British rapper M.I.A.: ‘I'm hooked on the way AR Rahman channels the divine through his music’

British rapper MIA will perform at the NH7 Weekender in Pune this weekend.

British pop icon, Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam, M.I.A. is all set for her debut concert in India. The London-born rapper, record producer and singer with Sri Lankan Tamil roots, is among the headliners at the Bacardi NH7 Weekender 2023 in Pune this weekend, from December 1- 3.

While she has been making music for around two decades, last year in 2022 she released her sixth album after a gap of six years. Known for Paper Planes, Beep, Matangi, Bad Girls, Bamboo Banga and XXXO, this multi-award-winning artiste is a self-proclaimed fan of AR Rahman’s music and loves Indian sounds.

M.I.A., known for collaborations with Jay-Z, Kanye West, Pharrell, Lil Wayne and others, talks to us about her performance at the festival, her music, memories of Jaffna, her love for Indian music and more. Excerpts:

M.I.A.

You are heading to this year's Bacardi NH7 Weekender in Pune. How much does this mean to you? What are you most excited about?

Absolutely stoked about this! Super excited for the chance to hit the stage in front of this incredible energy. It's like tapping into something that's been a bit overlooked in the West, you know? Music, it feels like, has been taken for granted, and now we get to expose it to a whole new set of fans. Really looking forward to performing at Pune at the Bacardi NH7 Weekender Festival.

This is your first performance in India. What are you looking forward to most in this country?

I would like to get into the academia of India (smiles) And it feels great. It's the closest to home. My gosh. It's like turning the page to a fresh chapter in the M.I.A. journey! Excited to be in India.  Also, there's nothing that tops South Indian food (smiles). Would really like to also visit Delhi and Bangalore.

You have mentioned earlier that you had happy memories of growing up in Jaffna. Did that help you later in life? What do you love about Sri Lanka?

Oh, growing up in Sri Lanka was something else, you know? There was this amazing sense of community, with people coming together, families helping each other out – it was all about togetherness. And nature.

Sri Lanka is beautiful. Tell us about your memories of Sri Lanka, what do you remember most about the country?

Being eco-friendly was just second nature to us. We lived this existence where plastic was practically non-existent, and we'd munch on leaves instead. I vividly remember when plastic first made its entrance – I won a competition, and my prize was a plastic bucket. Can you believe it? Those were the days when things were simpler, more beautiful. It's hard to put into words. Picture everywhere being lush and vibrant, jungles, wildlife, insects – it's like those memories are straight out of a dream.

What do you love about Indian music?

I've got this thing where I only tune into Indian music. I mean, sure, there are times I try to break out of the loop, but when I need a pick-me-up, when I need to get in the zone and just power through something, it's always the beats of Indian music that I turn to. There's just something about it, you know?

You have been a fan of AR Rahman. What do you love about his work the most?

I'm totally hooked on the way he channels the divine through his music, you know? It's like, regardless of the faith he follows, there's this profound connection to something higher. And what's fascinating is that it's not confined to his faith – it's a universal language of the divine. I've dabbled in various religions myself, and I totally get it. No matter where he comes from, his community, the vibes in his music still manage to convey that timeless beauty.