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FKA Twigs defines “Eusexua” – the title of her third album and its sister album “Eusexua Afterglow” – as “the feeling of being so euphoric that you transcend the human form.” On Sunday night, she brought that feeling to life on Coahella’s Mojave Stage.
Twigs pushed herself to the limit during the 75-minute set: she threw her body into her signature pole dances, spun in circles on another dancer during “Love Crimes,” brandished a sword and performed as if music and emotion were trying to fight their way out of her. Towards the end of the set, as she dived into an intense performance of “Cellophane,” the emotions broke through. Twigs was practically on the verge of crying during the song as she looked out over the crowd that was glued to her.
It was a particularly powerful and moving moment of a performance that also included a celebratory homage to West Coast ballroom culture. Honey Balenciaga and Makayla Basquiat performed during a dance interlude announced by actor and ballroom performer Dashaun Wesley – with the words: “Lets get ready to vogue in this motherfucker.” In the end, the Mojave Stage felt less like a stage in the desert and more like a performance art exhibition.
Completion of the US tour
Coachella officially marks the end of Twigs’ US tour dates. The Body High tour, which most recently included an acclaimed debut at Madison Square Garden, is the latest in a string of successes for the musician. Earlier this year, she took home her first Grammy Award – in the Best Electronic/Dance Album category for “Eusexua.” Tonight’s setlist largely reflected that of their tour, but significantly increased the whole thing on a physical level.
“On tour the last few weeks, I looked out into the audience and didn’t see any fans or people who just like a little bit of my music,” Twigs said at Coachella. “What I saw is a community. I look out into the crowd tonight and see the same thing. I believe we are all here tonight because we want to grow, because we believe in ourselves, because we are artistic, because we want to express ourselves, because we are here against all odds.”
She continued: “We are open-minded, beautifully feeling people – and the way the world is today, we need that. Take a moment to say hello to the person next to you, because the fact that we are all here means we have something beautiful in common.”
What Eusexua means
The performance embodied everything that Twigs associates with “Eusexua.” “When I think of ‘Eusexua,’ it’s about accepting yourself and accepting others. It’s about tolerance, about presence and realizing that we are so much more than our shells,” she told ROLLING STONE last year. “We are these beautiful lights. I always talk about the light in my chest. I’m not FKA Twigs. I’m not even Tahliah. I’m a tiny light in my chest that’s full of endless love and possibilities.”
