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{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
ONE HIT WONDER!!!!!!!!!!
|Name = M.I.A.
ONLY FAMOUS BECAUSE OF PINEAPPLE EXPRESS.
|Img = M.i.a.1.jpg
AN OLD, TERRORIST HAG.
|Img_capt = M.I.A. at the [[Siren Music Festival]] in July 2007
|Img_size = <!-- Only for images narrower than 220 pixels -->
|Landscape = yes
|Background = solo_singer
|Birth_name = Mathangi Arulpragasam
|Alias =
|Born = {{birth date and age|1977|7|17|df=yes}}
|Origin = [[London Borough of Hounslow|Hounslow]], [[London]],<br>[[England]], UK
|Occupation = [[singing|Vocalist]], [[singer-songwriter]], [[visual artist]], [[photographer]], [[fashion design]]er, [[record producer]]
|Years_active = 2000–present
|Label = [[XL Recordings]] (2004–present)<br>[[Interscope Records]] (2005–present)<br>Showbiz Records (2003)
|Associated_acts =
|URL = [http://www.miauk.com miauk.com]
|Instrument = [[Vocals]], [[drum machine]], [[Roland MC-505]], [[synthesizer]], [[Sampler (musical instrument)|sampler]], [[laptop]] ([[MacBook Pro]]), [[percussion]]
}}

'''Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam''' (born July 17, 1977)<ref name="imdbmia">{{cite web | title= M.I.A | work= IMDb | url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1756665/ |accessmonthday=June 4 | accessyear=2008}}</ref> better known by her [[stage name]] '''M.I.A.''', is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[songwriter]], [[record producer]], [[singing|vocalist]] and [[visual artist]] of [[Sri Lankan Tamil people|Sri Lankan Tamil]] descent. Her music encompasses various genres she has expressed interest in, with lyrics that voice [[Music and politics|politics]], [[social realism]] and [[humour]]. Her artwork and clothes feature similar topics and have distinctive, often vibrant color schemes.

An accomplished visual artist by 2002, she came to prominence in early 2004 through [[file-sharing]] of her singles "[[Galang]]" and "[[Sunshowers]]" on the [[Internet]].<ref name="stylusmiaarularreview">{{cite web | author= Timmermann, Josh | title= M.I.A. - Arular – Review – Stylus Magazine | work= Stylus Magazine | url= http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=2772 | date= February 24, 2005 | |accessmonthday=December 24 | accessyear=2007}}</ref> In 2005, her debut album, ''[[Arular]]'', was nominated for the [[Mercury Prize]]. Her second album, ''[[Kala (album)|Kala]]'', was released in 2007. Her single "[[Paper Planes (song)|Paper Planes]]" was particularly commercially successful in 2008.

In addition to her work as a [[graphic design]]er, providing artwork and photography for releases and as a [[Music video director|director]] of [[music videos]], she has also experimented with [[documentary film]] and in 2008 released a collection of her [[fashion design]]s.

==Personal background==
Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam, the daughter of [[Tamil people|Tamilian]] parents Kala Arulpragasam and activist-turned militant, [[Arul Pragasam]], was born in [[Hounslow]], [[London]]. When she was six months of age, her family moved back to their native [[Sri Lanka]]. Motivated by his wish to support the [[Sri Lankan Tamil militant groups|Tamil militancy]] in [[Sri Lanka]], her father became politically known as Arular and was a founding member of The [[Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students]] (EROS), a militant Tamil group.<ref>{{cite web | author = Wang, Oliver| title= M.I.A.: Rapper and Daughter of Revolution| url= http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4635471 | work = NPR | date=May 9, 2005 | accessmonthday=May 6 | accessyear=2007}}</ref><ref name="popmattMay052"/> Her alias, ''M.I.A.'', stands for both ''Missing in [[Acton, London|Acton]]'' and ''Missing in Action''.<ref name="Flash-forward"/>

Arulpragasam has an older sister, [[Kali Arulpragasam]], and a younger brother, Sugu. Due to the conflict, the first years of her life were spent moving from home to home. Contact with her father was strictly limited, as she says he was in hiding from the [[Sri Lanka Army]].<ref name="prefixmag">{{cite web | author= Umile, Dominic | title= M.I.A. Arular | work= Prefix Magazine | url=http://www.prefixmag.com/reviews/cds/M/MIA/Arular/1233 | accessmonthday=March 30 | accessyear=2007}}</ref><ref name="Flash-forward">{{cite web | author= Empire, Kitty | title= Flash-forward | work= The Observer | url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0,,1438918,00.html | date = March 20, 2005 | accessmonthday=March 30 | accessyear=2007}}</ref> As the [[Ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka|civil war]] escalated, it became unsafe for the family to stay in Sri Lanka, so they relocated to [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]], moving into a derelict house, with sporadic visits from her father.<ref name="prefixmag" /><ref name="amgmiabio05">{{cite web | author= Kellman, Andy | title= M.I.A.: Short biography | work= All Music Guide | url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:hbfyxqealdfe~T1 | accessmonthday=March 30 | accessyear=2007}}</ref> Later resettling in [[Jaffna]] again, the [[ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka]] deteriorated further and the family once again tried to flee the country.<ref name="prefixmag" /><ref name="amgmiabio05" /> Eventually, Arulpragasam, her two siblings and mother Kala moved back to [[London]] where they were housed as [[refugees]].<ref name="prefixmag" /> It was in the late '80s, on a [[council estate]] in [[Mitcham]] (South London), that Arulpragasam began to learn [[English language|English]].<ref name="popmattMay052">{{cite web | author= Wheaton, Robert | title= London Calling - For Congo, Columbo, Sri Lanka... | work= PopMatters.com | url= http://www.popmatters.com/music/interviews/mia-0505062.shtml | date= May 6, 2005 | |accessmonthday=May 6 | accessyear=2007}}</ref> Arulpragasam speaks English and the [[Tamil language]] fluently.

Arulpragasam graduated from London's [[Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design]], with a degree in [[fine art]], [[film]] and [[video]].<ref name="MIANirali04">{{cite web | author= Mangla, Ismat | title= Not-So Missing in Action | work= Nirali Magazine | url=http://niralimagazine.com/2004/10/not-so-missing-in-action/ | date= October 4, 2004 | |accessmonthday=May 13 | accessyear=2007}}</ref> She currently lives in [[Bed Stuy|Bedford-Stuyvesant]], [[Brooklyn, New York]] in the US and is reportedly engaged to Benjamin Brewer, singer and guitarist for the band [[The Exit]].<ref name="miaedmonton08">{{cite web | author= MacNeil, Jason | title= M.I.A. to W.E.D. | work= edmontonsun.com | url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/Entertainment/Music/2008/05/31/5731066-sun.html | date= May 31, 2008 | |accessmonthday=June 1 | accessyear=2008}}</ref>

==Art and film==
[[Image:Miabook1.gif|right|thumb|Arulpragasam's ''Pocko'' Editions Art book cover. (2002)]]

