M.i.a.

I remember taking my demo to every dance person in London. People were like, 'We don't know what this is!' The first people to champion me were a club in Manchester.

My father had no influence on my political beliefs, and to imply otherwise is wrong and irresponsible.

Before the Greeks were the Tamils. The Tamils are one of the oldest civilizations that's still surviving.

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

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

I never pigeonhole myself into any religion, but I feel it has found me. I am trying to make sense of it... the essence of the Mathangi concept.

I am the bridge between the East and the West. I don't want to abandon one for the other.

In New York, everyone's really neurotic and talks about themselves all the time.

I have no ties to my dad. I had no communications with him; it didn't shape who I am or anything like that. I'm actually a product of my mom.

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