Diplo Calls New M.I.A. Album "Weird, Punk, Motown"

Main photo by Mark Austin

A while back, Diplo gave us some cryptic descriptions of M.I.A’s forthcoming third record, calling it a mix between Gucci Mane and Animal Collective. On the heels of announcements that M.I.A. will be appearing at several summer music festivals and speculation that the album will drop this summer, Diplo gave a few more details about the record to MTV.

“It’s a record I did for her that’s sort of…you can’t even [explain] what it would sound like. It’s sort of like an Animal Collective/gospel/giant-drum record,” he said. “And she’s singing on it. I think you might expect some rap/club music, but nothing on there. It’s more of a heavy record. All kinds of different sounds. We did, like, a punk thing… It’s weird.”

If that weren’t confusing enough, later in the interview he added, “It’s a big, kinda giant-sounding record. It sounds like some Wall of Sound, Motown kind of thing.” Diplo also revealed this record won’t feature any gimmicks, special producers or guest vocalists.

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