M.I.A. Cancels European Tour For Fear Of "Losing A Sense Of ... Reality"
Sad news for our friends across the Atlantic holding tickets to the upcoming Maya shows: at McCarren Park last Friday, and again last night at MoMA's 40th annual benefit "Party in the Garden," M.I.A. made public her plan to cancel all upcoming dates. That includes all of Europe and you too, Bonnaroo. Although I've seen the Kala stageshow more times than I can count this past year, I'm a little bummed to know she won't be down there for me to stalk. But that's being selfish -- it really sounds like she could use a break. And it really sounds like she was dying to talk about this with someone. Vulture asked the right questions and got some candid responses on why now's the time for an Arulprgasamic hiatus:
"I'm canceling because I feel like physically I just have to stop for a second," she said. "It's too insane. I was losing a sense of just, like, reality, you know what I mean? I think for an artist like me, it's so important for me to be in the streets and go to the same shop every day and see the same people and, like, communicate. And it's really difficult to do that when you're in the city every day for 24 hours. Like, I love connecting with my band, but I want to actually help them and be a part of peoples' lives. Which is really hard when you're on tour."Also, she said, touring is really hard: "It takes a lot out of you, physically. I make club music, which means I'm clubbing every night for, like, six months. Know what I mean? So now and again you finally just want to be gardening and get your nails done or something like that."
As difficult as that is to empathize with since those are extraordinary living conditions (said the blogger who only leaves the couch for the gym and concerts), it's easy to sympathize. And as weird as it might sound to hear her say "I'm an artist and it's really difficult when you become the art, and you're like, 'Look at me!' every day" (because have you seen her wigs and outfits?), it sorta fits the detachment occasionally apparent in her stage posturing. Anyway, it's a highly quotable and state-of-mind revealing confessional, so head over to NY Mag's Vulture for the full read. In the meantime, rest easy knowing Maya is next "going to put out a new record." Right after she finishes with that honeymoon, probably.
Posted at 5:44 PM by amrit
Tags: M.I.A.
Aaaand another British female artist loses her shit.
Score = -6
WAAAAH.
Make different music then. Seriously, what the fuck. I'm sick of these people who say it's "way too much". If you're making music, you should LOVE music. Every night should be exciting and happy. So you sweat a bit, so you get exhausted. THAT'S PART OF IT. You should be happy getting that exhausted, and knowing everyone in that audience is getting as exhausted as you are, if only for that one night. She should be happy she's able to dance and sing and MAKE MONEY from it.
Score = -12
I don't know why this comment is getting so many negative votes... I agree wholeheartedly. M.I.A. is living the dream, and it's hard to have too much sympathy when she runs into these situations. She had an obligation to the people who bought tickets to those shows which she completely flouted here.
Score = 3
take a break M.I.A !!!
i had surgery & lost my father in the last month.life is too short...
take your time maya. to hell with these hipsters...
i seen your show & can see how giving 110 % can wear a supastar out.
enjoy your holiday.
loveya M.I.A.
Score = 10
come to think of it, she has been pretty much touring non-stop since Kala.
she definitely deserves it..bummer for the european fans though
at any rate, i'm glad I caught her show in Toronto
Score = 12
She makes club music but she's not clubbing. She's on stage. And no doubt it's exhausting, but that's her job. Her chosen career path.
If she needs mental health days, fine. Finish your tour and take a few months off. But she shouldn't be making tour obligations if she's not going to keep them. M.I.A. is not going to go postal because she worked for another month.
Suck it up, princess?
Score = -4
Read the article in Vulture, Elliot. What she's saying is that touring is not (and never was) her intended career path.
Terminology like "career path, job, and sick days" should never be applied to the production of worthwhile art. And personally, I'd never want to pay $ to see an artist that was only on stage because they felt obligated to be there. Better to get your heart in it first.
Score = 6
It doesn't matter what her "intended career path" was. She CHOSE to be a musician, if only temporarily. It's also irrelevant whether or not you want to consider the production of art a career and use the appropriate terminology. Just because she's making art, does not mean that she hasn't also made commitments to her fans. She signed the deal. She knew what she was getting into. Etc. Etc.
