M3LL155X

In November 2014, producer Boots, whose work includes producing music on Beyoncé's 2013 eponymous album, announced he was working on Twigs' third extended play.{{cite web |last=Pareles |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Pareles |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/15/arts/music/after-his-coup-with-beyonce-boots-strides-out-of-the-shadows.html |title=After His Coup With Beyoncé, Boots Strides Out of the Shadows |work=The New York Times |date=14 February 2015 |access-date=14 August 2015}}

M3LL155X was completed by November 2014, and she was waiting for the end of her LP1 tour before releasing any material.{{cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hear-fka-twigs-sparse-melodic-new-song-figure-8-20150804 |title=Hear FKA Twigs' Sparse, Melodic New Song, 'Figure 8' |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=4 August 2015 |access-date=14 August 2015}} She had also been working on a music video for every song, which delayed the release.{{cite web |last=Pasori |first=Cedar |url=http://www.complex.com/music/fka-twigs-interview-2015-cover-story |title=FKA twigs Interview (2015 Cover Story) |work=Complex |date=June–July 2015 |access-date=14 August 2015}}

When Twigs was 18, she began working with local London producers to try to find "her sound". Around the time is when she wrote "I'm Your Doll". She ended up producing a lot of what she calls "really bad demos." In an interview with Complex, Twigs admitted that she had a self-hatred while writing her debut studio album LP1, which she considers "quite normal" for a young person.

Before M3LL155X had a title, fans and reporters referred to the extended play as EP3, as a continuation of the pattern started by EP1 and EP2. In June 2015, she announced the name of the EP to be Melissa. "Melissa" is the name of Twigs's personal female energy. She explains that Melissa is not an alter ego, and clarifies that her female energy never had a name until the EP was being finalised. She named the extended play M3LL155X as a way of separating it from herself.{{cite web |url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/24937/1/fka-twigs-announces-the-name-of-ep3 |title=FKA twigs announces the name of EP3 |work=Dazed |date=3 June 2015 |access-date=14 August 2015}} It was this energy that made her want to appear pregnant in the "Glass & Patron" music video and the videos that follow.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Daisy |url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/24993/1/six-things-we-know-about-fka-twigs-melissa-ep |title=Six things we know about FKA twigs' Melissa EP |work=Dazed |date=9 June 2015 |access-date=14 August 2015}}

The music video for "Glass & Patron", directed by Twigs herself, debuted on 23 March 2015 as part of the 2015 YouTube Music Awards.{{cite web |last=Gordon |first=Jeremy |url=http://pitchfork.com/news/58932-fka-twigs-gives-birth-to-a-vogue-battle-in-the-glass-patron-video/ |title=FKA twigs Gives Birth to a Vogue Battle in the "Glass & Patron" Video |website=Pitchfork |date=23 March 2015 |access-date=14 August 2015}} The song "Figure 8" premiered on Zane Lowe's radio show Beats 1 on 3 August 2015. The song "In Time" premiered on Annie Mac's radio show on BBC Radio 1 as well as on Sirius XMU an hour before the extended play's release. On 31 August 2015, "In Time" impacted contemporary hit radio in the United Kingdom as the lead single from the EP.{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/playlist?filter=new |title=BBC – Radio 1 – Playlist |publisher=BBC Radio 1 |access-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150901220552/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/playlist?filter=new |archive-date=1 September 2015}}

The extended play was released on 13 August 2015 as a digital download. Twigs unveiled the album artwork on her Instagram account. It was shot and edited by artist Matthew Stone.{{cite web |last=Torres |first=Eric |url=http://pitchfork.com/news/60791-fka-twigs-releases-new-ep-m3ll155x/ |title=FKA twigs Releases New EP M3LL155X |website=Pitchfork |date=13 August 2015 |access-date=14 August 2015}}

A short film was released simultaneously with the EP's release. The self-directed 16-minute video features four of the songs: "Figure 8", "I'm Your Doll", "In Time" and the previously released video for "Glass & Patron".

