A couple of different scenes were involved in the early development of the genre; artists such as Noisia and Two Fingers incorporated neurofunk's harsh, glitchy basslines into a half-time setting, with some early halftime tracks being produced as early as 2010, when Noisia released their debut album Split the Atom. In addition, many early halftime producers were centered around Noisia's own label, Division Recordings. Other early halftime producers such as Alix Perez, Ivy Lab and Mono/Poly introduced influences from hip hop and Trap [EDM] (mostly percussion-wise), as well as Minimal Drum and Bass. Ivy Lab's label 20/20 LDN Recordings would also become one of the leading hubs of halftime during the mid-2010s.
Entering the late 2010s, artists such as Mefjus, Vorso, Shield and Kursa helped popularize and extend the audience and sound of halftime. A smaller variant of the sound, dubbed "future beats" was also associated with the 20/20 LDN collective.
Which Way
FKA twigs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's like a elevator, elevator music
But you're going to the fiftieth floor
Oh, made me realize I have no thoughts though
Da-da-dee-da-da-da-do, I don't know which way to go
Which way to go
When I was walkin' through the London city lights
I met the Devil (if you never know yourself)
And he smiled at me and said
"You're going the wrong way" (you'll never know)
Your thumbs are idle and they're all mine (never find)
Way to go
Did I say that out loud?
Put my feelings on the line
To find out which way should I go
Da-da-dee-da-da-da-do, I don't know which way to go
Da-da-dee-da-da-da-do, I don't know which way to go
Which way to go
When I was walkin' through the London city lights
I met the Devil (if you never know yourself)
And he smiled at me and said
"You're going the wrong way" (you'll never know)
Your thumbs are idle and they're all mine (never find)
Da-da-dee-da-da-da-do, I don't know which way to go
(I am so lost)
Da-da-dee-da-da-da-do, I don't know which way to go
(Did I say that out loud?)
One, two, three, hey
I had a good job and I left (yee)
I had a good job and I left
I left because I thought it was right
Left, right, left, right
Da-da-dee-da-da-da-do, I don't know which way to go (left, right, left, right)
Which way to go (left, right, left, right)
I learnt on twitter
There's the whole, "I want to be a rockstar's girlfriend" (a rockstar's girlfriend?)
But yeah, the difference between me, and all those tweets is that
I'm the rockstar, not my boyfriend (you're not like those)
I'm not the rockstar's girlfriend
I am the rockstar girlfriend, do you get what I mean? (Mhm)
(The girlfriend who is a rockstar) like-
Like, I'm not the accessory to the rockstar, I'm the rockstar
Do you get what I mean?
The song "Which Way" by FKA twigs feat. Dystopia is a ballad that expresses the artist's confusion and indecision about which direction to take in life. The song starts with an elevator music-esque instrumental that intensifies as it progresses. The artist likens the music to her thought process, saying it's perfect music to think with, but it's taking her up to the fiftieth floor, far from where she currently is. With this, she realizes that she doesn't have a clear direction in her life. The phrase "Da-da-dee-da-da-da-do, I don't know which way to go" repeats throughout the song, emphasizing her confusion and lack of clarity.
Further on, the artist recalls walking through the city lights of London, where she met the Devil, who smiled at her and exclaimed that she was going the wrong way because she didn't know herself. The Devil then claimed dominion over her idle thumbs, meaning that he would keep her in a restless state, unable to make progress. She begins to question if she really said her thoughts out loud, wondering if she may regret sharing them with others.
Towards the end of the song, the artist confesses that she left a good job because she believed that it was the right thing to do. She also references the concept of being a rockstar's girlfriend, explaining that she is a rockstar and not just an accessory to one. She asserts that she is the "rockstar girlfriend," which means that she is the one who is a rockstar, not merely attached to one.
Overall, the song is a contemplation of one's personal journey and the struggles of finding direction in life.
Line by Line Meaning
This is like the perfect music to think, like, yeah (mmh)
The music is ideal for contemplation and introspection.
It's like a elevator, elevator music
The music is calming and soothing like elevator music.
But you're going to the fiftieth floor
The music takes you to a higher level of thought.
Oh, made me realize I have no thoughts though
The music has made the listener aware of their lack of inner reflection.
Da-da-dee-da-da-da-do, I don't know which way to go
Feeling lost and directionless in life.
When I was walkin' through the London city lights
The artist recalls a memory of walking at night in London.
I met the Devil (if you never know yourself)
During the walk, the artist had a deeper realization about themselves.
And he smiled at me and said
The realization had a foreboding feel to it.
"You're going the wrong way" (you'll never know)
The Devil's warning was that the path the artist was on was not right, and they may never figure out the correct one.
Your thumbs are idle and they're all mine (never find)
The Devil implies control over the idle thumbs, which represents the artist's lack of productivity or progress.
Did I say that out loud?
The artist reflects on having spoken aloud their inner thoughts.
Put my feelings on the line
The artist made themselves vulnerable by expressing their emotions openly.
To find out which way should I go
The artist seeks clarity and guidance for their path forward.
One, two, three, hey
Musical interlude.
I had a good job and I left (yee)
The artist left a stable career because they felt it was not fulfilling.
I left because I thought it was right
The artist made the decision to leave based on their own intuition.
Left, right, left, right
The artist is still searching for the correct direction in life.
I learnt on twitter
The artist has gained insight from social media.
There's the whole, "I want to be a rockstar's girlfriend" (a rockstar's girlfriend?)
Referencing common tweets about wanting to be romantically involved with a famous musician.
But yeah, the difference between me, and all those tweets is that
The artist points out the contrast between themselves and those who desire celebrity relationships.
I'm the rockstar, not my boyfriend (you're not like those)
The artist asserts their own success and talent, instead of possessing it vicariously through a partner's fame.
I'm not the rockstar's girlfriend
The artist does not want to be simply known as someone's romantic partner.
I am the rockstar girlfriend, do you get what I mean? (Mhm)
The artist is both a rockstar and a romantic partner themselves.
(The girlfriend who is a rockstar) like-
Further elaboration on the artist's identity.
Like, I'm not the accessory to the rockstar, I'm the rockstar
The artist asserts their own musical abilities and refuses to be viewed as simply an accessory to another's fame.
Do you get what I mean?
The artist seeks clarity on their own identity and message.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Tahliah Debrett Barnett, Mike Dean, Tobias Jesso Jr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Lostwig
twigs really made a cute visual mixtape for caprisongs and they’re all so unique and fun like wow the gift that keeps on giving yes
@lcs-1
Yes!!
@warmgreytenpercent
Like little treasures that keep making it thru the YT algorithm 🙏🏼
@ReshonBryant
Yup👀
@whatinthe1126
I consider this as an album
@Jxstvib1ng
This era is so liberating. I don’t want it to end
@abhisahni7880
Same 😭😭😭😭
@hassanadam6825
Imagine if she gave us a mixtape|| -flip side B
@theonlygosha
It’s her fame monster era
@PhREdoFSC
It could have a part 2.