MAYA

/\/\ /\ Y /\ is the third studio album by British-Sri Lankan recording artist M.I.A., released in July 2010 on her own label, N.E.E.T Recordings, through XL Recordings and Interscope Records. Songwriting and production for the album were primarily handled by M.I.A., Blaqstarr and Rusko. M.I.A.’s long-time associates Diplo and Switch also worked on the album, which was mainly composed and recorded at M.I.A.’s house in Los Angeles.

The album’s tracks centre on the theme of information politics and are intended to evoke what M.I.A. called a “digital ruckus”. Elements of industrial music were incorporated into M.I.A.’s sound for the first time. Several tracks from the album were made available online prior to its release, including “Born Free”, which generated controversy due to its graphically violent music video.