M.I.A.

Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam, better known by her stage name M.I.A., is a British songwriter, record producer, vocalist and visual artist. Her music has been noted to encompass various genres, often with political lyricism and artwork. M.I.A. has described her music style as being "other" although she has cited different cultural influences in her work.An accomplished visual artist by 2002, she came to prominence in early 2004 through file-sharing of her singles "Galang" and "Sunshowers" on the Internet. In 2005, her debut album, Arular, was nominated for the Mercury Prize. Her second album, Kala, was released in 2007. She finally gained mainstream chart success in the United States with the single "Paper Planes", a major hit in 2008.In addition to her work as a graphic designer, providing artwork and photography for releases and as a director of music videos, she has also experimented with documentary film and in 2008 released a collection of her fashion designs.
In 2008, M.I.A. started her music label, N.E.E.T., via Interscope Records, signing Rye Rye. She is currently working on Rye Rye's and her own new album, using instruments such as the Korg Kaossilator. During her tour she said "I went to Mexico to the pyramids... I took like a Kaossilator beat machine and sat on top of the pyramid making a beat and it just sounded so huge, like the biggest reverby beat." M.I.A. has discussed possible themes on her next record and tour mate Egyptian Lover has said that he will be collaborating with M.I.A. on her third album.