Fallen from grace: the curious case of M.I.A.
When the term “Missing in Action” is used, it’s usually in relation to military operations. Though Maya Arulpragasam’s inspiration for the stage name came from a similar place when her cousin went missing in Sri Lanka, she likely didn’t anticipate the reflection it would cast on her own life and career. M.I.A. was once considered the most exciting up-and-coming fresh talent, but heroism swiftly became replaced by controversy and the brutal hands of time.
The buzzing streets of London were M.I.A.’s homestay for a large portion of her childhood, but growing up in Sri Lanka until the age of 11 exposed her to the extreme perils of poverty and the Sri Lankan Civil War. Naturally, as a musician, the singer’s experiences factored into her music, and she began writing about the controversial subjects that set her apart from her musical peers.
M.I.A.’s father, who adopted the name Arular and became involved in the Tamil resistance movement, influenced the singer’s debut album Arular, which naturally featured themes of conflict incorporated into hip-hop and dancehall, combining infectious beats with political messaging. When you think of iconic dance tunes, you will not often marry melodious hooks and rhythms with political experiences and ideology, which made M.I.A. almost an instant trailblazer in the art.
It was her 2007 sophomore album, Kala, which served as her breakthrough. While Arular was M.I.A.’s “masculine” album and an ode to her father, Kala represented her mother’s struggle to juggle work and family. She also summed it up by once saying it included “shapes, colours, Africa, street, power, bitch, nu world, and brave”. Musically, Kala is much more assertive than the singer’s debut, making use of more South Asian musical elements and African chanting, along with introducing other aspects like utilising the Australian instrument, the didgeridoo.
Throughout the album, M.I.A. addresses working-class topics like illegal immigration, poverty, capitalism, violence, and gun control. She also spotlights British rave culture, melding together all of these elements to craft something that is genuinely thought-provoking. Her popular track ‘Paper Planes’, for instance, challenges America’s harmful perceptions of immigrants by referencing many behaviours people often attribute to people like M.I.A. who have moved from war-torn countries.
Aside from the popularity of her sound, M.I.A. became an immensely strong figure as a result of such choices, making her one of the biggest ones to watch in a musical landscape that wasn’t filled with much enthusiasm for innovation. ‘Paper Planes’ became a massive commercial success, which ultimately demonstrated that there was a place for such themes in mainstream music and that people wanted to listen.
However, M.I.A. never shied away from sharing her thoughts in polarising conversations. In 2018, the singer boldly claimed that “musicians are not allowed to be smart or step out of their zones” and that “people are happy with the world ending as we know it,” which can only be instilled so much before you decide you’re numb to it all. Or, as M.I.A. put it, “You don’t give a shit.”
In 2022, as a guest on ‘Stay Free with Russell Brand’, if that’s not awkward enough, M.I.A. explained: “You name it, I’ve been cancelled for it,” adding that mentioning the Arab Spring “got me in a lot of trouble”. Although many of the singer’s thoughts on significant cultural topics may be seen as progressive, there were certain aspects that genuinely did get her in a copious amount of trouble, enough for her to be cast aside and almost erased from musical history.
M.I.A. staked her claim in the music industry by introducing a new type of courage that bridged the gap between cultural identity, resistance, and criticisms of capitalism and globalisation to new heights while still ensuring it remained enjoyable and accessible. However, she also sparked controversy for various appearances and comments, alongside the implications of her family’s connections to the Tamil Tigers.
Much of her backlash is rooted in the opinions she shared on social media, which have occasionally landed her in hot water. Some of her tweets and posts have been criticised for being insensitive or inflammatory, leading to calls for accountability. A more recent example would be her comment relating to Alex Jones and his comments about Sandy Hook, which prompted her to question whether those who lie on Twitter should pay, especially those who talk about vaccinations.
What did M.I.A. say about Sandy Hook?
M.I.A. had already demonstrated her anti-vaxxer label, but in 2022, she expressed her views on the damages Infowars host Alex Jones was ordered to pay the families of Sandy Hook victims. Jones received a $1billion charge for making false assertions that actors orchestrated the school shooting as part of a plot to deprive Americans of their right to bear arms.
As a result, M.I.A. tweeted: “If Alex Jones pays for lying, shouldn’t every celebrity pushing vaccines pay too?” which followed her earlier statement on the social media site: “If I have to choose the vaccine or chip, I’m gonna choose death.”
Naturally, this drew widespread criticism, with many condemning her for potentially spreading misinformation about vaccinations, a crucial tool during the peak of the pandemic, offering a lifeline to society’s most vulnerable. Her comments also resulted in her being pulled from the GQ Awards, citing the “controversial nature” of her “Twitter activity”. In response, she hit back by saying: “You print words for a living. How do you judge man of the year when you don’t have balls?”
M.I.A.’s trajectory may serve as a curious case study, where initial leftist and liberal inclinations seemingly evolve into positions aligned with the far right, perhaps fuelled by political disillusionment. However, discerning the precise nature of this transformation remains a challenge that will likely become more disjointed with time.
