When SevenStreets first heard MIA’s debut album ‘Arular’ earlier in the decade, it was a revelation. Packed with grimy rhymes, ear-bending samples and jackhammer beats from across the globe, it was a perfect distillation of Maya Arulpragasam’s status as a frustrated Sri Lankan refugee living in London.

Second album ‘Kala’ raised her profile even more (producing the Clash-sampling worldwide hit ‘Paper Planes’), while the freshly released self-titled third record adds scuzzy punk production, conspiracy theorist paranoia and actual singing into the mix. It is, typically, brilliant.

Fiercely creative and unashamedly outspoken, the now LA based Maya’s rarely toured the UK but - lucky for us - that’s all starting to change. She’s heading to the O2 Academy next month, and it’s destined to be one of the most thrilling gigs the city’s seen all year: the pop music equivalent of sonic warfare. We can’t wait.

MIA, Liverpool O2 Academy
Friday 19th November, 7.30pm
£20