Magdalene

FKA twigs returned with Magdalene, a deeply personal second studio album released on November 8, 2019, via Young Turks. This record marks her first full-length project since 2014's LP1 and follows the experimental 2015 EP M3LL155X. The fourteen-track collection blends art pop, electronic, and R&B into a sonic landscape that feels both fragile and expansive. Twigs produced the work herself alongside a diverse team including Nicolas Jaar, Daniel Lopatin, Skrillex, and Benny Blanco, with Noah Goldstein serving as executive producer. Only one guest appears on the record: American rapper Future contributes to the track "Cellophane." Lead singles like "Holy Terrain" and "Home with You" preceded the release, building anticipation for a tour that followed.

The title draws inspiration from Mary Magdalene, using the biblical figure's story of repentance and devotion as a metaphor for twigs' own journey through heartbreak and healing. Critics immediately recognized the shift in tone compared to her earlier dance-oriented work, noting how the music embraces silence and vulnerability. The Guardian awarded it a perfect five-star rating, calling it brave and heartbreaking, while Pitchfork gave it an 8.8 out of 10, praising its intimate nature. Rolling Stone placed the album on their best-of-2019 list, highlighting its cinematic scope.

Commercially, the record debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, marking twigs' first chart-topper in her home country. It reached number 28 on the US Billboard 200 and secured Silver certification in the UK for sales exceeding 60,000 units. The project earned a Mercury Prize nomination in 2020 and won Best British Female Solo Artist at the Brit Awards. A companion film directed by twigs accompanied the release, visually narrating the album's emotional arc across various formats including vinyl and CD. [edit]