Arulpragasam's first [[Solo show (art exhibition)| public exhibition]] of paintings in 2001 at the Euphoria Shop in [[Portobello Road|Portobello]], [[London]], featured candy coloured [[spray painting|spray paint]] and stencil pictures of the Tamil rebellion movement. It included graffitied tigers and palm trees mixed with orange, green and pink camouflage, bombs, guns and fighters on chip board off-cuts and canvases.<ref name="cbcmia05"/> The show was nominated for the [[Alternative Turner Prize]],<ref name="MIANirali04" /> ([[Jude Law]] was among early buyers of her art)<ref name="MIABlender05">{{cite web | author= Weiner, Jonah | title= The Next Best Thing! M.I.A. | work= Blender Magazine | url= http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=1405 | date= January/February 2005 | |accessmonthday=February 25 | accessyear=2007}}</ref> and a monograph book of the collection was published by Pocko,{{ref|1}} simply titled ''M.I.A.''.<ref name="MIAPocko">{{cite web | title= M.I.A.: The Pocko Art Collection | work= Pocko Editions | url=http://www.pocko.com/2006/08/06/pocko-collection-series-3/ | date= August 6, 2006 | |accessmonthday=May 13 | accessyear=2007}}</ref>

The Publication's back cover reads:
:''From a long-forgotten region of endemic conflict comes a project to challenge your ethical core. The art of warfare is sprawled across these pages transforming bloodshed into beauty and raising the phoenix of forbidden expression - The real war is in us.''{{ref|1}}

During her time in film school, she cites "radical cinema - [[Harmony Korine]] and [[Dogme 95]]"<ref name="cmmia05">{{cite web | title= John Singleton - M.I.A. once eyed a career as a film-maker | work= Contactmusic.com | url=http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/mia%20once%20eyed%20a%20career%20as%20a%20film-maker | date= October 4, 2005 | |accessmonthday=August 20 | accessyear=2006}}</ref> as some of her cinematic inspirations, and having written a script, was approached by [[John Singleton]] to work on a film in LA.<ref name="sgmia05">{{cite web | author= Robert Epstein, Daniel | title= Interview: M.I.A. | work= Suicidegirls.com | url=http://suicidegirls.com/interviews/M.I.A./ | date= December 29, 2005 | |accessmonthday=August 20 | accessyear=2006}}</ref> Additionally Arulpragasam expressed an early interest in [[fashion]] and [[textiles]], (her mother is a [[seamstress]]),<ref name="MIANirali04" /> designing confections of "bright flourescent fishnet fabrics", and was a roommate of fashion designer Luella Bartley.<ref name="nirmagmia06">{{cite web | title=Luella Bartley & M.I.A. | work= Nirali Magazine | url=http://niralimagazine.com/2006/08/luella-bartley-mia/| date= August 11, 2006 | |accessmonthday=December 19 | accessyear=2006}}</ref> In July 2008, she showcased some designs in a [[short film|short video]] she made called ''Real Pirates of the Caribbean'' starring Okley Leslie, which she posted on her official website.<ref name="miaokley08">{{cite web | author= Arulpragasam, Mathangi | title= MIA - Okley | work= MIAUK.com M.I.A. Official Website | url=http://www.miauk.com/okley/okley.html | date= July 15, 2008 | |accessmonthday=July 15 | accessyear=2008}}</ref><ref name="miafaokley08">{{cite web | author= |title= The FADER - Style: MIA's New Fashion Label| work= Fader| url=http://www.thefader.com/articles/2008/7/15/style-mia-s-new-fashion-label | date= July 15, 2008 | |accessmonthday=September 11 | accessyear=2008}}</ref> Clothes from her limited edition "Okley Run" line - [[Mexican]] and [[Afrika]] jackets and leggings, Islamic hoodies as well as tour-inspired designs including "People Vs. Money Tour Tees" and "KALA Tour Tees" (T-shirts) - were sold in September 2008 at fashion week Opening Ceremony shops in LA and New York in the US, and through her webstore.<ref name="miawebstore08">{{cite web | author= |title= MIA - Okley Run| work= ShopMIA - miauk.com| url=http://shop.miauk.com/category/category-13409-okley-run | date= September 11, 2008 |accessmonthday=September 11 | accessyear=2008}}</ref><ref name="miaownline08">{{cite web | author= |title= M.I.A. - Her Own Line of Clothes| work= ViewOnFashion Magazine| url=http://www.viewonfashion.com/open.php?M.I.A.&id=1648&seccion=119 | date= September 10, 2008 |accessmonthday=September 13 | accessyear=2008}}</ref> As of 2008, the song "Paper Planes" was featured in the trailer for the film ''[[Pineapple Express (film)|Pineapple Express]]'' starring [[Seth Rogen]] and [[James Franco]].

==Music career==
===Early career===
A commission from [[Elastica]]'s [[Justine Frischmann]] to provide the artwork and cover image for the band's second album, ''[[The Menace]]'', led to Arulpragasam following the band on tour around forty [[United States|American]] states, video-documenting the event, and eventually directing the music video for Elastica's single, "[[Elastica#Discography|Mad Dog God Dam]]".<ref name="cbcmia05"/> The support act on the tour, [[electroclash]] artist [[Peaches (musician)|Peaches]], introduced Arulpragasam to the [[Roland MC-505]] sequencing [[drum machine]] and encouraged her to experiment in the artform she felt least confident in: music.<ref name="fusedmag04">{{cite web | author=Pearson, Gemma | title= "M.I.A."| url= http://www.fusedmagazine.com/Past_Issues/Issue_21/M+26+2346+3bI+26+2346+3bA+26+2346+3b.aspx | work = Fused Magazine | year=2004| accessdate=2007-09-04}}</ref> Working with a simple set-up (a second-hand [[Multitrack recording|4-track]] [[tape machine]], a [[Roland MC-505|505]] and a [[Radio Microphone|radio microphone]]), back in London, Arulpragasam worked-up a series of six songs onto a [[Demo|demo tape]] which aroused interest.<ref name="cbcmia05"/><ref>Drowned in Sound: [http://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/2232852 M.I.A. - "Boyz"]. ''Drowned in Sound''. Retrieved September 9, 2007.</ref> This tape included the first track she had ever composed, "M.I.A.", the second track she had ever composed, "[[Galang]]", along with "Lady Killa". Impressed with the demo, the duo [[Steve Mackey|Cavemen]] reworked the song "Galang".
{{sample box start|M.I.A.}}
{{multi-listen start}}
{{multi-listen item
| filename=Galang.ogg
| title="Galang"
| description=21-second sample of M.I.A.'s single "Galang" from album ''[[Arular]].'' First released in 2003, with its mix of 505 beats and claps, edgy vocals and lyrics, it marked M.I.A.'s emergence in underground [[independent music]] circles worldwide.
| format=[[Ogg]]}}
{{multi-listen end}}
{{sample box end}}

A mix of [[dancehall]], [[electro (music)|electro]], [[oldskool jungle|jungle]], and [[world music]], Showbiz Records pressed 500 copies of the independent vinyl single "Galang" in 2003 which became popular and made an immediate impact with DJs.<ref name="amgmiabio05" /> In 2004, [[file sharing]] and airplay on [[college radio]] of songs like "Galang" and "Sunshowers", with the fast propagation of them in [[clubs]] and around the [[Internet]] by word-of-mouth made her a household name to international music listeners before she had graced a stage, leading commentators to herald her as one of the first successful examples of doing so, who could be used to study and reexamine the impact of the internet on the way listeners listened to and were exposed to new music.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://music.aol.ca/article/MIA/130/|title=M.I.A. Is Back in Action|accessdate=August 27|accessyear=2007}}</ref><ref name="stylusmiaarularreview"/> Major record labels caught onto the popularity of "Galang" and M.I.A. eventually signed to [[XL Recordings]] as she felt at the time they were the only label to offer her complete creative control.<ref name="pfMIA05" /> She also chose them because it was the closest to her house, telling the label, "Trust me, you've been looking for me", before dropping off the "Galang" tape. They called her back soon after.<ref name="pfMIA05">{{cite web | author= Pytlik, Mark | title= Interview: M.I.A. | work= Pitchforkmedia.com | url= http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/interviews/m/mia-05/ | date= March 14, 2005 | |accessmonthday=April 12 | accessyear=2006}}</ref>

