If you’re a big M.I.A. fan then you’re going to have to wait until Spring 2013 for her new album Matangi. Originally slated for December 2012, the set is now scheduled to arrive April 15 after her record label requested some rework.
“I thought I’d finished it. I finished it and then I handed the record in, like a couple of months ago,” states M.I.A. to an Australian press outlet.
She adds that the project is being delayed by her label, who wants more darkness. “At the moment, I’ve been told it’s too positive. So we’re having a bit of an issue at the label. …They’re like, ‘You need to like darken it up a bit.’ ”
M.I.A., who recently became a mom, continued that the execs at Interscope told her , “It’s like, ‘We just built you up as the public enemy No. 1 and now you’re coming out with all this positive stuff.’ ”
Insisting she’s not playing by the label’s rule, she insist, “I don’t know what it is but as soon as I work that out, I’m taking my time to decide what they mean,” she added.
Matangi is the follow up to 2010’s ‘///Y/.’ The single “Bad Girls” is nominated for Best Short Form Music Video at the upcoming Grammy Awards.
M.I.A., the Sri Lankan-born British rapper and recording artist, has made headlines with her new album ‘Matangi’ – but not for the reasons she’d hoped. The record label M.I.A. is signed to have pushed back the release date of her latest project from December 7th 2012 to April 15th 2013, claiming they don’t want her to be positive in her writing or collaborations. This unexpected delay has raised a lot of questions about what’s really going on behind closed doors at the label – so let’s dive deep into this story and explore what it means for M.I.A.’s career as an independent artist!
The South London based singer, songwriter and producer first burst onto the music scene in 2004 with her debut single ‘Galang’; since then she’s gone on to become one of the most successful artists in alternative hip hop and electronic music circles, collaborating with some of pop music’s biggest stars including Kanye West and Jay Z. She received worldwide acclaim for both her solo albums Kala (2007) and Maya (2010). But now that Matangi is being held up by her own record label executives, will fans still get to hear its unique sound anytime soon?
This article takes a closer look at the controversy surrounding M.I.A.’s long awaited fourth studio album: why are her record company trying to stop it from coming out? What changes do they want her to make? And how does this affect M.I.A.’s creative freedom as an independent artist? We’ll analyse these issues in depth and discuss where things go from here for the critically acclaimed musician…
Artist M.I.A.’S Struggle To Release Album
M.I.A., the British singer-songwriter, has been pushing for her album Matangi to be released since late 2012, but her record label has put up a fight with delaying tactics and roadblocks at every turn. Despite having had two highly successful albums under her belt, M.I.A.’s label seems determined to prevent the release of this new music that they don’t approve of — namely because it’s too positive in tone for their liking.
The conflict between artist and record company over artistic vision is nothing new; many artists have experienced similar struggles before and after M.I.A. The difference here lies in how long it’s taking for them to reach an agreement on when the album should actually come out: initially planned for November 2013, then January 2014, now April 15th is being eyed as its final date of release.
It’s not clear why there needs to be so much delay from both sides – especially considering that M.I.A.’s fans are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to listen to something she’s created which could potentially be just as powerful (if not more so) than what she produced before—but one thing is certain: until these issues get resolved satisfactorily, we will all remain patiently waiting for Matangi’s official launch day!
Music Industry’s Resistance To Uplifting Content
It has become clear that the music industry is resistant to allowing M.I.A.’s positive messages and uplifting content to be heard through her music. This isn’t an isolated case, either; it’s a pattern seen time and again in many artists’ attempts to put out their work. The labels seem determined to delay or even suppress the release of those albums which don’t fit within their parameters—namely, songs with lyrics that are too inspirational or thought-provoking for their liking.
The impact of this resistance can have far reaching consequences on both sides: not only does the artist suffer from having their message stifled, but these delays also cost fans who want to hear the album they’ve been waiting so long for. In addition, when major record labels make decisions like this without considering how artistry can contribute positively to society as a whole, we all lose out—as our culture continues to miss out on potentially groundbreaking works of creativity.
This situation highlights just how important it is for us all to recognize and respect different artistic visions, rather than trying to control them into conformity with preconceived notions about what good music should sound like. After all, if M.I.A.’s label were willing to move past its own biases and allow Matangi’s release date come sooner rather than later, everyone could benefit from experiencing her unique perspective first hand – something that would surely be worth celebrating!
Conclusion
I have seen first-hand how the music industry can stifle artists who want to put out positive content. M.I.A.’s experience with her latest album release is a perfect example of this. Despite wanting to bring something uplifting and inspiring to her audience, her record label has pushed back against it for months.
This struggle speaks volumes about the current state of the music industry, which often prefers to promote songs that are focused on money and fame rather than those that emphasize messages of hope and positivity. While I am glad that M.I.A was finally able to get Matangi released on April 15th, I am also saddened by how much she had to go through in order to do so. It should not be so difficult for an artist like her to share their creative voice with the world without interference from outside forces.
Despite these obstacles, however, M.I.A has proven herself as a powerful force within the music industry who will not let anyone stand between her artistry and her fans — no matter what resistance she may face along the way!
Founder and Creator of Singersroom.com and IncredibleWork.com. Follow me on Instagram at @gary.gentles.