Also, i would much rather see an artist put on a lackluster performance than not show up at all, considering there are many asshole venues out there that do not refund tickets. Not to mention that in this particular case, she has no particular desire to reschedule in any of the cities. And even the possibility, that she may never tour again. I just think the mindset that being an artist somehow negates you from being a responsible human being is ridiculous.
I live in Canada, so i would just like to mention that it's not like this affects me personally. I just get tired of the same poor excuses.
Score = -3
Hey I know, let's commodify everything and talk about "responsibility"!
Score = 0
Well, Stephen... So long as artists post tour dates and tickets cost money, that's exactly how the system works.
Score = 3
you know what you need Elliot? More monay. You know, maybe some of that internet monay? Maybe that would help you get over the fact that musicians CAN cancel shows if they need to. Also, true fans would not want a band to just "show up" and phone in their performance, they'd rather wait for the band to get their shit together then come back and blow minds. Come on, fwiend.
Score = 1
What she is making is as much product as it is "art". A lot of time spent formulating an image and marketing that to an easily swayed public. I think she has lost sense of herself in the constant effort to be something she is not.
Score = 1
I can sympathise from an audience perspective, especially in the case of a performer who puts on a high energy show. I saw MSI a few years back, and it was quite obvious they didn't want to be there, and to be honest I didn't enjoy watching it. It was like watching somebody hurt themselves, or seeing a sad suited office worker on the metro. seriously, i don't want to see music I find inspiring performed by highly uninspired people. Music comes and music goes, you can work on spontaneity etc.... but sometimes you just can't force it.
Score = 3
I can sympathise from an audience perspective, especially in the case of a performer who puts on a high energy show. I saw MSI a few years back, and it was quite obvious they didn't want to be there, and to be honest I didn't enjoy watching it. It was like watching somebody hurt themselves, or seeing a sad suited office worker on the metro. seriously, i don't want to see music I find inspiring performed by highly uninspired people. Music comes and music goes, you can work on spontaneity etc.... but sometimes you just can't force it.
Score = 2
Oh, whatever. If you can't handle being on the road for a long time then put some breaks in your touring schedule. Lots of other people get sick of their jobs but can't just peace out to their London flat and go to the bakery every day. Not to mention she's fucking over her audiences AND all the people who work on her tour and depend on it for their income.
Score = -1
kate bush announced she would never tour again after her first tour at, what, 20? you ask for true artistry, so it comes at a price, the artist.
mia has had like 20-30 dates on her page for over a year now. the way some of you lame-ohs talk its like you think shes a slave or something.
you have no idea what its like put out on stage like that, its so much more than clubbing, let homegirl stir the creative juices....i mean isnt that what all this is about???
Score = 2
I fucking love you M.I.A.
Go ahead and do your thing.
Relax.
Thanks for the amazing show at bonnaroo.
Peach and Love
Score = 1
---Three caveats to the ordeal: 1) M.I.A. claims to be "into writing new songs,” and explained her rejection of the European tour by announcing plans to "put out a new record instead," a follow-up to 2007's much-loved Kala. 2) M.I.A was exhausted, relating to New York Magazine, "I feel like physically I just have to stop for a second. It's too insane." 3) M.I.A. never liked touring that much, anyway: “I’m an artist and it’s really difficult when you become the art, and you’re like, ‘Look at me!’ every day," she explained. "I was never supposed to be like that. I’m eight things [painter, film director, musician, etc.], and I’ve figured out that you can get pleasure from being all of them, and that’s great. But I don’t want to be the thing. And that’s what touring is.”---
God forbid there's an artist who doesn't want to buy into the tourism, make money fast bullshit. Why stray from the path that all artists take. Tour tour tour, milk your devoted fans for all their money. Lose yourself. Call yourself a diva. Insure your own buttocks for a million dollars. Sing whiny love songs. Yay.
Remember, she's an artist. Watching her perform, in the view of a real fan, is a privilege. I remember her signing contracts, but I don't recall her signing her soul over to the devil. This whole "it's a duty she must fulfill even if it costs her her life," bs is tiring. People get disappointed when things like this happen, but life is full of them. Cry me a river, and move on. I'd rather M.I.A. get back on track and keep on doing what I initially loved her for: making music. Which btw, is completely different from touring and performing as one idiot has mistakenly said earlier.
Score = 1