"Galang" was re-released in 2004. The accompanying [[music video]] for the song, featuring multiple M.I.A.’s amid a backdrop of her militaristic [[graffiti]] artwork animated and brought to life, was art directed by M.I.A., depicting scenes of [[urban area|urban Britain]] and war.
Her next single "[[Sunshowers]]," released on July 5, 2004, and its B-side "Fire Fire", described [[guerrilla warfare]] and [[Refugee|asylum seeking]], with one reviewer characterizing the former as "a portrait of [[religious persecution]]" and the latter as a "tug-of-war battle between pop culture and guerilla culture." <ref name="prefixmag" /> A video was made for the track, which she filmed in the jungles of South India.<ref name="MIANirali04" />
She also collaborated with [[Richard X]] and [[Diplo]], a [[Philadelphia]]n, who was coincidentally playing "Galang" as she entered the [[Fabric (club)|Fabric Club]] in [[London]] to meet him. She travelled to work on the production of her composition "M.I.A.", with him. Remixing, sampling and mashing up the tracks on ''[[Arular]]'', they eventually created the [[mixtape]] ''[[Piracy Funds Terrorism]],'' released December 2004. The mixtape followed the success of her two earlier released singles "Galang" and "Sunshowers" increasing anticipation for her album on the [[blogosphere]] and elsewhere.<ref name="pfMIA05" /><ref name="amgmiabio05" /><ref name="tmtmia05">{{cite web | title= M.I.A.: Arular| url= http://www.tinymixtapes.com/musicreviews/m/mia.htm | work = Tiny MixTapes | year= 2005 | accessmonthday=May 6 | accessyear=2007}}</ref>

===''Arular'' (2005)===
[[Image:MIASonar2.jpg|thumb|right|M.I.A. performing at [[Sónar]] in June 2005.]]
Originally completed and ready for release in September 2004, ''[[Arular]]'s'' release was delayed over several months, with pushed back dates of release between December 2004 and February 2005 mentioned.<ref name="stylusmiaarularreview"/> Prior to the LP's release, Arulpragasam made her North American debut at the [[Drake Hotel (Toronto)|Drake Hotel]] in [[Toronto]] in February, 2005, pulling in a diverse crowd. Receiving a response described as "phenomenal", attendees already knew many of her songs.<ref name="pollstar">{{cite web | author= Peters, Mitchell | title= M.I.A. | work= Pollstar Magazine | url=http://www.pollstar.com/news/viewhotstar.pl?Artist=MIA | date= September 5, 2005 | |accessmonthday=March 30 | accessyear=2006}}</ref>

Arulpragasam's debut album ''[[Arular]]'' was eventually released worldwide in March 2005 to universal critical acclaim.<ref name="Acclaimed Music Arular">{{cite web | author= Acclaimed Music.net | title= Acclaimed Music - Arular | work= Acclaimed Music.net | url=http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/061024/A4159.htm | date= December 31, 2005 | |accessmonthday=February 24 | accessyear=2007}}</ref><ref name="Metacritic Arular">{{cite web | author= Metacritic | title= M.I.A.: Arular (2005): Reviews | work= Metacritic Database | url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/mia/arular | date= December 31, 2005 | |accessmonthday=February 24 | accessyear=2007}}</ref> Composing and titling the album ''Arular'' in acknowledgment of her and her father's past, much of its focus lay in experimentation. Consisting of bold, jarring and ambient sounds, complimentary lyrics on ''Arular'' were both observational and reflective of her experiences of [[Personal identity (philosophy)|identity politics]], [[Indie (culture)|indie culture]], [[popular culture]], [[poverty]], [[revolution]], [[war]] and with the [[working class]], exemplified by songs such as "Amazon", "Fire Fire" and "M.I.A.". Its themes, use of [[culture-jamming]], multi-lingual [[slang]], and its mix of strident and elusive imagery, social commentary and storytelling incited debate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/feature.php?ID=1941 |title=M.I.A.| accessdate=2007-11-22}}</ref><ref name="MIANirali04"/>

Arulpragasam was first exposed to Western radio in London, hearing broadcasts emanating from her neighbours' flats in the late '80s.<ref name="popmattMay052" /> Her liking for [[Hip hop music|hip-hop]] and [[dancehall]] developed from there, finding a common identity with "the starkness of the sound" of [[Public Enemy]], records by [[MC Shan]], [[Ultramagnetic MCs]] and the "weird, distinct style" of acts such as [[Silver Bullet (rapper)|Silver Bullet]] and [[London Posse]].<ref>{{cite news |first= Jackson |last= Reeves |title= Exclusive Interview with M.I.A.|url=http://misc.vassar.edu/archives/2008/04/exclusive_inter.html |work= The Miscellany News |publisher= [[Vassar College]]|date= 2008-04-10 |accessdate=2008-07-06}}</ref><ref name="pfMIA05" /> Her time at college shaped her affinity for [[Punk rock|punk]], the emerging sound of [[Britpop]] [[alt-rock]] and [[electroclash]], after which she began writing songs.<ref name="fusedmag04"/> She has spoken of the large influence musicians [[The Slits]], [[Malcolm Mclaren]] and [[The Clash]] had on her living in [[West London]].<ref name="MIAAntics">{{cite web | url = http://www.uptheantics.com/antics-tv/music_entry/mia_in_new_orleans_3_of_3/| title = "Antics TV: Music & Sound: M.I.A. in New Orleans" |publisher=[[Antics|Antics TV]]| date = May 2008 | accessdate= 2008-10-06}}</ref><ref name="timeoutmia08">{{cite web | author=Todd, Bella | title= “MIA: Interview"| url= http://www.timeout.com/london/timeout-40/features/5781/MIA-interview.html | work = [[Time Out]] | date=2008-09-22| accessdate=2008-10-06}}</ref>

