M.I.A

“Maybe there's glory in all the things I'm not.”

— M.I.A

Besides, isn't it more exciting when you don't have permission?

— M.I.A

It's the only thing to do when you're in London - hang out in a taxi.

— M.I.A

We know that those huge U.S. brands do have political sway.

— M.I.A

Retirement: a brand new beginning! How wonderful!

— M.I.A

You have to constantly redefine who you are.

— M.I.A

That's what I miss, being a real human.

— M.I.A

I feel like a mirror reflecting back everyones perception of me.

— M.I.A

I don't intentionally go: 'Ooh, what is provocative,' and try to do that. I just do stuff, and people go: 'Ooh, that's…

— M.I.A

I dont support terrorism and never have. As a Sri Lankan that fled war and bombings, my music is the voice of…

— M.I.A

That's what's inspiring to me - finding someplace where people haven't already seen themselves in a certain light.

— M.I.A

It is a coincidence that Mathangi is the Goddess of Music and the spoken word, which can be rap.

— M.I.A

With homogenized culture, even if you feel frustrated, you'd have to write a Taylor Swift song to get heard.

— M.I.A

I've documented a lot of things myself as a filmmaker. If you want a rockumentary, that's in there.

— M.I.A

My giving birth was nothing when I think about all the people in Sri Lanka that have to give birth in a…

— M.I.A

Any piece of art, when you're putting it on a certain platform, if the platform becomes a political place, you can manipulate…

— M.I.A

I don't really see a difference in independent and major labels. To me, it's pretty much the same. There used to be…

— M.I.A

You have to have your fashion stylist person not sell out and sell your s - t to another pop star because…

— M.I.A

There's a bit of hope that a song can be about anything. If you want to write a song about anything, you…

— M.I.A

The consequence of making it a business thing and making an artist the same as a Wall Street trader is that you…

— M.I.A

The music industry was invented, like, 100 years ago. I'm talking about the goddess Matangi, who invented music 5,000 years ago. She…

— M.I.A

Music that was made in the 60s and 70s did come from a really soulful place. The seed for the songs written…

— M.I.A

My record label always says you shouldn't talk about money because it makes people extremely uncomfortable. Refugees can't talk about money. Rappers…

— M.I.A

'Paper Planes' was an accident. It wasn't a song we made for the masses. It took two years to get popular, and…

— M.I.A

The mentality has taken over because of the way we've promoted things. It's been accepted, to live with fear, and to fear…

— M.I.A

When we moved to England in 1986, I was ten years old and I didn't know anything about punk or hip hop.…

— M.I.A

The first 10 years of my life, I lived as 'Matangi.' When I came to England in '86, my first week of…

— M.I.A

I get called "ISIS" now. Why don't we have a name-and-shame weapons dealership website? Instead, we're like, "Oh my God, are you…

— M.I.A

It's interesting, because I named my first album after my dad because I wanted to find him. My second album was named…

— M.I.A

When mayors get together they probably have better conversations and have better notes to share about running different cities, and just do…

— M.I.A

In my head I actually think my songs are pop songs. I think, Damn, that's a pop song! I can practice in…

— M.I.A

In the beginning [of my career] I definitely felt a responsibility because I was representing a bunch of people [Sri lankans] who…

— M.I.A

Whoever's inside is inside; whoever's out is out.

— M.I.A

I feel like a mirror reflecting back everyone's perception of me.

— M.I.A

If music's a political place, I'm out.

— M.I.A

Just make music; don't talk about politics.

— M.I.A

I don't consider myself a musician. I'm an artist.

— M.I.A

In England right now you're not good enough until you get validated.

— M.I.A

Everyone has that moment where they just rebel.

— M.I.A

I feel like I can't really have a comment.

— M.I.A