From the depths of Sri Lanka to the streets of London, M.I.A
(aka Maya Arul) has found herself with the re-release of her debut
offering, 'Galang'. Previously a sell-out when a modest
number of 12"s were pressed, Pete Tong championed it as one of his
Essential New Tunes. Certainly, this crushing style that
bashes Hip Hop, Dancehall and Reggae with traces of Garage has got
a fiery feeling. Now signed with XL Recordings, this feisty
release means things are rolling for the dancehall doyenne.
Having had a previous incarnation
as an up and coming art star, what made you cross over to
music?
The art stuff was out of necessity really. I shot a film in
Sri Lanka called M.I.A (Missing In Action) about the prevailing
youth culture. At the time there was a sense of apathy in
England and I had an overall feeling of wanting to do something.
At the time, me and my friends were worrying about how to cut
our hair and stuff when there were other youths on the planet that
were willing to die for their cause that we didn't even know about.
The film fucked up because of September 11th - it would have
been seen as propaganda, what with kids joining the Tigers.
With all my material, I turned it into paintings (later to be
nominated for the Alternative Turner Prize). The music thing
came as a kind of extension to that; it totally happened by
chance.
Chance or challenge?
Bit of both really. I was sitting at home, completely out or
rhythm. I never thought I could do music because I was tone
deaf! I had a go on a friend's 505 and wrote my first song in
one go and it kind of just stuck.
You wrote Galang with Justine
Frischmann...
Yes, I think it's interesting to drag people out of their boxes,
musically. Justine's quite experimental with her themes so
her input was refreshing. I had some feedback from Steve
(Mackay, of Pulp wonderment who later did the remix) and he just
had a feeling about it. He was like "this is really crazy, it
sounds really good, you should really think about it".
Not bad encouragement from two
reliable sources, then?
I really wasn't that confident about it, it was just a creative
exercise. I wanted to work out why I couldn't sing. I
preferred to be at home slitting my wrists over the troubles of the
world; I could never imagine performing and stuff.
Undeniably, political issues and
experiences have influenced your outlook.
Everything is such a mixture. Feeling an outsider in Sri
Lanka and then again when I returned to England, I had to become
comfortable in my own skin. Once comfy, I was open to showing
my spirit and attitude. Dad was certainly a defining influence
(having become dedicated to fight with the Tamil Tigers in Sri
Lanka) but I am really influenced by the creativity of London.
It really drives me and I like to work things out
creatively.
Your video benefited from the
merry mix of Ruben Fleischer's insight and your
artwork.
Having previously worked with Dizee Rascall and The Bees I knew
that he was going to be a great person to work with creatively.
My stencils and stuff just felt right and showed where I was
coming from.
What excites and inspires
you?
I kind of listened to Hip Hop and Dancehall as a kid and whilst
growing up after coming here in 1986. Only meeting people at
college did I start to listen to Punk and the emerging sound of
Britpop. I met Peaches and was exposed to her electro thrash
and it all started.
Do you have a boldness or need to
pop into a certain genre?
I don't really know the history of certain genre's enough to be
really precious about it. I'm certainly not retrospective.
England is so retrospective right now, it's a bit boring.
It's nice to start something; to have the freedom to jump
around all genre's. Everyone's like "this girl, we can't put
her in a section in HMV". God, I mean if that's a problem,
fuck it, I'm going to embrace it and do what I can with it.
If there's any sort of problem with that, I'm going to have
fun with it. I think it's really good as it liberates a lot
of stereotypes. I never get writer's block and I'm always
open to so much to draw from.
Look into my crystal
ball...
I just really want to see what's out there. I want to spend
time here, there and everywhere, getting diversity like indie
musicians making Dancehall on my album. I'm listening to
Forella Funk sort of stuff; it's so exciting, with so much energy.
It's freaky teenage girls going mad, such a big sound that's
angry but kind of sexy at the same time. It uses Miami Bass
as its essence. That seems exciting - it would be great to
make some party music for London.
Indeed, the word Galang comes from the Jamaican patois for 'go on'
and it seems that this is the perfect sentiment. Why
not?
'Galang' is available now.
M.I.A's debut album, 'Arular' is released April
2005.
Gemma Pearson