M.I.A.

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M.I.A. Interview in XLR8R

M.I.A.: Missing in Action

January 7 2009 • Text by Brandon Ivers

Perhaps the only shocking moment of this year’s Bonnaroo music festival came when singer M.I.A. announced her early retirement from the music business. You might think the usual thieves, pimps, and shallow money trenches were to blame, but it turns out the routine grind of celebrity (or her budding bun in the oven) was the real culprit. We caught up with M.I.A. at Coachella before the total dissatisfaction set in earlier this year.

XLR8R: If you could have Fatboy Slim’s laser show, would you?

M.I.A.: It’s just a dude on some decks! I could paint a picture and post it up [laughs]. He’s had years and years to develop all those lasers and shit. I’ve only had three, and my time is ticking because I want out.

So… no?

I don’t want to be “the thing” anymore. I don’t want to be my art. When you’re a female, it’s harder to not be seen like that. You become the face of it, and then you become the art, not your art. And I think there’s nothing more revolutionary than to go, “Look, I could have been Gwen Stefani, but I ain’t… fuck you.”

To read the rest of the interview CLICK HERE