Neu Twigs

Name

: Twigs
Based: London
Listen: Twigstv Youtube
Similar to: Very little else. But fans of AlunaGeorge and Evy Jane will adore it. 

Sitting somewhere between complete anonymity and a soon to be astronomical level of fame is Twigs. A one-time backing dancer for Jessie J (as Pinboard blog informs us after some near-incredible research on the mysterious act), the R&B-peddling singer has released two videos - both as adventurous and provocative as each other - for ‘Hide’ and ‘Ache’ respectively. Both directed by Grace Ladoja, the latter shows a Bane-like figure wrestling with a headmask while the former shows a flower petal placed suggestively in front of where the sun doesn’t shine.

Exciting videos might’ve been enough to raise the hype levels, but Twigs also happens to back up the arty first impression with some great songs. ‘Hide’, in particular, is deep in inventive percussion and a delightfully minimal layer of funk-laden guitar and light, soulful vocals. Multiple genres are fused into one quite flooring two and a half minutes. At times her vocals sound choral and angelic, other times restrained and shy. She’s clearly going to be a star (she’s already appeared on the front of i-D magazine, after all). It’s just a case of when, not if.