Following the release of FKA twigs' album 'MAGDALENE', the enigmatic artist described it as her "most honest work because I was able to be myself and I was able to lead the sessions. That allowed me to shine through – the inside of me. That’s the most you’ve heard my voice. I was able to sit sometimes with my notebook and just really think about what I was trying to say. I had space.” When she and director Hiro Murai teamed up to collaborate on the music video for 'sad day', they approached it with the same level of ingenuity.

'sad day' was “co-conceived” by artist FKA twigs and director Hiro Murai. Partially inspired by a lyric from ‘MAGDALENE’ track ‘Home With You’ – “never seen a hero like me in a sci-fi” – the film shows twigs battling through her native London streets alongside co-star Teake. Three years prior to the film, Twigs began training in the Chinese martial art of Wushu under the guidance of Master Wu of the Shaolin Wushu Centre. In a press statement following the premiere of our film, Twigs commented, “Everything I’ve previously done with my body, all the training and dancing, has led to this point.”

Set within the backdrop of multicultural London, "sad day" explores the complexities of an enigmatic and addictive cycle of love and loss through the art of Wushu.

Directed by Hiro Murai and starring FKA twigs and Teake, "sad day" is a short musical film that occupies an elastic space between narrative filmmaking and performance art. Much like the album MAGDALENE from which it is born from, the overall experience is exploratory above all else. Since the release of the music video, FKA twigs is now adapting it into a TV series centered around outsiders and the idea of fitting in but not being able to.

As most music videos go, our crew worked on a very tight timeline. Preparation took place in LA, after which we sent key crew (Director, DP, Line Producer) to London for filming. Twigs and her co-star Teake had a couple of days to rehearse their fight choreography, then principal filming took place for two days the same week. In order to capture the desired tone, we shot at night while the otherwise busy London streets were empty. Post began soon after wrap, during which time our team of producers secured a partnership with Cake (of FX Network), where the film ultimately premiered.

The film received widespread acclaim following its premiere on Cake FX (via Hulu), and garnered over 1.5 million views on YouTube. Press coverage was extremely positive, and the music video is currently being adapted into a TV series created by FKA twigs and premiering on FX.