Watch FKA Twigs Make Sam Smith’s ‘Stay With Me’ Unrecognisable

When you take two of the UK’s most singular and talented young up-and-comers and put them together, you know you’re going to get something… weird. At least that’s the case if you pit the unique electronic stylings of FKA Twigs against the heartfelt, neo-soulful words and melodies of singer Sam Smith.

The may-or-may-not-be Laneway-bound FKA Twigs, real name Tahliah Barnett, recently came into the BBC Radio 1 studios for a live session, during which she performed a cover of Smith’s chart-topping ballad Stay With Me, replacing falsetto croons and piano chords with sparse beats and creeping synths.

Speaking about the cover (via Consequence of Sound), she said, “There was one line which basically alludes to saying, ‘I’m not in love with you and maybe this isn’t a serious thing, but it’s perfect for right now and it’s what I need emotionally right now,’ and maybe that’s just something that I have related to.”

Readers can head over to the BBC Radio 1 website to check out the full session, which included a performance of Two Weeks from Barnett’s debut full-length effort, LP1. In his review for Music Feeds, Tom Williams praised the album as “some of the most emotive and forthright pop in recent years.”

Watch: FKA Twigs – Stay With Me (Sam Smith Cover) at the Live Lounge

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