Karmageddon rips through the carefully constructed facade of order, exposing the rot of political division, media manipulation, corporate greed, and collective apathy. For Iyah May, a qualified medical doctor who witnessed humanity’s fragility on the COVID-19 frontlines, this global chaos isn’t random. It’s the karmic echo of our failures. “Fuelled by my own despair over a divided world and deceitful corporations, I channelled my frustration into this song,” she says. Her career and her very being were impacted by the truths she observed and refused to unsee.
The track accuses our society of applauding its destruction, blinded by profit and division. Iyah May’s message is that artists must speak out in times of crisis, saying, “In the face of darkness, we must add light to the world.”
But in this chillingly familiar landscape, where the powerful dictate the narrative, Iyah May’s defiance came at a steep price. Karmageddon bravely tackles the very issues that are unspeakable, such as the pandemic narrative, alleged corruption within political, pharmaceutical, and health institutions (even the World Health Organisation), the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the pervasive violence against women that bleeds into the social chaos of recent years.
Her refusal to “cleanse” her art, to dilute the raw, unfiltered truth of her lyrics, led to the termination of her contract with her previous record label. As her representative, Rob Saunders from Deuce Music, disclosed, she was “dropped by her major record label and management company for refusing to change certain lyrics in her new, controversial single Karmageddon.” She was surging online, reaching “higher realms of various charts worldwide”, but her lyrics were too controversial.
“I won’t dilute my art and what I believe in. No chance,” Iyah May says, standing her ground. “These lyrics come from a real and deep part of my heart, and my hope is that this song will add goodness, strength, and healing to the world.”
Iyah May’s story is a reminder of how readily the female voice is silenced when it dares to challenge the reigning narrative. When a woman speaks out about the systemic issues that plague our world, be it the corruption, the control, or the violence, her truth is often dismissed as too “controversial”. This isn’t just about controlling information, it’s about controlling who gets to speak and what truths are allowed to breathe.
Despite that setback, Iyah May remains genuine to herself and continues to pursue her artistic career. Karmageddon has sparked crucial conversations about the absolute necessity of free expression in an age dominated by “cancel culture” and mass manipulation.
From her early days as a medical student researching HIV in New York to her current defiant stand, May’s journey has been one of unwavering commitment. Karmageddon, the first single from her upcoming EP, is more than a song; it’s a call to arms, a plea to confront societal divides, to unite, rebuild, and heal.
Are we ready to listen to the unfortunate truths sung by those with nothing left to lose but their voices?