Making ''Arular'' in her bedroom in [[West London]], she built tracks off her [[Demo (music)|demos]] with programmed beats she wrote on the 505.<ref name="cbcmia05"> {{cite web | author=McKinnon, Matthew|url= http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/mia.html | title = Tigress Beat | work=[[CBC]]| date = 2005-03-03 | accessdate= 2008-09-30 }} </ref><ref name="exclaimmag">{{cite web | author=Lindsay, Cam | title= "M.I.A.’s Outsider Art "| url= http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=114&csid2=946&fid1=27365| work = Exclaim! Magazine | year=2007| accessdate=2007-09-18}}</ref> Her work attracted artists such as the rapper [[Nas]], who by early 2005 stated, "Her sound is the future."<ref name="vibemiamay05">{{cite web | title= M.I.A. - Front line | work= VIBE magazine | url=http://www.vibe.com/news/magazine_features/2005/05/vibe_magazine_next_mia_front_line/ | date= May 24, 2005 | accessmonthday=December 16 | accessyear=2007}}</ref> Following "[[Galang]]" and "[[Sunshowers]]," she later released her third single from ''Arular,'' the [[funk carioca]]-inspired co-composition "[[Bucky Done Gun]]" in July 2005.
[[Arular Tour|Arulpragasam performed through 2005]] supporting her album at [[South by South West]], at the [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival]], which drew a strongly favourable response and an unusually large crowd for the billing she played,<ref>{{cite web | title= Coachella 2005| url= http://www.411mania.com/music/concerts/12216/Coachella-2005.htm | work = 411mania | date=2005-05-05 | accessdate=2007-10-01}}</ref> the [[Manhattan]] club S.O.B.s, the [[Bue Festival]], a free headlining show at [[Central Park]] [[Summerstage]], the [[Glastonbury Festival]], [[Reading Festival]] and the [[Summer Sonic Festival|Summer Sonic Fest]] as well as at other venues.<ref name="sxsw05">{{cite web | title= Queens are Kings of SXSW 2005| url= http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1498322/20050321/queens_stone_age.jhtml| work = MTV | date=2005-03-21 | accessdate=2008-03-20}}</ref><ref name="XLmia05">{{cite web | title= XL: M.I.A. Mini-Biography | work= XL Recordings | url=http://www.xlrecordings.com/mia/ | date= Summer 2005 | |accessmonthday=March 30 | accessyear=2006}}</ref><ref name="05tourmia">{{cite web | title= M.I.A. Announces Headlining Tour| url= http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/34916-mia-announces-headlining-tour| work = Pitchforkmedia | date=2005-07-25 | accessdate=2007-10-01}}</ref><ref name="timesmia">{{cite web | author= Shapiro, Peter | title= Talking about her revolution | work= The Times | url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,14932-1658366,00.html | date=June 17, 2005 | accessmonthday=April 19 | accessyear=2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title= M.I.A.: The IGN Interview| url= http://uk.music.ign.com/articles/676/676895p1.html | work = IGN | date=2005-12-16 | accessdate=2007-10-01}}</ref> She also toured with [[Roots Manuva]] and [[LCD Soundsystem]].<ref name="kexpmia05">{{cite web | title= M.I.A. Radio Interview (audio) | work= KEXP.org | url=http://www.kexp.org/aspnet_client/KEXPViewMediaGroup.aspx?rID=2594&pID=528&fID=1092&date=1092 | date= May 11, 2005 | accessmonthday=February 25 | accessyear=2007}}</ref><ref name="05tourmia"/> She appeared on the track "Bad Man" on [[Missy Elliott]]’s 2005 album ''[[The Cookbook]]''.

On July 19, 2005, M.I.A. was shortlisted for the [[Mercury Music Prize]] for ''Arular''.<ref name="gsept05">{{cite web | author= Forrest, Emma | title= MIA, Myself and I | work= Guardian Unlimited Arts | url= http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,11710,1562109,00.html | date=September 4, 2005 | |accessmonthday=April 19 | accessyear=2006}}</ref> In December, ''Arular'' was the second most featured album in music critics’ Year-End Top 10 lists for 2005,<ref name="Metcmia">{{cite web | author= Metacritic | title= Metacritic: Best Albums of 2005 | work=Metacritic Database | url= http://www.metacritic.com/music/bests/2005.shtml | date=December 31, 2005 | |accessmonthday=February 24 | accessyear=2007}}</ref><ref name="Acclaimed Music Arular"/> and named best of 2005 by publications such as ''Blender,'' ''Stylus'' and ''Musikbyrån.''<ref name="Acclaimed Music Arular" /><ref name="Metacritic Arular" /><ref name="Beggars Group Canada">{{cite web | author= Beggars Group Canada | title=M.I.A. Closes 2005 in Grand Style | work=Beggars Group Canada | url= http://www.beggarsgroup.ca/newsarchive_jan06.htm | date=December 31, 2005 | |accessmonthday=February 24 | accessyear=2007}}</ref> M.I.A. ended 2005 briefly [[Harajuku Lovers Tour|touring]] with [[Gwen Stefani]] and the [[Big Day Out|Big Day Out festival]].

===''Kala'' (2007)===
[[Image:MIA20072.jpg|right|thumb|M.I.A. performing at the [[Siren Music Festival]] in June 2007.]]

In 2006 M.I.A. wrote and recorded her second studio album, ''[[Kala (album)|Kala]],'' named after her mother. Following [[Censorship of music|censorship]] controversies and documented U.S. [[Visa (document)|visa]] problems in 2006, ''Kala'' was worked on while M.I.A. travelled through several locations including [[India]], [[Trinidad]], [[Liberia]], [[Jamaica]], [[Australia]], [[Japan]], the [[United Kingdom|UK]] and [[United States|US]], using more diverse [[live instrumentation]] and brash colours for heavier textures, and layering, whilst exploring traditional [[dance music|dance]] and [[folk music|folk]] styles such as [[Soca music|soca]] and [[dappan koothu]] (in songs such as "[[Boyz (song)|Boyz]]") and [[Rave|rave culture and music]] (in "XR2") among many others.<ref name="visa">{{cite web | title= MIA Denied Entry To the US | work= The Spacelab | url=http://www.thespacelab.tv/spaceLAB/2006/05May/MusicNews32-MIA.htm | date= Spring 2006 | accessmonthday=May 22 | accessyear=2006}}</ref><ref name="factmagazine">{{cite web | title= "M.I.A. - Fact Magazine"| url= http://www.factmagazine.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=272&Itemid=27 | work = FACTmagazine | accessdate=2008-04-06}}</ref> The unconventional recording sessions brought out, as did her artwork and photography for the album, both the celebratory and the "rawer, darker, outsider" themes that were felt to have run through ''Kala''.<ref name="miafadermag07">{{cite web | title= "Life in Exile"| url= http://www.thefader.com/blog/articles/2007/08/07/video-interview-mia-jimmy | work = Fader | date=2007-07-08 | accessdate=2008-02-09}}</ref> The album also saw her re-embrace [[bootleg]] [[Music of Tamil Nadu|soundtracks of the]] [[Tamil cinema| film music of India]] from her childhood. Arulpragasam wrote songs about [[immigration]] politics, her personal relationships and war.<ref name="miafadermag07"/> Taking [[Switch (DJ/Producer)|Switch]] on her travels to collaborate with her, she made songs and videos such as "Hit That" and "[[Bird Flu (song)|Bird Flu]]" available on her internet accounts, official website and for [[digital download]]. M.I.A. featured in the song "Come Around", a bonus track on [[Timbaland]]'s 2007 album ''[[Shock Value (Timbaland album)|Shock Value]]'' and a track on ''Kala''. Before her second album's release, Arulpragasam confronted the public media, citing some journalists over-attributing work on her debut album to her male collaborators.<ref name="mia07confronts">{{cite web | author=Thomson, Paul|title= M.I.A. Confronts the Haters| url= http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/44529-mia-confronts-the-haters | work = Pitchforkmedia | year= 2007 | accessmonthday=December 10 | accessyear=2007}}</ref> Released on June 11, 2007 , "[[Boyz (song)|Boyz’]]," music video was co-directed by Jay Will and M.I.A. and the album's second single "[[Jimmy (song)|Jimmy]]," followed (about a [[genocide|genocide tour]] date invite Arulpragasam received whilst in Liberia) .

General acclaim met ''Kala's'' release in August 2007. Arulpragasam’s [[KALA Tour|2007 tour in support of ''Kala'']], included a show at [[Studio B]] in [[Brooklyn]] in July 2007, [[Lollapalooza]], the Gloria Theatre in Germany, the [[Arena of Nîmes]] supporting [[Björk]], [[Rock en Seine]] and Get Loaded in the Park - a festival gig that drew a crowd sing-along pitch described in a review as "near hysterical."<ref>{{cite web | title= "Live:M.I.A. @ Studio B"| url=http://thefader.com/blog/articles/2007/07/26/live-m-i-a-studio-b| work = The Fader Magazine | accessdate=2007-10-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title= M.I.A. adds U.S. dates to Summer Tour| url= http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/43913-mia-adds-us-dates-to-summer-tour| work = Pitchforkmedia | date=2007-06-28 | accessdate=2007-10-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title= "Get Loaded in the Park live reviews"| url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/live_reviews/article2343003.ece| work = Times Online | accessdate=2007-10-01}}</ref> M.I.A. performed at the [[Electric Picnic]], [[Connect Music Festival|Connect]], the [[Virgin Festival]]s, the [[Osheaga Festival]], [[Austin City Limits Music Festival|Austin City Limits]], at the opening of the Terminal 5 club in New York and Parklife among other gigs.<ref name="miashows07">{{cite web | author = Arulpragasam, Maya| title= "M.I.A. – Info"| url=http://www.miauk.com/info/| year=2007 | accessdate=2007-10-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title= " Arctic Monkeys, M.I.A. And Metric Added To Toronto Virgin Festival"| url=http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2007/04/0404.cfm| date=2007-04-04 | accessdate=2007-10-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title= " Interpol, Arctic Monkeys, Damien Rice, M.I.A., Martha Wainwright, Editors, Explosions in the Sky, and more added to Osheaga 2007 lineup"| url=http://www.osheaga.com/en/news/?highlight=52#news_52| date=2007-05-09 | accessdate=2007-10-01}}</ref> M.I.A. ended 2007 with a mini-tour of venues in the UK. Supporting acts throughout her tour included [[Rye Rye]], [[Santogold]], [[The Cool Kids]], [[Soko (singer)|Soko]], Radioclit and [[Buraka Som Sistema]]. She provides guest vocals on their [[kuduro]] song "[[Sound of Kuduro]]."

Arulpragasam revealed in December 2006 that she revisited Liberia to meet war-affected people there including ex-[[child soldiers]] and featured in a "4Real" TV-Series documentary on the post war situation in the country with activist [[Kimmie Weeks]].<ref>Arulpragasam, Maya: [http://www.myspace.com/mia Crack Guns in Africa, Crack in America]. ''M.I.A. Myspace''. December 2, 2006. Retrieved February 24, 2007.</ref><ref name="talibmia06">{{cite web | title=Top Singer M.I.A. in Liberia, MTV Crew in town | work=Analyst Liberia.com | url=http://www.analystliberia.com/top_brtish_singer_visits_liberia_dec07.html | date=December 7, 2006 | |accessmonthday=February 24 | accessyear=2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title= "New World Order"| url=http://music.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0,,2167608,00.html | date=2007-09-16 | accessdate=2007-09-22}}</ref> In a video documentary for Vbs.tv in 2007, M.I.A. and director [[Spike Jonze]] visit [[Afrikan Boy]] in his immigrant neighborhood of [[Woolwich]], South London. In the documentary, M.I.A spoke of the possibility of launching her own record label entitled Zig-Zag, with Afrikan Boy’s track "Lidl" being the first release.<ref name="intmiamedia">{{cite web | title= M.I.A. Media| work= Interscope| url= http://www.interscope.com/mia/media | year= 2007 | |accessmonthday=July 9 | accessyear=2008}}</ref>

In December 2007, ''Kala'' was named the best album of 2007 by publications including ''[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]]'' and ''Blender.''<ref> {{cite web | url= http://www.metacritic.com/music/bests/2007.shtml | title = Best Albums of 2007 - Music Critics' Year-End Top Ten Lists | accessdate= 2007-12-19 | publisher= Metacritic}}</ref> M.I.A. was also included on ''[[USA Today]]'s'' "100 Most Interesting People of 2007". M.I.A. released ''[[Paper Planes (song)|Paper Planes - Homeland Security Remixes EP]]'' digitally on February 11, 2008. In early 2008, M.I.A. [[Disc jockey|DJed]] at the [[Marc Jacobs]] fashion show after party, and modelled for "Marc by Marc Jacobs" in Spring/Summer 2008.

M.I.A proved popular at the annual [[Experience Music Project]]'s Pop Conference held in [[Seattle]], USA in April 2008, with paper submissions and discussions on her and her work presented on the theme of "Shake, Rattle: Music, Conflict, and Change."<ref name=seattle08conf>Moscowitz, Gary. [http://www.motherjones.com/arts/qa/2008/04/even-disco-is-political.html "Music Dispatch:Even Disco is political"], Mother Jones.com. April 21, 2008. Retrieved May 24, 2008</ref><ref name=Abstract08emp>[[Joshua Clover|Clover, Joshua]], [http://www.empsfm.org/education/index.asp?categoryID=26&ccID=127&xPopConfBioID=924&year=2008 Abstract: "Terrorflu, or Where in The World is M.I.A."], Pop Conference, [[Experience Music Project]] 2008. Retrieved May 24, 2008</ref>

[[People Vs. Money Tour|M.I.A. toured during the first half of 2008]], with opening tourmates including [[Holy Fuck]], before stating she would end touring in support of ''Kala'', cancelling her European tour dates through June and July, opting to start on a new album. Stating "This is my last show, and I'm glad I'm spending it with all my hippies," M.I.A performed a set at the [[Bonnaroo Music Festival]].<ref>{{cite web | author=Maher, David|title= "M.I.A. Cancels European Tour"| url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/51226-mia-cancels-european-tour | work=Pitchforkmedia| date=2008-06-11 | accessdate=2008-06-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | author=Pareles, Jon|title= "Bonnaroo: M.I.A.'s last gig ever?"| url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/bonnaroo-mias-last-gig-ever/ | work=New York Times ArtsBeat blog| date=2008-06-13 | accessdate=2008-06-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | author=O'Donnell, Kevin|title= "M.I.A. delivers high energy Bonnaroo dance party at "last show""| url=http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/06/13/live-from-bonnaroo-mia-delivers-high-energy-dance-party-at-last-show/ | work=Rolling Stone| date=2008-06-13 | accessdate=2008-06-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Davis, Kim| title=Potent Quotables:M.I.A. to go MIA| url= http://www.spinner.com/2008/06/17/potent-quotables-m-i-a-to-go-mia/| work = Spinner.com | accessdate=2008-07-16}}</ref>

In 2008, M.I.A. started her music label, [[N.E.E.T.]], via [[Interscope Records]], signing Rye Rye.<ref name=T-painMIAmtv>{{cite news |first=Shaheem |last=Reid |title=T-Pain Proves His Rap Skills On Pr33 Ringz; Andre 3000 Wants You To Say He's Wack: Mixtape Monday|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1594197/20080905/story.jhtml |work=[[MTV]] |date=2008-09-08 |accessdate=2008-09-12 }}</ref>

==Politics==
Politics and global ideas are prominent in M.I.A.'s art.<ref name="M.I.A. Goes Global"/> Her work draws from Arulpragasam's experiences of [[poverty]], [[Survival of the fittest|survival]], [[violence]], [[prejudice]] and [[war]]. On the political nature of her work she has said, "I have to be true to that--I can't take certain things away. I do have a political background. I’m only in [[England]], learning this language and building a life in this society, because of political reasons. Why would I deny that?"<ref name="factmagazine">{{cite web | title= "M.I.A. - Fact Magazine"| url= http://www.factmagazine.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=272&Itemid=27 | work = FACTmagazine | accessdate=2008-04-06}}</ref> M.I.A. has talked about the fusion of politics into her music. "Nobody wants to be dancing to political songs. Every bit of music out there that’s making it into the mainstream is really about nothing. I wanted to see if I could write songs about something important and make it sound like nothing. And it kind of worked."<ref name="tamilnation">{{cite web |url=http://www.tamilnation.org/diaspora/unitedkingdom/mia.htm|title=Mathangi Maya Arulpragasam| accessdate=2007-11-22}}</ref>

