FKA twigs – Cheap Hotel

FKA twigs is currently one of the world’s most skilled artists who blend different genres in alternative pop and electronic music, a fact she demonstrated again earlier this year with the excellent album EUSEXUA. The deluxe version of the album Afterglow is set to be released on November 14, and the latest single from it has just been made available.

“Cheerful” is not a word that would sound correct in this sentence. “Cheap Hotel” follows “Perfectly” and engages with the hazy, slightly somber, and dreamy manipulations of break beats and art pop that she is known for. The track begins with a more upbeat tempo, featuring a vocal sample that has been pitched down, before transitioning into a trip-hop-inspired sound with crisp boom-bap rhythms. Lush synthesizers provide a full background sound as the English singer sings in high-pitched tones about a covert partnership.

The artist behind “Childlike Things” enhances this already forward-thinking and adaptable track by integrating more dembow rhythms approximately halfway through “Cheap Hotel.” On paper, all these phases and elements may seem overwhelming, yet the cohesive production and melodic strengths make it all feel cohesive and well-integrated.

It remains to be seen whether Afterglow will further explore these songwriting choices or pursue distinct paths for its remaining tracks. In 2025, FKA twigs created a handful of notable additional works.

Yeat featured her on his new album DANGEROUS SUMMER, a move that caught many fans off guard. “Cheap Hotel” illustrates why the 37-year-old artist maintains a consistent level of artistry, even when she explores unconventional territory.