The video begins with the song "Figure 8", and features a cameo of fashion icon Michèle Lamy dressed as an anglerfish. Her hands and arms are entirely ornamented in jewelry. Near the end of the song, Lamy inserts the esca into her mouth. She opens her mouth to reveal a luminescent ball floating from her mouth. The song "I'm Your Doll" begins with a CGI animation of a nude woman inflating created by digital artist Jihoon Yoo. The video then cuts to a scene of Twigs, with the body of a blow-up doll, lying in a bed. A man lusts over her and proceeds to have sex with her plastic body. The doll body is deflated after he impregnated her.{{cite web |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/fka-twigs/news/fka-twigs-releases-surprise-album-with-short-film_4870265 |title=Fka Twigs Releases Surprise Album With Short Film |website=Contactmusic.com |date=14 August 2015 |access-date=14 August 2015}}{{cite web |last=Bradley |first=Laura |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2015/08/13/new_fka_twigs_ep_m3ll155x_released_along_with_a_bizarrely_poetic_16_minute.html |title=FKA Twigs Just Dropped a New EP—and a Bizarrely Poetic 16-Minute Video |work=Slate |date=13 August 2015 |access-date=14 August 2015}} The song "In Time" begins and shows a pregnant Twigs, as well as a normal Twigs dancing for a man in a jewel (the man was previously featured in her video for "Papi Pacify" from EP2). As the song ends, Twigs's water breaks, and pastel paint drips down her legs and forms a puddle around her feet. A white van with pink and blue handprints flashes on the screen as the music video for "Glass & Patron" begins. A sample of "Mothercreep" begins as Twigs prepares to give birth to dancers and coloured mesh. The scene cuts to a vogue battle on a runway as "Glass & Patron" plays. Twigs begins as a judge of the battle but then participates near the end.

Billboard described the video as "jaw-dropping" and a "video statement".{{cite magazine |last=Payne |first=Chris |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/6663828/fka-twigs-ep-M3LL155X-video-figure-8-glass-patron |title=FKA Twigs Drops Surprise EP: Details & Her Must-Watch New Video |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |date=13 August 2015 |access-date=14 August 2015}} Rolling Stone compared the music video to the work of director David Lynch.{{cite magazine |last=Reed |first=Ryan |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/watch-fka-twigs-lynchian-short-film-for-new-ep-20150813 |title=Watch FKA Twigs' Lynchian Short Film for New EP |magazine=Rolling Stone |publisher=Wenner Media |date=13 August 2015 |access-date=14 August 2015}} The music video also received two nominations from 2016 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Visual Effects and Best Choreography.{{cite magazine| url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/vma/7453279/beyonce-adele-lead-nominees-2016-mtv-video-music-awards |title=Beyonce, Adele Lead Nominees for 2016 MTV Video Music Awards |magazine=Billboard |access-date=26 July 2016}}

{{Album ratings

| MC = 89/100{{Cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/m3ll155x-ep/fka-twigs |title=Critic Reviews for M3L155X |access-date=24 August 2015 |work=CBS Interactive |publisher=Metacritic }}

| rev1 = Billboard

| rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/6671096/fka-twigs-m3ll155x-ep-review|title=FKA Twigs' 'M3LL155X' EP Makes a Statement (and Leaves Unanswered Questions): Album Review|magazine=Billboard|last=Ex|first=Kris|date=21 August 2015}}

| rev2 = Consequence of Sound

| rev2score = BKivel, [https://consequence.net/2015/08/album-review-fka-twigs-m3ll155x/ Consequence of Sound]. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2015.

| rev3 = DIY

| rev3score = {{rating|4|5}}{{Cite web |last=Milton |first=Jamie |date=August 14, 2015 |title=FKA Twigs – M3LL155X |url=https://diymag.com/article/fka-twigs-m3ll155x-ep-review |access-date=June 26, 2025 |work=DIY}}

| rev4 = Drowned in Sound

| rev4score = 9/10{{cite web |last=Adcock |first=Lee |url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/18967/reviews/4149302 |title=EP Review: FKA Twigs - M3LL155X |work=Drowned in Sound |date=24 August 2015 |access-date=18 October 2017 |archive-date=18 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018191910/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/18967/reviews/4149302 |url-status=dead }}