Asked in 2005 if she was always political, M.I.A. referenced her political development. "I think I was always slightly political but my issues change with what’s going on in my life. Politics is something that I’ve never been able to discuss with anyone and everyone…my life in England for the first ten years wasn’t really political. It was more about getting an equal shot as the next person. I wanted a shot at an education…politics came back to me after I went back to Sri Lanka. Once I studied and wanted to be a [[filmmaker]], I tried to make a [[Documentary film|documentary]] on what it was like to be a young person in Sri Lanka. I wanted to make a film that could compare the 19-year-olds in Sri Lanka. That’s when I came across so much politics.<ref name="sgmia05"/>

M.I.A. has expressed discontent with the formula for the [[War on Terror]] and its global impact. "You can't separate the world into two parts like that, [[good and evil]]... America has successfully tied all these pockets of [[independence]] struggles, [[revolutions]], and [[extremists]] into one big notion of [[terrorism]]."<ref name="tamilnation"/>

M.I.A. talks about the relationship between first and third world countries and the differences that exist between them, as well as the similarities.{{Fact|date=July 2008}} "It's O.K. to add new elements to your ideas, to your existence," Arulpragasam says. "There will be more bridges built between the [[developed world|developed]] and [[developing world]]."<ref name="M.I.A. Goes Global">{{cite journal |year= 2007|month= August|title= M.I.A. Goes Global|journal=Rolling Stone}}</ref> M.I.A. has included numerous artists from developed and developing countries in her music. <ref name="M.I.A. Picks Best Global Sound">{{cite journal |year= 2008|month= May|title= M.I.A. Picks Best Global Sound|journal=Rolling Stone}}</ref> "Why don't we ever get to, like, actually hear people talk on TV? Why don't we ever get to hear the starving African kids say something or do something or sing something or express something? We show them but they don't have a [[voice]]."<ref> {{cite web |url=http://music.aol.ca/article/MIA/130/|title=M.I.A. is Back in Action| accessdate=2008-01-02}}</ref>

==Discography==
{{main|M.I.A. discography}}
*''[[Arular]]'' (2005)
*''[[Kala (album)|Kala]]'' (2007)

==Tours==
* [[Arular Tour]] (2005)
* [[KALA Tour]] (2007)
* [[People Vs. Money Tour]] (2008)

==Awards==
Some awards and nominations M.I.A. has received are listed below.

*[[Alternative Turner Prize]]
** 2002 Shortlisted—M.I.A.—Maya Arulpragasam
*[[Mercury Music Prize]]
** 2005 Shortlisted—Album of the Year—''Arular''
*Groovevolt Music & Fashion Awards
** 2005 Won—Best Alternative Album—''Arular''<ref>{{cite web | last= | first= | title=Groovevolt Music & Fashion Awards - Ubersound Winners | work=Groovevolt.com | year=2006 | url=http://www.groovevolt.com/vote/ubersounds.asp | accessdate=December 22 | accessyear=2007}}</ref>
*[[South Bank Show|South Bank Show Awards]]
** 2005 Nominated—Breakthrough Award—M.I.A.
*[[Shortlist Music Prize]]
** 2005 Shortlisted—Album of the Year—''Arular''
** 2007 Shortlisted—Album of the Year—''Kala''
*[[Q Awards]]
** 2005 Nominated—Best New Act— M.I.A.
*Independent Music Awards (Canada)
** 2008 Nominated—International Album of the Year — ''Kala''
** 2008 Nominated—International Artist/Group/Duo of the Year — M.I.A.
*''[[Spin magazine|Spin]]'' and ''[[URB (magazine)|URB]]'' magazines' "Artist of the Year" in 2005.
*''[[Rolling Stone]]'' and ''[[Blender magazine|Blender]]'''s "Album of the Year" 2007—''Kala''

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

===Books and further reading===
<div class="references-small">
*{{note|1}} Arulpragasam, Maya (2002). ''M.I.A. No. 10'' (Paperback ed.). Pocko Editions. ISBN 1-903977-10-X
</div>

==External links==
{{commons|M.I.A.}}
{{wikiquote|M.I.A.}}
* [http://www.miauk.com Official site]
* {{MySpace-music|mia|M.I.A.}}
* {{imdb name|id=1756665|name=M.I.A.}}

{{M.I.A.}}

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[[Category:British documentary filmmakers]]
[[Category:English female singers]]
[[Category:British singer-songwriters]]
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[[Category:British fashion designers]]
[[Category:Female rappers]]
[[Category:British painters]]
[[Category:British people of Tamil descent]]
[[Category:British photographers]]
[[Category:British record producers]]
[[Category:Tamil musicians]]
[[Category:Tamil Sri Lankans]]
[[Category:United Kingdom graffiti artists]]
[[Category:British expatriates in the United States]]
[[Category:Culture jamming]]
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[[Category:Alumni of the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design]]

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Revision as of 00:00, 10 October 2008

M.I.A.

Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam (born July 17, 1977)[1] better known by her stage name M.I.A., is a British songwriter, record producer, vocalist and visual artist of Sri Lankan Tamil descent. Her music encompasses various genres she has expressed interest in, with lyrics that voice politics, social realism and humour. Her artwork and clothes feature similar topics and have distinctive, often vibrant color schemes.

An accomplished visual artist by 2002, she came to prominence in early 2004 through file-sharing of her singles "Galang" and "Sunshowers" on the Internet.[2] In 2005, her debut album, Arular, was nominated for the Mercury Prize. Her second album, Kala, was released in 2007. Her single "Paper Planes" was particularly commercially successful in 2008.

In addition to her work as a graphic designer, providing artwork and photography for releases and as a director of music videos, she has also experimented with documentary film and in 2008 released a collection of her fashion designs.

Personal background

Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam, the daughter of Tamilian parents Kala Arulpragasam and activist-turned militant, Arul Pragasam, was born in Hounslow, London. When she was six months of age, her family moved back to their native Sri Lanka. Motivated by his wish to support the Tamil militancy in Sri Lanka, her father became politically known as Arular and was a founding member of The Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students (EROS), a militant Tamil group.[3][4] Her alias, M.I.A., stands for both Missing in Acton and Missing in Action.[5]

Arulpragasam has an older sister, Kali Arulpragasam, and a younger brother, Sugu. Due to the conflict, the first years of her life were spent moving from home to home. Contact with her father was strictly limited, as she says he was in hiding from the Sri Lanka Army.[6][5] As the civil war escalated, it became unsafe for the family to stay in Sri Lanka, so they relocated to Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, moving into a derelict house, with sporadic visits from her father.[6][7] Later resettling in Jaffna again, the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka deteriorated further and the family once again tried to flee the country.[6][7] Eventually, Arulpragasam, her two siblings and mother Kala moved back to London where they were housed as refugees.[6] It was in the late '80s, on a council estate in Mitcham (South London), that Arulpragasam began to learn English.[4] Arulpragasam speaks English and the Tamil language fluently.

