Fighting the darkness: M.I.A. on music, spirit, and breaking free from industry chains



The music industry has gotten really dark. Between depictions of Satan and flirtations with pornography, there doesn’t seem to be much room for good music any more. However, some artists disagree and are pioneering a path away from the evils of the mainstream music industry.

On “Zero Hour,” M.I.A., record producer, rapper, and singer, sat down with James Poulos to discuss her pushback against the mainstream music industry, how music affects the spirit, and the future of music.

M.I.A. described the limitations that are placed on artists who go through the traditional route of music production: “When you’re a musician, it’s the fact that you have to put it through the channels of an industry that it gets corrupted, and it gets put into a box.” She went on to say that “even the producers think the avant-garde is the exact same as the mainstream,” referring to up-and-coming artists who look and act exactly like the most popular people in the industry.

They also discussed the effect of music on people’s spirit, whether we know it or not. She said, “Music directly accesses your spirit, and it does it without permission. ... There’s a level of responsibility and knowledge that you have to have, and we don’t have it [in the mainstream music industry].”

While the present state of music is abysmal, M.I.A. has hope for the future: “Music has been hijacked because it became a business. But some people still know the value of music, and good music still exists.” Every path that leads away from the mainstream is an improvement, and M.I.A. hopes to inspire others to break away, too.

To hear more of what M.I.A. had to say about mainstream music, alternative paths for artists in the future, and more, watch the full episode of “Zero Hour” with James Poulos.

M.I.A. explains why artists like Cardi B are destroying the music industry: 'What is cool is Satan’s playground'



British rapper and record producer M.I.A. recently made an appearance on James Poulos’ “Zero Hour.” The duo broached a number of subjects, including the “Paper Planes” singer’s anti-Big Tech clothing line OHMNI, therapy addiction in the West, tyranny in the U.K., and, of course, the music industry.

On the latter subject, M.I.A. was candid about the decline of music due to the influence of Satanism and the AI programming that paves the path for it.

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“Where do you see music going? And do you think music is doing what it needs to be doing for us as human beings?” Poulos asked.

“Music is healing, and it can change a lot of people’s mood or vibe ... and I think it’s been hijacked because it became a business,” M.I.A. explained, adding that as an artist, “You have to put [your music] through the channel of an industry [where] it gets corrupted.”

“This is the image that has to be put with this song, and a girl has to look like this, and she has to do this dance,” she said, regurgitating what artists are told by producers and marketing personnel.

As a newer Christian, M.I.A. pointed to Satan as the root cause of the music industry’s degeneracy.

“Satan was the director of music, you know? It is a great tool to get to people because music directly accesses your spirit, so you bypass the mind and your soul and your logic,” she told Poulos. “There's a level of responsibility to practice when you make music and a level of knowledge you have to have.”

She explained that “what is cool” in our modern culture “is never that.”

“What is cool is Satan’s playground,” she remarked.

Unfortunately, artificial intelligence has also become integral to the music industry. While M.I.A. says that AI in and of itself is basically “a fun toy,” the programmers of AI are what’s problematic. Being keenly aware of what sells, these people design AI to essentially do Satan’s bidding.

She points to popular musicians Cardi B and Ice Spice – who are likely popular because they’re “skirting very close to porn” – as examples.

“It’s like merging Only Fans and the music industry is where we’re at,” she said, adding that this is why she’s “taking a time out.”

To hear more of the conversation, watch the clip above.

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M.I.A.: From 'Paper Planes' to 'full tinfoil hat'



M.I.A. — full name Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam — has always been wild. Rapper, artist, fashion icon, activist, she navigates the world with the same energy that bursts from “Paper Planes” and “Galang.” She’s even irked the NFL — surely you remember her middle finger during the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show.

On a recent "Zero Hour," James Poulos sat down with Arulpragasam for a conversation that tackles the complexities of life under COVID restrictions, the transformative power of music and technology, and the ongoing spiritual quest amid a tech-dominated era.

'Merging Only Fans with the music industry is where we're at in tech.'

Arulpragasam and Poulos examine many of the pitfalls of modern life, particularly those at the intersection of technology with health.

'Not an analog situation'

She scrutinizes the mental health industry, offering music as a sanctuary for healing. This deep dive into the ramifications of AI and tech culture leads to a poignant reminder to keep humanity and spirituality at the forefront of our rapidly evolving world.

She bemoans the proliferation of powerful devices, recalling that, when she was a teenager, she didn’t even have the internet in her home. “Slowly, slowly,” she tells James, “gadgets got added, but now my own lifestyle as a musician, I'm constantly surrounded by machines and everything is on and all the WiFi is on and everything needs WiFi."

She adds: “So you can't even make music anymore unless you're logged into the programming app, into the microphone app. It's not an analog situation.”

Techie taste

While tech increasingly dominates music, Arulpragasam notes that its leaders are woefully out of touch, content to stick with pornified artists like Cardi B, Ice Spice, and their various clones.

"Merging Only Fans with the music industry is where we're at in tech," she says.

"These techies advising governments [on how] to program AI and to program the technological future ... even they think the avant-garde is exactly the same as the mainstream, and all they want is a sexy female every time," she says.

Faraday fashion

These days, Arulpragasam has shifted her focus to fashion. The “Queen of anti-brand” brings a unique twist to the streetwear with Ohmni, her line of EMF-protective clothing.

Designed to shield against electromagnetic fields, her collection integrates faraday-lining and materials like silver, copper, and nickel to guard against potentially harmful radiation.

While the debate over EMF safety continues, M.I.A. advocates for proactive protection rather than waiting for definitive evidence of harm.

Her line includes everyday garments such as hats and track pants, fashioned from silver-infused fabric that merges functionality with style. M.I.A. emphasizes that her jersey fabric offers the comfort of a regular T-shirt while providing essential protection. Key items, like boxer shorts and track pants, are engineered to safeguard critical areas such as the heart and reproductive organs.

M.I.A. also links the concept of protective clothing to broader themes of privacy and creativity, stressing the necessity of maintaining a personal haven in a tech-saturated world. Inspired by the technology surrounding Julian Assange, particularly a faraday phone case, M.I.A. was motivated to explore protective fashion.

Et tu, Hypebeast?

She also realizes, however, that the production of this specialized fabric poses its own challenges. Currently sourced from China — ironic given its reputation for surveillance — the fabric highlights a paradox: Protective technology is manufactured in a country known for its watchful eye, while it remains elusive in the "land of freedom."

Looking ahead, M.I.A. envisions expanding her brand as awareness of EMF exposure grows. She believes that, with increasing concerns over advanced technologies like 5G and 6G, the demand for protective clothing is expected to rise, marking a new frontier in the intersection of fashion, health, and technology.

On top of it all, she fights the resistance caused by a media that once worshiped her. Hypebeast, who once adored her boldness, accused her of going “full tinfoil hat.” These days, that’s quite the compliment.