Headphones: M.I.A's Big Return After Six Years
M.I.A.
ALBUM OF THE WEEK
MATA by M.I.A.: M.I.A. is a legend. She has had multiple songs chart on the Billboard Hot 100, including “Paper Planes” and “Franchise” with Travis Scott and Young Thug which peaked at number 1. With such an impressive track record, it can be hard to top the peak of your career. M.I.A. has been extremely creative when it comes to her music. She finds ways to incorporate her Sri Lankan-Tamil culture into her songs. Although many of the sounds she uses for her instrumentals are typical electronic genre sounds, she finds a way to incorporate different kinds of percussion and instrument from Indian culture. Her songs also have a message. She likes to take her listeners through the experience of exploring her culture. She is an idol to many young Indian women out there, and her intentions are clear in her writing.
M.I.A. likes to tell it like it is. She sets the tone of the album for listeners in the introduction track, “F.I.A.S.O.M., Pt. 1”. The acronym stands for Freedom Is A State Of Mind. The first track is colorful, and leaves one startled, but not in a bad way. It’s bright and leaves people wanting more. From the get-go, it makes the listener feel like they are in a movie. It is dramatic and in one’s face, and that is the whole point. M.I.A. is making a statement in “F.I.A.S.O.M., Pt. 1”. Ironically, she doesn’t even have to say anything to do that. It is a masterpiece that pays homage to South Asian music and culture. M.I.A. flips the song on its head by abruptly slowing it down for the last half of it. There is something angelic about the last half, which only contains vocals. It feels like one is surrounded by warmth and extremely colorful harmonies.
Although “F.I.A.S.O.M., Pt. 1” is followed by “F.I.A.S.O.M., Pt. 2”, it is important to acknowledge the tracks that are different from what we’ve heard from M.I.A. “100% Sustainable” is a song that stands out from the rest on the album. It is a Capella with only claps, stomps, and vocals. M.I.A. shows off her skills as a musician and a rapper in this song. There isn’t much going on in the instrumental leaving her stripped. But she does not let that deter her. She embraces it and leaves her listeners appreciating the finer things in music. One can hear that M.I.A had a good time making this song. It exudes a warm tone and connects listeners to who she is as a person. Overall, the track is enjoyable and one of the standouts on the album.
As a Sri Lankan-Indian who grew up in England, culture is important for M.I.A. Seeing her embrace her background and culture is encouraging and inspiring for those who listen. It teaches people who embrace the parts of themselves they cannot change, and embrace themselves. In “Time Traveller”, M.I.A. takes her album to another level. The bass and percussion arrangement are interesting in the best of ways. Her writing is poetic. The way she articulates her ideas is flawless. “MATA LIFE” integrates Indian Classical music samples into rap music. The song is simple, but it is one of M.I.A.’s best songs. She nailed the delivery and writing and took advantage of her full vocal range. This song is further proof that M.I.A. has found her sound. She is truly not afraid of applying her voice in any genre and deserves recognition.
SINGLE OF THE WEEK
Trey Bond by Mitch Lowe
“Start Over” by Trey Bond (Feat. 6LACK): Trey Bond came out of nowhere. He embraced the opportunity to work with 6LACK on his debut single, "Start Over." Trey is a talented singer-songwriter. Trey has been a feature on many projects, but this is his first time doing a project as the main act. The song has every element of a hit. Trey Bond and 6LACK got every aspect of the formula correct. Everything about this track is familiar. The drum and bass sounds are in pieces we hear every day. It is another case that proves that there are talented artists out there who know how to innovate. The production is immaculate, and everything is well-balanced. It starts with the hook, which is very catchy, immediately drawing in the listeners.
6LACK follows the first hook with a rhythmic yet smooth R&B flow. His voice shines through in this song, and the flow comes naturally to him. He gets it just right. He is very dynamic, softer in his delivery at specific points and louder at others. He is precise with the rhythm, keeping up with the upbeat instrumental. The instrumental is well-produced and arranged. The 808s are nicely mixed and not overdone. The snare with the 808 makes for a strong drum line, and the hi-hats are just loud enough without distracting. His voice is smooth, and he can also showcase himself as a vocalist. His part is perfect for him, and this song is powerful in his role. He showcases how the instrument can be applied to R&B/Hip-Hop and sets the bar high for the rest of the track.
In his verse, Trey Bond takes the opportunity to showcase himself as a vocalist. His vocal arrangement is powerful, and his harmonies are very melodic. Instead of trying to get every note right while recording, he focused more on the emotion he was emitting. The emphasis on emotion makes the song even more personal and makes the music more relatable. His voice is soft, and he is being vulnerable in his delivery. It is an upbeat, heartbreaking track. Even with the colorful instrumental, one can hear the pain in Bond's voice, which is a factor that makes it very special.
The production of the track is strong. It is arranged well with dynamic and soft moments. From the start, one can tell that it is dark in tone. The guitar is the ear candy that gives the piece a relatively warm color. The rest of the instrumental emits a cold feeling. It's vibrant and stands out from other recently released singles. The sounds blend perfectly, and the vocals blend seamlessly with the instrumentals. The leveling is done well, it is an easy listen. Trey Bond put his best foot forward with this piece, and the world can't wait to hear what else he has in store.
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE WEEK
“Made You Look” by Meghan Trainor: It has been a while since the world has seen a fun, upbeat, and lighthearted Pop music video that reminds us of 2000s Pop music. Meghan Trainor has always stuck true to her vision. She has never steered away from making music how she wants, which has served her well. As with most Meghan Trainor music videos, "Made You Look" is upbeat and has a "feel-good" vibe. There are appearances from some of the most popular social media influencers of today, including Jojo Siwa and Drew Afualo. The track is empowering, as is most of Trainor's discography, and the music videos convey her message well.
The idea of confidence is a big part of this track and video. Not everything is about glamour and appearance. Through the imagery in the video, one can tell that it is about embracing your power. No matter what someone looks like or identifies as they have a place in this world and can do whatever they want. Moreover, it is about letting go and having fun without overthinking. The music video is fun to watch because everyone in the cast is having fun. Trainor should be commended for making the environment as relaxed and comfortable as possible. It shows that she is true to her values within her art.
The video is nostalgic, resembling chick-flick movies from the 2000s. Although a lot is going on, it is not overwhelming. The video was done with class and was easy to follow. It fits the track perfectly. At the end of the video, however, Trainor is being bossed around by someone on her team. Yes, this ending is clever and funny, but it also sends a message to the people watching. It tells viewers that although it is fun to live a life of glamour, many must make sacrifices. You must continue to work hard and listen to those around you. It is essential to stay grounded.
The way that Trainor sends messages to her listeners is something that is appreciated. The industry should commend a prominent artist's authenticity and humility toward her fan base. Many artists lose sight of how they got to where they are, and Trainor stays in touch. Her incorporation of rising social media influencers is also admirable. She is staying in touch with the times. That is why she has succeeded in the industry for so long. Overall, Meghan Trainor has stuck true to herself and has evolved. The world cannot wait to see what's in store next.