Arulpragasam graduated from London's Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, with a degree in fine art, film and video.[8] She currently lives in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York in the US and is reportedly engaged to Benjamin Brewer, singer and guitarist for the band The Exit.[9]

Art and film

File:Miabook1.gif
Arulpragasam's Pocko Editions Art book cover. (2002)

Arulpragasam's first public exhibition of paintings in 2001 at the Euphoria Shop in Portobello, London, featured candy coloured spray paint and stencil pictures of the Tamil rebellion movement. It included graffitied tigers and palm trees mixed with orange, green and pink camouflage, bombs, guns and fighters on chip board off-cuts and canvases.[10] The show was nominated for the Alternative Turner Prize,[8] (Jude Law was among early buyers of her art)[11] and a monograph book of the collection was published by Pocko,[1] simply titled M.I.A..[12]

The Publication's back cover reads:

From a long-forgotten region of endemic conflict comes a project to challenge your ethical core. The art of warfare is sprawled across these pages transforming bloodshed into beauty and raising the phoenix of forbidden expression - The real war is in us.[2]

During her time in film school, she cites "radical cinema - Harmony Korine and Dogme 95"[13] as some of her cinematic inspirations, and having written a script, was approached by John Singleton to work on a film in LA.[14] Additionally Arulpragasam expressed an early interest in fashion and textiles, (her mother is a seamstress),[8] designing confections of "bright flourescent fishnet fabrics", and was a roommate of fashion designer Luella Bartley.[15] In July 2008, she showcased some designs in a short video she made called Real Pirates of the Caribbean starring Okley Leslie, which she posted on her official website.[16][17] Clothes from her limited edition "Okley Run" line - Mexican and Afrika jackets and leggings, Islamic hoodies as well as tour-inspired designs including "People Vs. Money Tour Tees" and "KALA Tour Tees" (T-shirts) - were sold in September 2008 at fashion week Opening Ceremony shops in LA and New York in the US, and through her webstore.[18][19] As of 2008, the song "Paper Planes" was featured in the trailer for the film Pineapple Express starring Seth Rogen and James Franco.

Music career

Early career

A commission from Elastica's Justine Frischmann to provide the artwork and cover image for the band's second album, The Menace, led to Arulpragasam following the band on tour around forty American states, video-documenting the event, and eventually directing the music video for Elastica's single, "Mad Dog God Dam".[10] The support act on the tour, electroclash artist Peaches, introduced Arulpragasam to the Roland MC-505 sequencing drum machine and encouraged her to experiment in the artform she felt least confident in: music.[20] Working with a simple set-up (a second-hand 4-track tape machine, a 505 and a radio microphone), back in London, Arulpragasam worked-up a series of six songs onto a demo tape which aroused interest.[10][21] This tape included the first track she had ever composed, "M.I.A.", the second track she had ever composed, "Galang", along with "Lady Killa". Impressed with the demo, the duo Cavemen reworked the song "Galang". Template:Sample box start Template:Multi-listen start Template:Multi-listen item Template:Multi-listen end Template:Sample box end

A mix of dancehall, electro, jungle, and world music, Showbiz Records pressed 500 copies of the independent vinyl single "Galang" in 2003 which became popular and made an immediate impact with DJs.[7] In 2004, file sharing and airplay on college radio of songs like "Galang" and "Sunshowers", with the fast propagation of them in clubs and around the Internet by word-of-mouth made her a household name to international music listeners before she had graced a stage, leading commentators to herald her as one of the first successful examples of doing so, who could be used to study and reexamine the impact of the internet on the way listeners listened to and were exposed to new music.[22][2] Major record labels caught onto the popularity of "Galang" and M.I.A. eventually signed to XL Recordings as she felt at the time they were the only label to offer her complete creative control.[23] She also chose them because it was the closest to her house, telling the label, "Trust me, you've been looking for me", before dropping off the "Galang" tape. They called her back soon after.[23]

"Galang" was re-released in 2004. The accompanying music video for the song, featuring multiple M.I.A.’s amid a backdrop of her militaristic graffiti artwork animated and brought to life, was art directed by M.I.A., depicting scenes of urban Britain and war. Her next single "Sunshowers," released on July 5, 2004, and its B-side "Fire Fire", described guerrilla warfare and asylum seeking, with one reviewer characterizing the former as "a portrait of religious persecution" and the latter as a "tug-of-war battle between pop culture and guerilla culture." [6] A video was made for the track, which she filmed in the jungles of South India.[8] She also collaborated with Richard X and Diplo, a Philadelphian, who was coincidentally playing "Galang" as she entered the Fabric Club in London to meet him. She travelled to work on the production of her composition "M.I.A.", with him. Remixing, sampling and mashing up the tracks on Arular, they eventually created the mixtape Piracy Funds Terrorism, released December 2004. The mixtape followed the success of her two earlier released singles "Galang" and "Sunshowers" increasing anticipation for her album on the blogosphere and elsewhere.[23][7][24]

Arular (2005)

M.I.A. performing at Sónar in June 2005.

Originally completed and ready for release in September 2004, Arular's release was delayed over several months, with pushed back dates of release between December 2004 and February 2005 mentioned.[2] Prior to the LP's release, Arulpragasam made her North American debut at the Drake Hotel in Toronto in February, 2005, pulling in a diverse crowd. Receiving a response described as "phenomenal", attendees already knew many of her songs.[25]

Arulpragasam's debut album Arular was eventually released worldwide in March 2005 to universal critical acclaim.[26][27] Composing and titling the album Arular in acknowledgment of her and her father's past, much of its focus lay in experimentation. Consisting of bold, jarring and ambient sounds, complimentary lyrics on Arular were both observational and reflective of her experiences of identity politics, indie culture, popular culture, poverty, revolution, war and with the working class, exemplified by songs such as "Amazon", "Fire Fire" and "M.I.A.". Its themes, use of culture-jamming, multi-lingual slang, and its mix of strident and elusive imagery, social commentary and storytelling incited debate.[28][8]

Arulpragasam was first exposed to Western radio in London, hearing broadcasts emanating from her neighbours' flats in the late '80s.[4] Her liking for hip-hop and dancehall developed from there, finding a common identity with "the starkness of the sound" of Public Enemy, records by MC Shan, Ultramagnetic MCs and the "weird, distinct style" of acts such as Silver Bullet and London Posse.[29][23] Her time at college shaped her affinity for punk, the emerging sound of Britpop alt-rock and electroclash, after which she began writing songs.[20] She has spoken of the large influence musicians The Slits, Malcolm Mclaren and The Clash had on her living in West London.[30][31]

Making Arular in her bedroom in West London, she built tracks off her demos with programmed beats she wrote on the 505.[10][32] Her work attracted artists such as the rapper Nas, who by early 2005 stated, "Her sound is the future."[33] Following "Galang" and "Sunshowers," she later released her third single from Arular, the funk carioca-inspired co-composition "Bucky Done Gun" in July 2005. Arulpragasam performed through 2005 supporting her album at South by South West, at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which drew a strongly favourable response and an unusually large crowd for the billing she played,[34] the Manhattan club S.O.B.s, the Bue Festival, a free headlining show at Central Park Summerstage, the Glastonbury Festival, Reading Festival and the Summer Sonic Fest as well as at other venues.[35][36][37][38][39] She also toured with Roots Manuva and LCD Soundsystem.[40][37] She appeared on the track "Bad Man" on Missy Elliott’s 2005 album The Cookbook.

