M.I.A. – New album delayed for being \”too positive\”

British-Tamil artiste M.I.A. (a.k.a. Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam) has explained that her latest album, which was expected to be released in late 2012, has been delayed as her label have deemed it "too positive".

Speaking to Australia’s Gold Coast Bulletin, the singer-rapper has revealed that after handing the record in a couple of months ago, the label got back to her requesting that she "darken it up a bit". Apparently, after being built up as "public enemy no. 1", the label seem a bit baffled by her more positive sound. Of course, it’s understandable that the label expected something a little darker and badder from the controversial musician, who made headlines for giving the middle finger to the camera during her Super Bowl performance last year. 

So, what does she intend to do? "I’m taking my time to decide what they mean," she says. "It’s an interesting one for me."

The last release from M.I.A. was her self-titled book, that documents her life over the past five years, including the release of 3 LPs – "Arular" and "Kala", which were named after her parents, and "Maya", which came out in 2010.

According to the singer, this next album is "due in April, which is the Tamil new year".

We can’t wait to hear her new sound for the album entitled "Mathangi", which is her first album since being signed to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation management in May last year! We still can’t get enough of "Bad Girls" which was on her 2012 mixtape Vicki Leekz. The video won "Best Direction" and "Best Cinematography" at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards, and has been nominated for a 2013 Grammy for "Best Short Form Music Video". Check it out below: