Australian singer Iyah May lost her management contract when she refused to change the lyrics of her song Karmageddon calling Covid-19 a man-made virus and the Israel-Palestine conflict a genocide.
May, who grew up in a tiny rainforest village in Far North Queensland and now lives in Sydney, has now become a viral sensation for the song, which features the lines “Man-made virus, watch the millions die, biggеst profit of their lives” and “Big pharma finna eat, they a devil, make ’em weak”.
Other lyrics include “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” and “While we’re fed all these distractions, kids are killed from Israel’s actions”.
May says on her website she is also a qualified medical doctor, worked on the frontlines during the Covid pandemic, and researched HIV while a medical student in New York before starting her career as a singer.
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The rising solo artist shared the details of the separation from her manager in multiple posts on social media last month, writing: “I wish this story wasn’t true but it is. I was hesitant sharing this info but the more I share this song the more I realise I’m not the only one feeling this way.
“My manager didn’t agree with the lyrics in my song and refused to work with me and support me until I changed the lyrics. So I said, ‘bye’.”
May, who has also spoken out about Australia’s attempts to bring in Orwellian misinformation laws, censorship and cancel culture, said on Wednesday that she was glad she released the track.
“Against all odds it’s making its way into the world. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that embracing your full authentic self is the most liberating act of love,” she said.
“Speaking out truth even when forces come against you is far more rewarding than silencing your integrity. Happy new year and love to you for this new and abundant year.”
On her website May says Karmageddon is aimed to expose “the harsh realities of political division, media manipulation, corporate greed and public apathy” and is a ” call to confront societal divides and unite to rebuild and heal”.
“The song doesn’t shy away from addressing 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,” May says.
Header image credit: Iyah May (Instagram)