On July 19, 2005, M.I.A. was shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize for Arular.[41] In December, Arular was the second most featured album in music critics’ Year-End Top 10 lists for 2005,[42][26] and named best of 2005 by publications such as Blender, Stylus and Musikbyrån.[26][27][43] M.I.A. ended 2005 briefly touring with Gwen Stefani and the Big Day Out festival.

Kala (2007)

M.I.A. performing at the Siren Music Festival in June 2007.

In 2006 M.I.A. wrote and recorded her second studio album, Kala, named after her mother. Following censorship controversies and documented U.S. visa problems in 2006, Kala was worked on while M.I.A. travelled through several locations including India, Trinidad, Liberia, Jamaica, Australia, Japan, the UK and US, using more diverse live instrumentation and brash colours for heavier textures, and layering, whilst exploring traditional dance and folk styles such as soca and dappan koothu (in songs such as "Boyz") and rave culture and music (in "XR2") among many others.[44][45] The unconventional recording sessions brought out, as did her artwork and photography for the album, both the celebratory and the "rawer, darker, outsider" themes that were felt to have run through Kala.[46] The album also saw her re-embrace bootleg soundtracks of the film music of India from her childhood. Arulpragasam wrote songs about immigration politics, her personal relationships and war.[46] Taking Switch on her travels to collaborate with her, she made songs and videos such as "Hit That" and "Bird Flu" available on her internet accounts, official website and for digital download. M.I.A. featured in the song "Come Around", a bonus track on Timbaland's 2007 album Shock Value and a track on Kala. Before her second album's release, Arulpragasam confronted the public media, citing some journalists over-attributing work on her debut album to her male collaborators.[47] Released on June 11, 2007 , "Boyz’," music video was co-directed by Jay Will and M.I.A. and the album's second single "Jimmy," followed (about a genocide tour date invite Arulpragasam received whilst in Liberia) .

General acclaim met Kala's release in August 2007. Arulpragasam’s 2007 tour in support of Kala, included a show at Studio B in Brooklyn in July 2007, Lollapalooza, the Gloria Theatre in Germany, the Arena of Nîmes supporting Björk, Rock en Seine and Get Loaded in the Park - a festival gig that drew a crowd sing-along pitch described in a review as "near hysterical."[48][49][50] M.I.A. performed at the Electric Picnic, Connect, the Virgin Festivals, the Osheaga Festival, Austin City Limits, at the opening of the Terminal 5 club in New York and Parklife among other gigs.[51][52][53] M.I.A. ended 2007 with a mini-tour of venues in the UK. Supporting acts throughout her tour included Rye Rye, Santogold, The Cool Kids, Soko, Radioclit and Buraka Som Sistema. She provides guest vocals on their kuduro song "Sound of Kuduro."

Arulpragasam revealed in December 2006 that she revisited Liberia to meet war-affected people there including ex-child soldiers and featured in a "4Real" TV-Series documentary on the post war situation in the country with activist Kimmie Weeks.[54][55][56] In a video documentary for Vbs.tv in 2007, M.I.A. and director Spike Jonze visit Afrikan Boy in his immigrant neighborhood of Woolwich, South London. In the documentary, M.I.A spoke of the possibility of launching her own record label entitled Zig-Zag, with Afrikan Boy’s track "Lidl" being the first release.[57]

In December 2007, Kala was named the best album of 2007 by publications including Rolling Stone and Blender.[58] M.I.A. was also included on USA Today's "100 Most Interesting People of 2007". M.I.A. released Paper Planes - Homeland Security Remixes EP digitally on February 11, 2008. In early 2008, M.I.A. DJed at the Marc Jacobs fashion show after party, and modelled for "Marc by Marc Jacobs" in Spring/Summer 2008.

M.I.A proved popular at the annual Experience Music Project's Pop Conference held in Seattle, USA in April 2008, with paper submissions and discussions on her and her work presented on the theme of "Shake, Rattle: Music, Conflict, and Change."[59][60]

M.I.A. toured during the first half of 2008, with opening tourmates including Holy Fuck, before stating she would end touring in support of Kala, cancelling her European tour dates through June and July, opting to start on a new album. Stating "This is my last show, and I'm glad I'm spending it with all my hippies," M.I.A performed a set at the Bonnaroo Music Festival.[61][62][63][64]

In 2008, M.I.A. started her music label, N.E.E.T., via Interscope Records, signing Rye Rye.[65]

Politics

Politics and global ideas are prominent in M.I.A.'s art.[66] Her work draws from Arulpragasam's experiences of poverty, survival, violence, prejudice and war. On the political nature of her work she has said, "I have to be true to that--I can't take certain things away. I do have a political background. I’m only in England, learning this language and building a life in this society, because of political reasons. Why would I deny that?"[45] M.I.A. has talked about the fusion of politics into her music. "Nobody wants to be dancing to political songs. Every bit of music out there that’s making it into the mainstream is really about nothing. I wanted to see if I could write songs about something important and make it sound like nothing. And it kind of worked."[67]

Asked in 2005 if she was always political, M.I.A. referenced her political development. "I think I was always slightly political but my issues change with what’s going on in my life. Politics is something that I’ve never been able to discuss with anyone and everyone…my life in England for the first ten years wasn’t really political. It was more about getting an equal shot as the next person. I wanted a shot at an education…politics came back to me after I went back to Sri Lanka. Once I studied and wanted to be a filmmaker, I tried to make a documentary on what it was like to be a young person in Sri Lanka. I wanted to make a film that could compare the 19-year-olds in Sri Lanka. That’s when I came across so much politics.[14]

M.I.A. has expressed discontent with the formula for the War on Terror and its global impact. "You can't separate the world into two parts like that, good and evil... America has successfully tied all these pockets of independence struggles, revolutions, and extremists into one big notion of terrorism."[67]

M.I.A. talks about the relationship between first and third world countries and the differences that exist between them, as well as the similarities.[citation needed] "It's O.K. to add new elements to your ideas, to your existence," Arulpragasam says. "There will be more bridges built between the developed and developing world."[66] M.I.A. has included numerous artists from developed and developing countries in her music. [68] "Why don't we ever get to, like, actually hear people talk on TV? Why don't we ever get to hear the starving African kids say something or do something or sing something or express something? We show them but they don't have a voice."[69]

Discography

Main article: M.I.A. discography

Tours

Awards

Some awards and nominations M.I.A. has received are listed below.

  • Alternative Turner Prize
    • 2002 Shortlisted—M.I.A.—Maya Arulpragasam
  • Mercury Music Prize
    • 2005 Shortlisted—Album of the Year—Arular
  • Groovevolt Music & Fashion Awards
    • 2005 Won—Best Alternative Album—Arular[70]
  • South Bank Show Awards
    • 2005 Nominated—Breakthrough Award—M.I.A.
  • Shortlist Music Prize
    • 2005 Shortlisted—Album of the Year—Arular
    • 2007 Shortlisted—Album of the Year—Kala
  • Q Awards
    • 2005 Nominated—Best New Act— M.I.A.
  • Independent Music Awards (Canada)
    • 2008 Nominated—International Album of the Year — Kala
    • 2008 Nominated—International Artist/Group/Duo of the Year — M.I.A.
  • Spin and URB magazines' "Artist of the Year" in 2005.
  • Rolling Stone and Blender's "Album of the Year" 2007—Kala

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Books and further reading

  • ^ Arulpragasam, Maya (2002). M.I.A. No. 10 (Paperback ed.). Pocko Editions. ISBN 1-903977-10-X
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