M.I.A. cancels European dates

M.I.A. will literally be missing in action (sorry, we couldn't help it) from Europe this summer after recently canceling her June and July tour dates. She sparked cancellation rumors last Friday at her show at McCarren Park Pool by announcing the tour was off, but did not confirm it until earlier this week.

In an interview with Vulture, M.I.A. explained, “I’m canceling because I feel like physically I just have to stop for a second. 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.”  

This makes sense coming from an artist who recently pledged to use her earnings from a show to build a school in the African country of Liberia.

Besides needing some human connection time, M.I.A. also needs a nap and a manicure, activities for which touring does not afford much time. “It takes a lot out of you, physically,” she said. “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.”

Although M.I.A. has no professed plans to make up for the cancelled shows, she said she’s been writing a lot. Her second album, Kala, was released in August of last year on XL Recordings.

Maybe European M.I.A. fans can assuage their sad feelings with a new disc. “I’m going to put out a new record instead,” the singer said. “At the end of the day, I’m here, you know.”

Related links:
M.I.A. on MySpace
YouTube: M.I.A. - "Paper Planes"
XLRecordings.com