NFV Song Spotlight: TwoLips' MFKN Free

I first came across Kianah LongChase of TwoLips in 2018 -- twice, in fact. What is an interesting point about the two encounters is that the sets were held at a couple favorite venues that have since closed: The Satellite and The Hi Hat. I then caught TwoLips twice more in 2019. This time those venues and events had better luck surviving: The Echo and Echo Park Rising. Unfortunately, though, I had to wait until 2023 to catch another set and only one set that year. That set was also at Echo Park Rising. And in 2024, I'm back to two sets a year. Once at The Echo and just recently at Non Plus Ultra. Yes, the number two is a trend here.  

TwoLips at Non Plus Ultra

What makes catching TwoLips a unique experience? Other than the alternative R&B music, you have to say a heck of an onstage performance and an unique sense of fashion. 

All this was on display at Non Plus Ultra during the Alphabet Soup series hosted by The Witching Hours and Safe Travels Presents. (I recently wrote an article about Sarah Once Was playing one of those nights so you know I enjoy heading out for that series.) 

TwoLips at Non Plus Ultra

On the checkered black and white stage floor of the venue were two cubes: one red and the other orange. What were they needed for? TwoLips had two dancers performing along side her. The two dancers were Jamie Cheung (a 2024 LA Sparks dancer) and Sharleen Temple. The two put on a show both dancing on the cubes and dancing across the floor. At one point, Cheung put on a breakdancing head dance with legs spread near parallel to the floor while TwoLips sang between the splits. Temple showed some amazing flexibility. Check out her Instagram page for some unreal photos of human contortion. You could tell that time was spent on choreography as the two danced in rhythm. 

TwoLips at Non Plus Ultra

TwoLips' producer and guitarist Lightfoot was off near the wall of the stage, working the tracks and sliding across or striking the guitar strings. 

This all leads to why everyone was watching the set in the first place, TwoLips. Dressed in a work of art body suit that included various colors and geometric designs, she kept the energy high throughout. There was maybe one song where she stacked the two cubes and took a well deserved breather. With an elbow length, white tassel glove worn on her left arm and feathered earrings, TwoLips gave the imagery of a mythical phoenix.  For one song, Cheung "pierced" TwoLips with a gladius sword, but the phoenix does always rise from the ashes. 

TwoLips at Non Plus Ultra

All these elements were combined, along with a psychedelic imagery against the white backdrop of the stage, for the final song of the night "MFKN Free." The song starts off with the tracks hitting the notes of a toy xylophone before getting over-powered by the drum beats. Lightfoot then came in to give the song the bite necessary to back the fierce rapping of TwoLips. The choreography was evident as TwoLips and the dancers high kicked in unison, performed some one legged hops, and swung their right arms like they were going to lasso the crowd. The crowd cheered when she went for the splits and then clapped loudly when the three took a bow at the end while Lightfoot slide his fingers across the strings one last time. 

It is a song about not being controlled:

Tap into compassion with no delay
Or they operate your mind from the mainframe

. . .

The machine gon' kill us, c'est la vie
The machine gon' kill us, symphony
The regime won't be the death of me

Less I forget, I did notice the green socks matching the green microphone.