Mirror Magazine

Mirror Magazine

M.I.A. – the hip-hop star
A Sri Lankan hip-hop singer based in London, M.I.A. is making waves with her unique talent. On the verge of signing a multi-million dollar record deal in the U.S., she is definitely going places. Here’s what she has to say
Getting there
“When you’re an MC your skills are judged by how hard you can criticise,” says Maya Arul a.k.a. M.I.A. “It’s all about ‘I hate you so much.’ What’s the point in that – it isn’t helping anyone.” M.I.A’s first demo “Galang” is an upbeat slice of hip-hop and survival in London. “People told me to flatter people, pray, work really hard or do your mates over and run off with the money...”

Originally born in Sri Lanka, 26-year-old M.I.A grew up listening to Tamil film music, Michael Jackson and Boney-M; anything that was catchy pop music that made it to Asia. In England it was Paula Abdul, Tiffany and Madonna. “I had a radio and I used to sleep with it on and learned all Madonna’s songs from “True Blue”. After that I started listening to the kid next door who played hip-hop.”

Music wasn’t always on the agenda. “I didn’t have the patience to learn an instrument!” she admits. “Plus I was totally tone deaf!” At school she practiced dance routines (the first one being Cookie Crew) and then left to study art, doing artwork for the likes of Elastica – she did the cover for Elastica’s album, ‘Menace’. “I got to meet a lot of musicians and hang out with them.”

The deal
It was at a club night in Kennington that she met former Pulp bass player Steve Mackey who introduced her to showbiz, (he’s the one who put out Punjabi MC’s “Mundian Te Bach Ke”) who immediately recognised her potential. “I wasn’t really ready. I was still in my bedroom when he heard my demo but we just thought, let’s put it out. So the actual release is the demo format.”

Those in the music industry wanted to get hold of her because they thought she sounded like, wait for it, Salt ‘n’ Pepa. “In the beginning my demos were like that. After “Galang” I was ready to go and meet them. I knocked on the door and gave them the demo and they called me back 20 minutes later. It just happened as fast as that.”

“I find it difficult that it is really instant for me. I met Damon at a party and everyone expects you to be a certain way and you meet people who are in other bands you get a sense of whose up for doing experimental stuff,” adds M.I.A.

Coming up…
“There are a thousand guitar bands and every radio station plays guitar music but there isn’t an arena which is slightly hip-hop or dancehall or slightly punk. But I know, so people who know hip hop as well as electro and punk know – that because of the Internet, we can access everything from all over the world. My generation is well informed of all types of music.”

Now she’s off to play her first gig... in New York. “We sent copies of “Galang” out to record shops and DJs are loving it over there.” The record came out in January, but a mix tape with a Philly DJ called Diplo is out now. “That’s the first piece of work that expresses what I’m about. We brought together the freshest sounds from all across the world and that is what I’m good at – being a good spotter of new sounds.”

“I want people to come to an M.I.A. gig. It’s not really a gig, it’s a club night. I don’t want people to buy a drink and stare at me. I want to shut the doors, make sure no one can leave. I want everyone to dance, have a good time and come on stage.”

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