M.I.A. has set up a Patreon where fans can pay a monthly subscription to access exclusive content. The singer has also suggested that new music is on the way after posting a teaser video on social media with the caption “New decade, new M.I.A.”
“The vision for Patreon,” says M.I.A. in a Twitter video message, “is that this year I’m going to be going on a journey, release a new record and doing other creative projects and I wanted you guys to come with me.”
She adds: “I’m going to try something different, which is basically to open up the conversation with my fans. So come and check me, subscribe, and let’s see what we can do together.”
“I’m doing a Patreon, because I make so much stuff and record so many things that aren’t music and don’t fit on other platforms,” M.I.A. told Rolling Stone. “I’ve tried all the other platforms and it’s like: this one is too mean and hateful, this one is too fake and self-obsessed, and this one just sells all your data to Cambridge Analytica… Hopefully, this one is going to be just right.”
“I want to use the subscription money to feed back into the Patreon page,” she added. “I want to really go and do a project that can help some people. Build a school or put on an exhibition, help upcoming artists or even build something you guys want me to build. It’s evolutionary process. I want to get back to using the internet in a positive way; I don’t want to be an influencer. I want to be a truth dispenser.”
Right now there are two subscription tiers – the Arular (for $5) and Kala (or $10). Paying $5 a month gives you access to “short films, clips, and video diaries” (including previously never-before-seen footage from her documentary MATANGA/MAYA/M.I.A.) as well as exclusive M.I.A. art and livestream recordings. Bump that up to $10 and you’ll officially become an elite M.I.A. stan with “early access” to posts, Q&A sessions, livestreams, and “just random surprise content! It might be a song, a recipe, a manifesto, maybe I could help you with your homework.”
You can subscribe up to M.I.A’s Patreon account here.