Mata (album) explained

Mata
Type:studio
Artist:M.I.A.
Cover:M.I.A. Mata Cover.png
Released:14 October 2022
Recorded:2018–2022
Genre:
Length:33:02
Label:Island
Prev Title:AIM
Prev Year:2016
Next Title:Bells Collection
Next Year:2023

Mata (stylised in all caps) is the sixth studio album by English recording artist M.I.A. It was released on 14 October 2022 through Island Records, marking her first album release for six years. M.I.A. worked with a number of producers on the album, including Skrillex and long-time collaborator Diplo, and recorded tracks in various locations around the world. As with M.I.A.'s earlier releases, the album mixes Eastern and Western musical influences, with styles such as moombahton and bhangra incorporated into the music. Mata received generally positive reviews from music critics but, unlike her previous albums, it did not enter the album charts in either the UK or US.

Background

In September 2016, M.I.A. released her fifth studio album AIM, which was originally promoted as being her final studio album.[1] In 2019, however, M.I.A. revealed that she had begun working on a new studio album. On 31 January 2020, she launched a Patreon page to fund new music, stating that her upcoming album was "nearly finished".[2] On 22 March 2020, coinciding with the release of "OHMNI 202091", her first song in three years, she suggested that a new record would arrive later the same year.[3] She released another track, "Babylon", in 2021,[4] but there was little further news about the album.[5]

Tracks for the album were recorded in various locations around the world, including London, Los Angeles, Italy, Bali, Jakarta, and Saint Vincent.[6] Navz-47, an artist of Sri Lankan descent like M.I.A., provided vocals on the track "Puththi". Another track created for the album, "Tribe", featured rapper Juice Wrld, who died in December 2019, but it was dropped at the last minute. Doja Cat and Nicki Minaj were also reportedly set to appear on the album with M.I.A. claiming that she had "had to wait 2 years for [their verses]... never mind". She worked with various producers, including Skrillex, Rex Kudo, T-Minus, and Heavy Mellow, as well as Diplo, with whom she had collaborated intermittently since 2004.[7] [8]

Music and lyrics

As with M.I.A.'s earlier releases, the album mixes Eastern and Western musical influences. The album incorporates a range of world music styles, including moombahton on "Beep" and reggaeton on "Popular". "Energy Freq" incorporates bhangra and vocals from a Tamil film; Saeed Saeed of Abu Dhabi's The National opined that the song could be "this generation's version of 2002 hit 'Mundian To Bach Ke'."[9] The track "100% Sustainable" incorporates a field recording of a Tamil choir. "K.T.P. (Keep the Peace)" contains a sample of the 2003 song "Maps" by rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs.[10] Lyrically, "Zoo Girl" contains references to the rapper's status as a Sri Lankan refugee, calling her a "zoo girl straight out the wild, wild East". "Time Traveller" refers to the vimana, a mythical flying palace mentioned in Hindu texts.

Release and artwork

M.I.A. had considered naming the album Ikhyd after her son.[11] On 31 October 2021, however, she officially announced the album title through an Instagram post stating "to reflect where I am and what we want to build, I'm proud to announce starting today my LP is now Mata." The post was a parody of the announcement earlier in the month that the company which operates Facebook was changing its name to Meta.[12] The album was released on 14 October 2022.[13] [14] The album cover features a logo with the T resembling a Christian cross; the singer had revealed earlier in the year that she had become a born-again Christian.[15] [16]

Promotion

"The One" was released on 26 May 2022 as the lead single from the album along with its music video. Prior to the release of the single, M.I.A. performed it at Just Like Heaven festival.[17] "Popular" was released as the album's second single on 12 August 2022. It was announced three days prior to its release and was accompanied by a video featuring M.I.A.'s "robotic double" M.A.I.[18] "Beep" was released as the third single from the album on 30 September 2022; the track also featured on the soundtrack of football video game FIFA 23.[19]

