M.I.A. Offers Free Download

Woman of the world M.I.A. has backed a British candidate in the upcoming European elections, saying she will give a free download to anyone who votes for her.

M.I.A. and politics go together like salt and pepper. The daughter of a Tamil activist, M.I.A. was forced to flee from Sri Lanka due to government oppression. Growing up in London, she soon became an artist before gradually becoming interested in creating music.

Blending world music styles with indie, pop and dancefloor developments such as Florida bass, M.I.A. sounds like no one else on the planet. Last year's single 'Paper Planes' waltzed its way up the American charts, earning M.I.A. a performance at the Grammy awards.

However recent developments in her homeland have left the singer distressed. M.I.A. has watched in horror as civilians are caught up in fighting between Tamil rebels and Sri Lankan forces, with reports of atrocities leaving scores dead.

With the European elections coming up, the singer has decided to throw her weight behind the independent candidate Jan Jananayagam.

A recent post on her website outlines the candidate's views:

"In the last few months, I and many tens of thousands of other have tried to influence the British government and main political parties to do something tangible to stop the war in Sri Lanka. But we were unable to stop the forced starvation and aerial bombing of an entire people."

"We could not persuade our government to do air drops of food or to insist on delivery by ship. Nothing worked. One cannot leave matters in the hands of the established political parties. As an independent candidate who is not afraid to tell the truth and to catalyse change, I intend to make a difference."

According to a post on her MySpace page M.I.A. will give a free track to everyone who votes for the politician. The singer also posted some new lyrics, which reference the recent conflict in Sri Lanka:

so u wanna hear about my politics?
well i can show u things that can make u sick
theres a saterlite above me thats takin picks
the people from the east hav started sendin migs
and im sat in America doin twitts
and the armys lookin at me like im a bitch
but im thinking bout the babies lyin in the ditch
thinking if they had a kite fone u ll see the shit

Polls open in the European elections on June 4th.