Entertainment
FKA Twigs Rises After Visa Setback, Album Gains Prestigious Nominations

LOS ANGELES, CA — British artist FKA Twigs faced a challenging moment earlier this year. Just days before her scheduled performance at the Coachella music festival, her plans were disrupted due to visa issues preventing her entry into the United States.
“It was one of the most painful times of my career,” said the artist, whose real name is Tahliah Barnett. “All I wanted to do was perform in front of my fans… and it all slipped through my fingers like sand.”
Twigs’ frustration stemmed from a mix of complications that left her feeling blindsided. “It was so many small reasons why, but none were within my control,” she explained. “The flights and the visas and the stage advancing, none of it was done.”
However, Twigs has turned that setback into a learning experience. “Now I know about buses and freighting; how many days it takes to get from New York to Mexico in a truck,” she shared. The artist has opted to work without a dedicated music manager, focusing instead on a small, flexible team.
After the Coachella cancellation, Twigs’ perseverance showed when her latest album, Eusexua, earned critical acclaim, even being shortlisted for the U.K.’s prestigious Mercury Prize. The album, described by Twigs as capturing the euphoria of a club scene, is generating Grammy buzz as voting begins.
Twigs describes Eusexua as “the pinnacle of human experience,” highlighting its deep emotional essence. “It’s a feeling of pure nothingness but of endless possibility,” she said.
As she reflects on her artistic journey, Twigs admits that while awards used to matter, her focus has shifted to cultural impact over accolades. “I’ve always felt very confident in my cultural impact more than what numbers look like on Spotify,” she noted.
Despite her nonconformist music style, which mixes genres, Twigs has collaborated with many artists, including Future and The Weeknd. “My place isn’t anywhere, to be honest,” she said, emphasizing her fluid artistic identity.
In addition to music, Twigs has ventured into acting, recently portraying Mother Mary in a horror film. She expressed her excitement about working alongside Nicolas Cage, stating, “I learned so much from him.”
Facing personal challenges, including an abusive relationship with actor Shia LaBeouf, Twigs has emerged stronger. “What I went through with Shia was the worst thing I’ve ever been through in my life,” she shared, highlighting her commitment to advocate for survivors of abuse.
Today, Twigs is focused on performing for her fans, with plans to return to Coachella in 2026. “Seeing people singing every single lyric… it makes me quite emotional,” she reflected, emphasizing the importance of community through her music. “It sounds so obvious, but… a group of like-minded people could be the difference of life and death.”