so does the transformation. She sheds her uniformity, slipping into surreal costumes and embracing increasingly liberated choreography. The dancers around her follow suit, breaking free from their rigid routines into wild, fluid expression. By the video’s climax, twigs has fully reclaimed her identity, an unapologetic celebration of individuality and artistic freedom.

It’s a visual metamorphosis that mirrors the overarching theme of ‘Eusexua’ — a journey from strict and stifling conformity to freeing liberation. It’s a narrative of shedding societal expectations, beauty standards, and the incessant need to please. Twigs has made it clear that this chapter of her life is about discarding limitations and living with unbridled presence. She’s certainly doing that here.

But twigs doesn’t stop at crafting a sonic and visual experience; she’s extending ‘Eusexua’ into the realm of performance art with ‘The Eleven’, a multi-disciplinary project debuted at Sotheby’s in London. Tying into the core themes of the single and the forthcoming album, it features movement and visual art that embody her principles of body positivity, artistic integrity, and spiritual growth. Live-streamed and accompanied by her personal sketchbooks, ‘The Eleven’ offers a window into her creative process and the philosophy guiding her work — taking ‘Eusexua’ beyond traditional music formats and ventures into full sensory art.

Musically, ‘Eusexua’ stands in stark contrast to the heartache-laden tones of ‘Magdalene’. Where ‘Magdalene’ was introspective and raw, ‘Eusexua’ is expansive, celebratory, and unabashedly physical. It doesn’t just invite you to listen; it implores movement, to feel every beat resonate and to embrace the communal ecstasy of music and dance. Transcendence, joy, and release are the order of the day.

While ‘Caprisongs’ offered a playful, mixtape-style glimpse into twigs’ world, ‘Eusexua’ feels like the culmination of a creative pilgrimage. The accompanying album, set for release in January 2025, promises to delve deeper into themes of connection, euphoria, and self-discovery, with track titles like ‘Wanderlust’ further hinting at the journey ahead.

As the cravings for instant gratification and the next viral hit remain elsewhere, twigs again dares to defy convention. Releasing an eight-minute visual alongside a four-minute track that demands your full attention is a bold move. She’s asking us to pause, to immerse ourselves fully, to experience these moments alongside her. It’s a deliberate challenge to the disposable nature of modern content consumption, aligning perfectly with her ethos. Art, for twigs, is not a fleeting distraction but a profound engagement – a celebration of the human experience in all its raw, euphoric, and transcendental glory.