"BIG on the underground"
"What's the point of knocking me down?"
M.I.A's new single starts with a vehement call to her critics. Her lines acknowledging that it will be hard to follow Arular, her debut album that blew up worldwide. The aftermath has meant everyone is expecting anything she will drop will explode in their ear drum. This is probably why the first track she dropped since Arular was XR2 Turbo, an ode to everything mid-90's starting with the popular car at the time Ford's XR2 Turbo. The track sounds like a revival 90's rave anthem, but with subdued vocals by Maya. Bird Flu shows an immediate shift as her delivery is yelled over distorted drums that beat a rhythm closer to Batacuda than Baltimore.
The clip features Maya amidst an array of colours and festivals, supposedly shot in a small Indian fishing village. Apparently she funded the clip herself, showing she is eager to build on her work. Recent YouTube footage of herself and Timbaland in studio, plus her collaborations with UK producer Switch, has already excited people. Showing artists it's all about timing when you drop a track, especially when it's this infectious.
Release: Single
To Cure: A predictable playlist
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