Freedun

"Freedun"
Single by M.I.A. featuring Zayn
from the album AIM
Released2 September 2016 (2016-09-02)
Genre
Length4:42
LabelInterscope
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Polow da Don
  • M.I.A.
M.I.A. singles chronology
"Bird Song"
(2016) 		"Freedun"
(2016) 		"P.O.W.A."
(2017)
Zayn singles chronology
"Cruel"
(2016) 		"Freedun"
(2016) 		"I Don't Wanna Live Forever"
(2016)

"Freedun" is a song by British rapper M.I.A., featuring English singer-songwriter Zayn, from her fifth studio album, AIM (2016). The song was produced by Polow da Don. Furthermore, Levi Lennox, who produced "Borders" from AIM, also produced Zayn's debut single "Pillowtalk".[1] Lyrically, "Freedun" is politically influenced and references refugees, an undercurrent theme on AIM.[2][3]

M.I.A. revealed she had been contacted by their mutual publisher to write a song for Zayn's debut solo album Mind of Mine.[4] The song, however, never got past the demo stage and M.I.A then asked Zayn to feature on her own song which she had written a long time ago but always thought it was "too mainstream".[5] The pair got in contact via WhatsApp, began working on the track during M.I.A.'s stay in India[6][7] and completed it in the first week of August 2016.[8] The song was originally called "Swagistan", as previewed on Periscope in May 2016.[9]

M.I.A. announced the release of the single on 31 August 2016.[10] It premiered on the Annie Mac BBC Radio One show on 1 September 2016,[11] and then released the next day. "Freedun" debuted at number one on the UK Asian Music Chart and remained at the top for one more week.[12]

  1. ^ Lothian-McLean, Moya (28 January 2016). "Everything We Know About "Pillowtalk," Zayn Malik's Debut Single". The Fader. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  2. ^ Morris, Jessie (1 September 2016). "M.I.A. And Zayn Connect On "Freedun"". complex.com. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  3. ^ Palermino, Chris (2 September 2016). "Listen To MIA's Spacey Collaboration With Zayn Malik, "Freedun"". Myspace. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  4. ^ Platon, Adelle (8 August 2016). "M.I.A. Reveals She Worked With Zayn Malik on New Song 'Freedun'". Billboard. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  5. ^ Earls, John (2 September 2016). "MIA thought Zayn collaboration was 'too mainstream'". NME. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  6. ^ O'Donnell, Kevin (8 August 2016). "M.I.A. scores Zayn Malik collaboration on new album AIM". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  7. ^ Philips, Amy (8 August 2016). "M.I.A. Enlists Zayn Malik for New Song "Freedun"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  8. ^ O'Donnell, Carey (8 August 2016). "M.I.A. Will Feature Zayn Malik On Her New Album 'AIM'". Paper. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  9. ^ Platon, Adelle (18 May 2016). "M.I.A. Reveals Being in Talks with Rihanna for Collaboration". Billboard. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  10. ^ "M.I.A. on Twitter". Twitter. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  11. ^ "BBC Radio 1 - Annie Mac, M.I.A. + Zayn + Bastille, M.I.A. - Freedun (feat. Zayn)". BBC Radio 1. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  12. ^ "Asian Music Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 8 October 2016.