Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond FKA twigs
Feb 24, 2026
FKA twigs, an experimental pop and R&B artist known for blending electronic production, dance, and striking visuals. She talks about performing through stage nerves and playing instruments live for autonomy. She explains why TikTok dances clash with her training and traces her rave and techno awakenings from Jamaican clubs to Prague. She also discusses making music quickly to reclaim masters and test new structures.
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Turn Stage Anxiety Into Excited Performance
- FKA Twigs lives in a constant fight-or-flight creative mode that she reframes as excitement before performing.
- She mentally transforms stage anxiety into the childhood thrill of showing something you've practiced, which lets nerves become fuel.
Bring Studio Instruments On Stage Yourself
- Test performing studio techniques live to gain autonomy as an artist and reduce dependency on others.
- Twigs plans to trigger her studio drum machines and pads on stage with an MD to replicate her production without a full band.
Late Adoption Shows How Fast Music Changed
- FKA Twigs initially underestimated streaming's importance and adapted later, reflecting rapid industry shifts.
- She realized around Magdalene that streaming presence (monthly listeners) matters and began 'working the system'.