Review: FKA Twigs is reborn with ‘Caprisongs’

Sabrina Edwards, Arts & Entertainment Editor

English singer-songwriter FKA Twigs is on the upswing with her new mixtape, “Caprisongs.” This is her first release since 2019, and after going through multiple public breakups, she’s reclaiming her sound and empowering herself through song.

Her previous release was her second studio album, “Magdalene.” It was moving, with every song was filled with her then-present emotion. She wrote this while she was in a dark time, and it was obvious in the tone of that album. When comparing these two, it’s obvious Twigs is in a much better place in her life now and that’s reflected in her most recent release.

When creating her previous album she was in a lawsuit with her ex-boyfriend, actor Shia LaBeouf. Following that, she had a slew of health issues, needing to get fibroids removed from her uterus. All of this pain and heartbreak was funneled into “Magdalene.”

“Caprisongs” is her comeback; Twigs is now reborn. She has found herself again, and she’s flexing her newfound happiness and peace in this mixtape. She’s lifting the veil on all her personas, finally allowing herself to be free. It isn’t a Twigs album without breathy high-pitched ballads, however, these once-eerie sounds are now coupled with upbeat club tracks. She’s found her sound again and she’s now pushing the boundaries and experimenting with it.

Throughout her whole career Twigs has been evolving. She’s created her own framework, melding synth-pop, dancehall, spoken word, ambient, pop and soul, mixing all of these sounds to create “Caprisongs.” She’s described this mixtape as a “journey back to herself,” showcasing all of her ups and downs with different sounds.

As her most collaborative piece so far, Twigs is also showcasing her production skills. The mixtape features a handful of other artists, each having their own unique additions that Twigs meticulously fits into her own vibe. Some of the features include The Weeknd, Shygirl, Jorja Smith and Daniel Caesar.

The songwriter is finally stripping herself back, showcasing her own struggles instead of hiding behind beats and frilly words. “Meta Angel” opens with an interlude that reveals Twigs is still on the road to self-fulfillment. “I wanna be more confident, I really do,” Twigs shares to a friend. The song then goes into a spiral of her own insecurities, surrounded by choir of her vocals.

Twigs lets herself go in the very next song, “Tears in the Club,” featuring The Weeknd. Letting out all of her emotion and baggage over the years out the only way she knows how, through dance. While many songs feature the crying-in-the-club theme, Twigs is making it her own, dancing out her emotions through tears and pain. “Wanna dance you out of my, gotta dance you outta my hips, my thighs, my wrongs, my rights.”

Despite the heavy vocal modification and club beats, there is a warmth to the mixtape. This is achieved through soundbites, which lets the listener into Twigs’ brain, and to see how she sees herself. The honest and raw emotion creates a connection. Her friends call her out, showing her that she’s not defined by her hardships. “I love you… I wish you could see in you what I see in you, what everyone see’s in you, because that’s the golden stuff right there and these are your golden years, so have fun,” says one friend in “oh my love.”

This mixtape is a journey of self-discovery; Twigs finding herself, despite all of the struggles she’s been through in the past years. Her raw emotions are on display, despite the ups and downs she’s still trying. Twigs is showing the human experience. Throughout the process of finding yourself, there are days that are easier than others, which is perfectly encompassed in this sound. Going from the eerie choir in “Meta Angel,” to the club beats in “Papi Bones.”

The final song truly embraces the pain and growth that Twigs has gone through. “I wanted to die, I’m just being honest,” opens Twigs. “No longer afraid to say it out loud.” This mixtape is a thank you to her loved ones, showing her own personal and artist growth, while thanking them for their love. She expresses that because of them, she’s still here today.

Twigs is celebrating herself and those around her. This is the most vulnerable she has been in her career yet.  She’s grounding herself with the words of her loved ones, living in reality and funneling that love into her music, sharing it with others. Twigs is triumphant, overcoming all of her hardships and this mixtape is a testament to that journey.