M.I.A. on Border Control: "How Can the West Then Turn People Away?"

"You don't put borders on Apple, or YouTube or MTV."

mia instagram borders music video behind the scenes

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mia instagram borders music video behind the scenes

M.I.A.'sself-directed video for her latest single, "Borders," had a clear and powerful message about the world's current refugee crisis. In a new interview with NPR, the singer once again tackled the issue.

M.I.A. pointed out how the West is constantly and aggressively selling dreams of freedom and democracy through media, music, and movies. "As a musician, I feel like we are part of promoting ideas to people," she said. "You know, ultimately we fight to get what we do in the West into the homes and the screens of every single person on the planet... If the West is so deliberate in promoting its brands and is using art and culture to inspire people's dreams, how can the West then turn people away?"

She added, "You don't put borders on Apple, or YouTube or MTV. So to make the borders even taller when actually what the creative world is doing, or the business world is doing, is the opposite, then you're always going to have this problem." Listen to the full NPR interview below.

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