M.I.A. Teases New Single and Project Release Date

Joseph Okpako/Wireimage/Getty Images

4.4K

M.I.A. is back with a preview of a new, untitled single to usher in the new decade alongside a re-envisioning of herself. The legendary artist turned social activist took to social media to promise “a new decade” spent “exploring planets and platforms” starting Friday, January 31, 2020 accompanied by a silhouette opening up its chakra and more trippy astrology-inspired visuals for good measure.

2016’s AIM, was purportedly her final studio album and preceded her MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A. documentary from 2018. The last project that the singer offered was the archived visuals for her 2004 single “Reload” back in December 2018.

“I want to [retire], and I have said I am. And, yes, that is as much as I have to say. And it’s time for new people to come through, but that’s very difficult. It’s a very difficult thing. Because actually I think it’s harder now than it was for me 15 years ago, which is crazy. It’s really nuts,” M.I.A. told Rolling Stone on ending her music career back in 2018. “The future cannot be like this. I thought that was the positive thing about what was going on in America, that people would look more into worldlier things, and it’s really about a mindset and some philosophy, rather than us being divided by religion or color or gender. That will come about when certain types of people just allow themselves to be open to things and just evolve. Hopefully, it gets there.”

Stream the single preview below and stay tuned for more M.I.A. updates as Friday, January 31 draws nearer. For more music news, watch rising Jamaican singer-songwriter and recent GRAMMY Award-winner Koffee’s NPR Tiny Desk Concert performance.