SPILL LIVE REVIEW: FKA TWIGS @ REBEL, TORONTO

FKA TWIGS

@ REBEL, TORONTO

NOVEMBER 17, 2019

FKA Twigs is a very interesting and fresh artist hailing from the U.K. She is known for being more of a songwriter than a musician, mixing dance, music, and eye-catching visuals all together in her live performances. Fans lined up in the cold all the way down the street to see what the multi-talented artist had in store for them.

The audience let out a passionate scream as FKA Twigs emerged from behind a curtain, performing “Hide” in near darkness. The first quarter set consisted of songs from her EPs and her debut album LP1 including as “Water me” and “Pendulum”.

The visuals were incredible the entire time. The show felt a lot more like musical theatre than a concert. The singer’s backup dancers added a lot to her dynamic performance, at times contrasting her movements and at other times syncing with them. Both her costumes and stage design changed continuously throughout the night matching the mood of the music.

MAGDALENE ALBUM REVIEW

During “sad day”, she performed a sword dance alone on stage before the curtains fell, revealing a complex multi-floor set piece, with artists drumming, playing guitar, and dancing on different levels. It was pretty mind-blowing.

The show was much like a rollercoaster, with the emotional climax being during “mirrored heart” where FKA Twigs’ singing voice broke into a whisper as tears rolled down her face. Audience members joined in sobbing. This was a change in pace from the moments before where the avant-garde artist had everybody dancing to “Holy Terrain”, a shortened version of “Fukk Sleep”, as well as an A$AP Rocky song she is featured on.

The singer-songwriter took a moment before her last song to express her appreciation of the audience of her sold out show. “Thank you so much for being here tonight, it truly means the world to me” she said, lit only by a spotlight. She performed “cellophane”, the last track off of her album Magdalene, leaving a huge dramatic pause before the last chorus, as if to hold on to her last moments in Toronto. In true theatre fashion, FKA Twigs and the back-up dancers took a bow together before walking off stage.

(Photography by Cory Barter)

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