| rev5 = The Independent

| rev5score = {{rating|5|5}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/fka-twigs-m3ll155x--album-review-dancing-to-her-own-tune-10465513.html|title=FKA Twigs, M3LL155X - Album review: Dancing to her own tune|newspaper=The Independent|last=Gill|first=Andy|date=21 August 2015}}

| rev6 = Now Magazine

| rev6score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last=Edwards |first=Samantha |url=https://nowtoronto.com/music/album-reviews/fka-twigs_1 |title=FKA Twigs - M3LL155X |work=Now Magazine |date=26 August 2015 |access-date=18 October 2017}}

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7score = 8.6/10Mistry, Anupa. [http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/20985-m3ll155x/ Pitchfork Media]. 18 August 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2015.

| rev8 = PopMatters

| rev8score = 8/10{{cite web |last=Rollman |first=Hans |url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/196674-fka-twigs-m3ll155x |title=FKA twigs: M3LL155X |work=PopMatters |date=27 August 2015 |access-date=18 October 2017}}

| rev9 = Spin

| rev9score = 8/10{{cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/2015/08/review-fka-twigs-m3ll155x-ep/|title=Review: FKA twigs Takes No Prisoners on the New 'M3LL155X' EP|website=Spin|last=Brown|first=Harley|date=17 August 2015}}

}}

M3LL155X received widespread acclaim from contemporary music critics upon its release. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 89, based on 12 reviews, which indicates "universal acclaim". Kris Ex from Billboard described the extended play as "spacious, paranoid, and sultry," but stated that the songs lacked hooks. Ex commented that even though the EP makes a statement, it also leaves unanswered questions. Adam Kivel from Consequence of Sound compares the EP to the uncanny valley, stating that the music is similar to R&B and pop, but it still pulls the listener out of their comfort zone. Andy Gill from The Independent stated that the music is more focused and coherent than LP1. Gill also commented that Twigs's art is so unique, she's "staring stardom in the face." Anupa Mistry from Pitchfork stated that M3LL155X builds on Twigs's previous work, and her voice "prowls" over the music, compared to her previously soft voice. Mistry also declares Twigs to be the feminist pop star that we need. Harley Brown from Spin stated that Twigs seems to be "growing stronger," and described the sound of the extended play as "futuristic" and "nostalgic."

All tracks written and produced by FKA Twigs and Boots, except where noted.

{{Track listing

| headline = M3LL155X track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Figure 8

| length1 = 3:03

| title2 = I'm Your Doll

| writer2 = {{hlist|FKA Twigs|Seiji|Tic}}

| length2 = 3:11

| title3 = In Time

| writer3 = {{hlist|FKA Twigs|Tic|Joel Compass}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|FKA Twigs|Tic}}

| length3 = 4:35

| title4 = Glass & Patron

| length4 = 4:19

| title5 = Mothercreep

| length5 = 3:36

| total_length = 18:44

}}

Credits adapted from the liner notes of M3LL155X.{{cite AV media notes |title=M3LL155X |type=CD liner notes |publisher=Young Turks |year=2015 |id=YTLP142}}

{{div col}}

• FKA Twigs – vocals, production, vocal arrangements, drums, programming, keyboards, synthesizer (all tracks)
• Jordan "Boots" Asher – production, vocal arrangements, percussion, drums, programming, keyboards, synthesizer (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5)
• Tic – production (tracks 3)
• Cy An – additional keyboards, drums, vocals, programming, edits (track 2)
• John Davis – mastering (all tracks)
• Happa – additional programming (track 3)
• Marco Pasquariello – additional engineering (track 3)
• Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing (track 3)
• Matthew Stone – photography
• Geoff Swan – additional mixing (track 3)
• David Wrench – mixing (tracks 2, 4); vocal mixing (track 3)
• Stuart Write – mixing (tracks 1, 5)

{{div col end}}

{{Reflist}}

{{FKA twigs}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2015 EPs

Category:FKA Twigs albums

Category:Visual albums

Category:Young (record label) albums