M.I.A. talks about new album

A friend of mine who, like me, is a huge M.I.A. fan informed me more than a year ago that M.I.A. announced in one concert that she is retiring from the music business. Of course, it was news that shocked and disappointed us. M.I.A. is one of those artists that brought something fresh and exciting to music and for her to retire with just two albums under her belt was such a tragedy. I refused to accept the news, however, and thought to myself that either M.I.A. may just have said it as a spur of the moment outburst and will come to rethink her decision soon enough.

And it looks like she did.

M.I.A. is apparently about to release her new album this summer. According to M.I.A. the as yet untitled album was recorded most of the material with Blaqstarr. The two had previously collaborated on the “The Turn” and “Way Down in The Hole” off the Kala album.

Strangely enough, M.I.A. is also collaborating with a group of Filipino Verizon workers on the song “I’m Down Like Your Internet Connection.” M.I.A. relayed that she was having problems with her cable and wireless and was calling tech support for almost three hours. She suddenly had the idea that what she’s doing could become part of her music and asked the tech support guy to learn some lyrics and sing it over the phone. After 10 phone calls, she said she had her internet fixed and a complete song.

Now that’s creativity in action.