Unpredictable, childlike almost, with a strong undertow of defiance just about sums up Sri Lankan rap star Matangi ‘Maya’ Arulpragasam—or MIA, as she is known to the world. Qualities that over the decade, since she broke on to the scene, have drawn her adjectives like “anomaly”, “renegade”, “punk” and “provocateur”, often approvingly and just as often not. Qualities that her latest and apparently last studio album AIM (her name backwards) seethes with. Clanging swords invoke female strength, the refugee crisis is denounced in a blustering protest anthem, brutal truths are measured out with unsettling sweetness. And then there is that curious collaboration with one Zayn Malik. She’s in India to shoot the video for their track together, ‘Freedun’ (though we later hear that she might shelve it).
“Well, we just think he’s hot,” she says of the former One Direction Adonis. Even as artists with South Asian roots, Malik and MIA sit at opposite ends of the musical spectrum. His moony, teen heartthrob stylings couldn’t be more removed from her lyrical ballbusters. “I was supposed to write a song for Zayn, and then he ended up getting on my song,” she says. “He may be a pop idol, but he’s also still an outsider. And he’s still trying to find himself too. We’ve never had someone at the level of Zayn...” Her eyes search the bare walls. She draws out her words, as if carefully tugging at each thought. “I feel like in 2009, I almost had that.” With two critically acclaimed studio albums under her belt and a third on the way, MIA made it to the TIME 100 list that year, as one of the most influential names in music. “I could’ve been as big as that if I had chosen to be the trophy brown singer. But I didn’t take it. I felt like it was important to make the albums I made, tell people about the NSA and all that—that’s who I am.” She smiles. “Zayn’s doing Zayn and I did me.”
An excerpt from the interview featured in ELLE India's December 2016 issue. Click here to subscribe to the magazine or download the digital version.
Metallic wire dress, price on request, Rimzim Dadu. Leather and faux fur jacket, Rs 22,999, Kenzo x H&M. Nylon pants, M.I.A.’s own. Brass-plated gold earrings, Rs 8,000, Valliyan by Nitya Arora.
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By Sonam Savlani December 8th, 2016
