M.I.A.

[nappywun]

Is she known in the States too?

She IS well known here in NYC. She has had at least 3 shows this summer and has a show scheduled w/I-Wayne on tuesday.

She gave a great performance at Central Park a month ago and It was PACKED. Even Salman Rushdie (the author) attended.

 

[missy-t1]

What music category would you put her music in?

 

[Orchide]

What music category would you put her music in?

Well, to me, she reminds me of so many things but is so unique I would call it electro-clash with other influences.
Got this blurb about her from Rollingstone.com and notice how many genres they feel she fits into ----

Genre: Foreign Rap/Hip-Hop, Broken Beat, Dancehall, All Music, All Radio

When she was little, Maya Arulpragasam, aka M.I.A., probably had no idea she'd grow up to become an underground dancehall sensation. Her father was a resistance figure in the Sri Lankan independence struggle, and Arulpragasam's family was forced to leave Sri Lanka -- for their safety -- when she was nine years old. But after growing up in a London housing estate and studying film, Arulpragasam's life changed when she picked up a Roland MC-505 for the first time and started composing songs. Skillfully weaving street slang with geo-politics, nonsense rhymes with low-tech dancehall riddims, Arulpragasam's angular, low-tech sound has struck a chord. Her debut, Arular, was released in 2005.

I just rewatched a few of her videos on yahoo music- I love her
"Bucky Done Gun" is soooo catchy...I saw her perform this on Jimmy Kimmel Live a few months back. Cute style too- its like old skool Salt-n-Pep meets Bananarama! She is so beautiful too.
Here is a link to a great little article about her upbringing and how she got started-

http://www.globalbeatfusion.com/featuresmia.htm

globalbeatfusion

 

[Duleeshab]

I Salt-n-Pepa and Bananarama

A lot of people were forced to leave Sri Lanka I hate wars

 

[Orchide]

I Salt-n-Pepa and Bananarama

A lot of people were forced to leave Sri Lanka I hate wars

I was just readin the last bit of that article I gave the link to and she attended Central Saint Martins in London and made her own clothes for performance to referencing her memories of her growing up strife.
So interesting...

 

[Orchide]

Wanted to add, as good as her videos are, I love her energy performing live and she has a very sexy "Vanity" thing going on too...(Vanity as in Vanity 6 of Prince & the Revolution...woo hoo).

 

[Spacemiu]

But of course she is
I live in Echo Park so this is the ground zero for acts like her
Grey Ant is based here in EP- to me, her look is very "Echo Park gal"

shes wearing a brian lichtenberg hoodie in that video to

 

[Orchide]

shes wearing a brian lichtenberg hoodie in that video to

Didn't catch that- I know Brian

 

[Neo_Classic]

Urgh... I downloaded some of her music and I don't like it.

 

[Gincat]

Orchide, you saw her live? I tried to go to one of her shows a couple of months ago but it sold out quick. SHe sold out NY and LA and she just started performing.
But I was smarter this time around and bought the tickets to her next show right away. I can't wait to see her live.

 

[indie]

we have had this thread before..I've got the i-D issue she covered..its nice.

 

[Stine]

Hmm, I think it's time for me to buy her album...

 

[secondly]

I'm going to see her live! I've got floor seats for when she opens for Gwen Stefani (who I'm not really a fan of live, but whatever MIA justifies the bloated ticket price) so I'll try to post pictures.

 

[Cola]

I ♥ M.I.A. ... my favourite song is 10 Dollar.

 

[jennifer~]

She's not half bad... not my usual type, but nonetheless... What I truly love, though, is her back-in-the-(hey)day wardrobe...

 

[Orchide]

Orchide, you saw her live? I tried to go to one of her shows a couple of months ago but it sold out quick. SHe sold out NY and LA and she just started performing.
But I was smarter this time around and bought the tickets to her next show right away. I can't wait to see her live.

I saw her live on tv- she has been on Jimmy Kimmel

 

[oomarhatelier]

i love her she's so INNOVATIVE at last on girl different to the others girl, to me, britney xtina jessica simpson are the same, cool blondy, big boobs, nothin of personal, shack they *** on the video.
m.i.a. is great she's able to emerge by the 'barbie' generation
cool!

 

[secondly]

Is she as good live as she is in videos and on CD? I really can't express how excited I am...

 

[fouroclock]

She's so unique. Amazon's my favourite song. But I'm not really cool with her agreeing to armed action, though that might just be a metaphor.

Anyway, M.I.A. on another cover.

 

[jennifer~]

assorted pics... bling is definitely her color...