Papi Pacify

Album: EP2 (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • An R&B musician and dancer of Jamaican and Spanish descent, Tahliah Barnett moved from her childhood home in rural Gloucestershire, to London where she became known as Twigs (for the way her bones crack). The acronym FKA was later affixed at the request of another artist called Twigs. The young singer paid her dues as a back-up dancer in Jessie J's video for "Do It Like A Dude," and also appeared in a BBC comedy sketch called Beyoncé Wants Groceries, in which she can be seen dancing in a supermarket.
  • This smoldering track was the lead single from Twigs' critically acclaimed EP2, which was released on indie label Young Turks (The xx, Jack Penate) on September 10 2013. The moody and intimate cut features production from Yeezus collaborator Arca.
  • The song's music video was directed by FKA Twigs and Tom Beard. She told NME regarding its concept: "It's important to run with your first instinct. The video is meant to be a physical manifestation of emotional turmoil with a lover."
  • The video features a disturbing scene where a man covers Twigs' mouth with his fingers. The singer admitted to London's ES magazine the dark imagery is a reference to an abusive former partner. "In the relationship I couldn't communicate," she explained. "The person I was with was stopping me from explaining how I felt. So the physical manifestation is someone putting their hand in your mouth."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Holly Knight ("The Best," "Love Is A Battlefield")

Holly Knight ("The Best," "Love Is A Battlefield")Songwriter Interviews

Holly Knight talks about some of the hit songs she wrote, including "The Warrior," "Never" and "The Best," and explains some songwriting philosophy, including how to think of a bridge.

Maxi Priest

Maxi PriestSongwriter Interviews

The British reggae legend tells the story of his #1 hit "Close To You," talks about his groundbreaking Shabba Ranks collaboration "Housecall," and discusses his latest project with Robin Trower.

Paul Stanley of Kiss, Soul Station

Paul Stanley of Kiss, Soul StationSongwriter Interviews

Paul Stanley on his soul music project, the Kiss songs with the biggest soul influence, and the non-make-up era of the band.

Second Wind Songs

Second Wind SongsSong Writing

Some songs get a second life when they find a new audience through a movie, commercial, TV show, or even the Internet.

Bob Daisley

Bob DaisleySongwriter Interviews

Bob was the bass player and lyricist for the first two Ozzy Osbourne albums. Here's how he wrote songs like "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley" with Ozzy and Randy Rhoads.

Devo

DevoSongwriter Interviews

Devo founders Mark Mothersbaugh and Jerry Casale take us into their world of subversive performance art. They may be right about the De-Evoloution thing.