M.I.A. Announces New Album 'MATA'

Listen to new single "The One"

BY Allie GregoryPublished May 26, 2022

M.I.A. has announced plans for a new album titled MATA. The follow-up to 2016's AIM will arrive via Island Records on a yet-to-be-revealed date.

While its release date, cover art and tracklisting remain a mystery, M.I.A. has shared the album's first single "The One," which you can hear below.

Speaking with Zane Lowe of Apple Music, the artist shed light on the record's themes:

I think there's a bit of a battle on the record. That there is a bit of a clash, but the clash is like your ego and spirituality. Those are the clashes. Because, as a musician, you need some ego, otherwise you can't do it. Also the genre of music that, genres I should say, is all very much like egocentric. It's not like I'm an artist that came through gospel or something. For me, it was like to have that journey, and also, it was a significant time to discuss like Islamophobia... talking about wars in the Middle East, and things like that.

The artist is due to head out on tour early next month, though so far, no Canadian dates have been announced.

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