Critical reception

In a review for AllMusic, Heather Phares concluded that, "six albums in, M.I.A. still has a remarkable gift for tapping into the emotions behind the issues" and that by "focusing on that skill makes MATA one of her most consistent albums, and not so much a safe return as a savvy one". Writing for Rolling Stone, Michelle Hyun Kim wrote that the album "reminds listeners of the novelty of [M.I.A.'s] pioneering music style" but criticised the lyrical content, saying "Yes, M.I.A. is still here, but it's unclear whether she has anything new to say."[20] Shaad D'Souza of The Guardian stated that the album "may be MIA's most contemplative record, recalling lyrical themes from every part of her career" but that it was "very clearly not an attempt to re-enter the mainstream pop world she was orbiting in the 2010s".[21] Slant Magazines Sam C. Mac called it an album of "exhilarating musical riches" and praised the juxtaposition of "sociopolitical commentary and personal identity". Robert Christgau, reviewing in his "Consumer Guide" on Substack, conceded that while she is "always longer on political instinct than political acuity", Mata proves again the distinctiveness of her "hip-hop groove and rap dialect" alongside "brags beyond the reach of any rival".[22]

Commercial performance

The album did not chart in either the UK Albums Chart or the US Billboard 200.[23] [24] M.I.A.'s previous four albums had all reached number one on the U.S. Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart, but Mata failed to enter the listing at all.[25]

Track listing

Notes

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

Notes and References

  1. Web site: MIA says new album will be her last . . 15 July 2016 . 26 October 2022 . October 26, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221026202720/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jul/15/mia-aim-last-album . live .
  2. Web site: M.I.A. says her next album is "nearly finished". Yeung. Vivian. 31 January 2020. 4 March 2021. Crack. August 31, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220831012636/https://crackmagazine.net/2020/01/m-i-a-says-her-next-album-is-nearly-finished/. live.
  3. News: Lavin. Will. M.I.A. releases 'OHMNI 202091', her first new song in three years. 23 March 2020. NME. 23 March 2020. August 31, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220831012634/https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/mia-shares-ohmni-202091-first-new-song-in-three-years-2633361. live.
  4. Web site: M.I.A. Shares Video for New Song "Babylon". Pitchfork. Matthew. Strauss. 12 November 2021. 9 November 2022. November 9, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221109223632/https://pitchfork.com/news/mia-shares-video-for-new-song-babylon/. live.
  5. M.I.A. Reveals New Song 'Babylon' That's Up for NFT Auction. Rolling Stone. 12 November 2021. 9 November 2022. November 9, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221109224115/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/m-i-a-new-song-babylon-nft-auction-1257244/. live.
  6. M.I.A. Flexes on New Release 'Beep': Stream It Now. Lars. Brandle. Billboard. 30 September 2022. 5 November 2022. November 5, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221105193855/https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/mia-releases-beep-stream-1235147937/. live.
  7. Web site: M.I.A. - 'Mata' Credits. AllMusic. 19 March 2023. March 19, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230319093418/https://www.allmusic.com/album/mata-mw0003824413/credits. live.
  8. Web site: Steve . Knopper . Diplo likes to bite the EDM hand that feeds him . . 18 August 2016 . 4 November 2022 . November 4, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221104205124/https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/ct-diplo-major-lazer-ott-0819-20160819-story.html . live .
  9. Web site: M.I.A.'s 'Mata' review: British-Sri Lankan rapper is back with intoxicating new album. The National. Saaed. Saeed. 21 October 2022. 5 November 2022. November 5, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221105193307/https://www.thenationalnews.com/weekend/2022/10/21/mias-mata-review-british-sri-lankan-rapper-is-back-with-intoxicating-new-album/. live.
  10. Web site: M.I.A. Mata Review: A Buoyant Balancing Act Between the Political and Personal. Sam C.. Mac. 26 October 2022. 19 October 2022. Slant. October 26, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221026203325/https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/m-i-a-mata-album-review/. live.
  11. Web site: M.I.A. and Grimes on What 'MATA' and What Don't. Paper. 18 October 2022. 2 November 2022. Grimes. November 2, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221102212021/https://www.papermag.com/mia-grimes-mata-2658467299.html?rebelltitem=29#rebelltitem29. live.
  12. Web site: M.I.A. says she waited "years" for Doja Cat and Nicki Minaj features on 'MATA', may "leak it myself". NME. Alex. Gallagher. 31 August 2022. 31 August 2022. August 31, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220831080248/https://www.nme.com/news/music/m-i-a-says-she-waited-years-for-doja-cat-and-nicki-minaj-features-on-mata-may-leak-it-myself-3301296. live.
  13. M.I.A. shares teaser for new album 'MATA'. Hollie. Geraghty. 31 August 2022. 26 October 2022. Rolling Stone. October 26, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221026204534/https://www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/news/mia-shares-teaser-for-new-album-mata-22100/. live.
  14. Web site: MIA says she had an 'existential crisis' after having a vision of Jesus. Megan. Graye. The Independent. 14 October 2022. 2 November 2022. November 2, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221102085149/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/mia-mata-jesus-vision-music-b2202770.html. live.
  15. Web site: M.I.A. Reveals Mata Album Art, Shares New Song: Listen. NME. 30 September 2022. 31 October 2022. Madison. Bloom. October 31, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221031084929/https://pitchfork.com/news/mia-reveals-mata-album-art-shares-new-song-listen/. live.
  16. News: Breihan. Tom. Status Ain't Hood interviews M.I.A.. The Village Voice. 9 November 2013. 18 July 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20131030154451/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/statusainthood/2007/07/status_aint_hoo_28.php. 30 October 2013.
  17. Web site: M.I.A. Releases 'The One,' Confirms New Album 'MATA'. 19 March 2023. 26 May 2022. Will. Schube. UDiscover Music. en. March 19, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230319192124/https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/m-i-a-the-one-mata/. live.
  18. Web site: M.I.A. coaches her artificial doppelganger in the music video for 'Popular'. NME. Anna. Rose. 19 August 2022. 4 November 2022. November 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221104202605/https://www.nme.com/news/music/m-i-a-coaches-her-artificial-doppelganger-in-the-music-video-for-popular-3294165. live.
  19. Web site: EA reveals 'FIFA 23' soundtrack, featuring Gorillaz and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Tom. Skinner. NME. 22 September 2022. 26 October 2022. October 26, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221026201906/https://www.nme.com/news/music/fifa-23-soundtrack-revealed-featuring-yeah-yeah-yeahs-m-i-a-and-gorillaz-3315301. live.
  20. M.I.A. Looks to the Past While Trying to Wiggle Her Way Into the Moment on 'MATA'. Michelle Hyun. Kim. Rolling Stone. 17 October 2022. 18 October 2022. October 18, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221018123120/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/m-i-a-mata-1234608273/. live.
  21. Web site: MIA on vaccines, vindication and her visions of Jesus: 'People fear me for some reason'. The Guardian. Shaad. D'Souza. 14 October 2022. 18 October 2022. October 18, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221018123919/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/oct/14/mia-on-vaccines-vindication-and-her-visions-of-jesus-people-fear-me-for-some-reason. live.
  22. Web site: Christgau. Robert. Robert Christgau. 14 December 2022. Consumer Guide: December, 2022. And It Don't Stop. Substack. 19 August 2023. subscription. August 19, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230819170815/https://robertchristgau.substack.com/p/consumer-guide-december-2022. live.
  23. Web site: M.I.A. full Official Chart History. Official Charts Company. 4 November 2022. March 28, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190328201139/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/3254/mia/. live.
  24. M.I.A. Chart History: Billboard 200. Billboard. 4 November 2022. November 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221104201615/https://www.billboard.com/artist/m-i-a/chart-history/tlp/. live.
  25. M.I.A. Chart History: Top Dance/Electronic Albums. Billboard. 4 November 2022. November 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221104201754/https://www.billboard.com/artist/m-i-a/chart-history/elp/. live.

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