WASHINGTON (TNND) — Australian singer Iyah May said she lost her music contract following the release of her latest song, “Karmageddon,” which she described as “a striking anthem for these turbulent times.”
The song addresses “the pandemic narrative, corruption within political, pharmaceutical, and health institutions, the Israel-Palestine conflict, violence against women and the social chaos that has swept through the world in the past few years,” she said on her website.
May, who added that she is “a qualified medical doctor,” claimed her former manager wanted her to change the lyrics of the track — but she didn’t want to.
“While Karmageddon has sparked significant conversation and controversy, Iyah has stood her ground,” according to her website. “She refused to compromise her vision when asked to change a key lyric line, leading to the end of her contract with her manager. She chose to walk away from her record label and now, fully independent, Iyah continues to carve her own path as an artist. Her fearless approach is shaped by her unique perspective as a qualified medical doctor, having worked on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
She did not name her manager or the label.
Her website notes “Karmageddon” will be featured on an upcoming EP. The goal is to expose “the harsh realities” of political division, media manipulation, corporate greed, and public apathy.
“At its core, Karmageddon is a call to confront societal divides and unite to rebuild and heal,” according to her website.
May also said she plans to continue to push boundaries and “speak truth in a world that needs it more than ever.”
“Fuelled by my own despair over a divided world and deceitful corporations, I channelled my frustration into Karmageddon,” she wrote online. “My career as a doctor has been greatly impacted, and I was affected on a deep and personal level. For a long time, I felt isolated with my opinions. This song reflects the helplessness many of us feel in these dark times.”
May’s Instagram account includes photos of her during her time as a medical professional. One image from 2020 shows her wearing scrubs, a mask, and goggles.
“So I’ve gone back to working as a doctor fulltime in Emergency while we get through covid which means I have less time to work on my music and share stuff with you guys so that does make me sad, but I’m grateful I can offer something else in another way. I’m still going to keep writing and creating so please send me beats or cute lyrics,” she wrote at the time.
There’s also a recent post that includes a clip of Karmageddon, as well as May’s overall reflection on the controversy surrounding the song.
“To me this is a perfect example of: trust the process and trust your intuition. New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings. Perhaps you can relate to this? God’s got a plan,” May captioned the video.
The World Health Organization has said member countries reported more than 7 million deaths from COVID-19 — but the true death toll is allegedly estimated to be at least three times higher.
In the U.S., an average of about 900 people a week have died of COVID-19 during the past year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The coronavirus continues to affect older adults the most. Last winter in the U.S., people age 75 and older accounted for about half the nation’s COVID-19 hospitalizations and in-hospital deaths, according to the CDC.
“We cannot talk about COVID in the past, since it’s still with us,” WHO director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
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Here are the full lyrics to “Karmageddon”:
I open up my phone on a Monday morning
Staring at my screen
I’m tired and a little lonely
Mr Musk he said some s–t the lefts are angry
Twitter wars and Gaza man it’s overwhelming
Maybe that’s how life becomes when
People less important than a profit line
No one cares about your dreams just pay
Your tax on time
Keep scrolling
Hold me near to you now
Gender, guns, religion and abortion rights
You better pick a tribe and hate the other side
Keep scrolling
But did you see Taylor live?
Man-made virus watch the millions die
Biggest profit of their lives
Here’s inflation that’s your prize
This is Karmageddon
Turn on the news and eat their lies
Kim or Kanye pick a side
Cancel culture what a vibe
This is Karmageddon
Corporations swear they never lie
Politicians bribed for life
More than war it’s genocide
This is Karmageddon
Welcome to the chaos of the times
If you go left and I go right
Pray we make it out alive
This is Karmageddon
It’s fashion week celebs lose ribs
Balenciaga how’s the kids
Just ask Drake he’s losing beef
Kendrick killed him in his sleep
Diss tracks about beating up your queen
While women dying doesn’t cause a scene
While we’re fed all these distractions
Kids are killed from Israel’s actions
I’mma speak my mind
Sick to death of all these crazy lies
A circus for humanity’s decline
We just want a peaceful life give the people back their rights
And I’ve still got a beef
Cause Fauci’s laughing and we’ve been asleep
And WHO’s a liar and it’s running deep
Big pharma finna eat they a devil make them weak
Man made virus watch the millions die
Biggest profit of their lives
Here’s inflation that’s your prize
This is Karmageddon
Turn on the news and eat their lies
Kim or Kanye pick a side
Cancel culture what a vibe
This is Karmageddon
Corporations swear they never lie
Politicians bribed for life
More than war it’s genocide
This is Karmageddon
Welcome to the chaos of the times
If you go left and I go right
Pray we make it out alive
This is Karmageddon
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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.