M.I.A.

After a turbulent start to her early years, which saw the singer move from London to her parents' native Sri Lanka, where her father was a political activist, before a further move to India and a final relocation back to England's capital city, it's no surprise that Mathangi Arulpragasam aka M.I.A.'s music has many competing influences. Winning a degree in fine art and going on to pursue careers as both an artist and filmmaker, as well as developing a strong interest in fashion, she moved into the public eye mid-way through the Noughties. Par for the course for the decade, it was the internet that acted as her launch pad to the big time, with her first single Galang being leaked to filesharers on the web. Following the same format, M.I.A.'s debut album Arular enjoyed the same treatment in 2005. Her unique sound, political lyrics and bold performances soon gained her a devoted band of followers who waited patiently for the release of her sophomore work Kala (named after her mother). It didn't disappoint, boasting the star's heady mix of worldwide musical influences and global hit Paper Planes, which featured on the soundtrack to the Oscar-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire.