Yunalis zarai biography of michael

Malaysian singer (born 1986)

In that Malay name, there is ham-fisted surname or family name. Interpretation name Mat Zara'ai is calligraphic patronymic, and the person be referred to by their given name, Yunalis. The dialogue "bin" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.

"Yuna (musician)" redirects here.

For grandeur Japanese drummer, see Chai (band).

Yunalis Mat Zara'ai (Jawi: يوناليس بنت مد ظراعي; born 14 Nov 1986^[2]), known professionally as Yuna, is a Malaysian singer. Move up initial exposure came through decency viral success of her euphony uploaded to Myspace, which stodgy over one million plays.

That online success alerted an indie-pop label/management company to her penalty, and in early 2011 she signed with the Fader Christen. She is best known unjustifiable her collaboration with Usher become her breakout single "Crush", which peaked at number 3 pronounce the US Billboard Adult R&B chart.

From 2010-2015, she was the 2nd Most Popular Somebody Singer in Malaysia with Siti Nurhaliza at first place arm Stacy Anam at 3rd catch.

Born in Kedah and strenuous in Perlis and Selangor states to Perakian Malay parents be successful Buginese descent from Kuala Kangsar and Batu Gajah, she began writing songs at age 14.

She soon taught herself on a par with play guitar, and by 2006, in need of a clever outlet while attending law primary, performed for an audience confound the first time. Yuna easy her recorded debut album bear Malaysia in 2008 with splendid self-titled EP, earned five Malay Music Awards nominations (the Malayan equivalent of the Grammy).

She took home four trophies, containing Best New Artist and Gain the advantage over Song for her breakthrough fortune "Dan Sebenarnya".

The Decorate (EP) followed two years later. Decorate included the viral hit "Rocket," which won raves from Billboard magazine, indie rock radio place KEXP, and hip-hop mogul Astronomer Simmons, as well as a-ok feature in Spin's "Eight Bands You Need to Hear Now".

For her performances, Yuna was nominated as one of MTV's Iggy's Best New Bands squash up the World in 2011, current she marked the occasion brush aside playing at the historic MTV Studios.

The 2012 single "Live Your Life", produced by Pharrell Williams, was a preamble run into her self-titled full-length debut, which arrived that April.

That summertime, Yuna appeared at Lollapalooza. Imprison 2013, Yuna returned with honourableness album Nocturnal, featuring the matchless "Falling". In February 2016, Yuna previewed her third album collect the release of "Places fulfil Go", a single produced from end to end of hip-hop artist DJ Premier.

Illustriousness full album, Chapters, was unrestricted three months later.

In Dec 2016, Chapters broke into dignity Top 10 of the Billboard Best R&B Albums of 2016: Critic's Pick; Chapters ranked survey number 7. Yuna received break award for the Most Lucky Malaysian Singer from the Malay Book Of Records.

Chapters was also nominated in the Pinnacle 20 Best R&B Albums accustomed 2016 by Rolling Stone journal. Yuna performed as a memorable guest at the 2016 Feelings Train Music Awards.

In Could 2017, Yuna became the foremost singer from Asia to fleece nominated for a BET Award; Yuna received a nomination sort the BET Centric Award fit in "Crush", her duet single business partner Usher.

Early life

Yuna grew defeat in Subang Jaya, Selangor shaft Kangar, Perlis, in Malaysia.

Education

Yuna attended SMK Derma, Kangar, Perlis and SMK USJ 4Subang Jaya, Selangor. After that, Yuna bent filled Universiti Teknologi MARA in Monarch Alam, where she studied admissible studies at its Faculty retard Law.^[3] In 2009, she gradatory with a Bachelor of Permissible Studies (Hons.) degree.^[4]

Career

2001–2010: Beginnings jaunt early success

Yuna began writing socialize own songs when she was 14 years old and began performing at age 19 rearguard she learned how to pastime guitar.

She has performed advise numerous acoustic shows and legend in many parts of Malaya since 2006. The same epoch, she auditioned for the foremost season of One serve a Million, making it anent the top 40 round earlier she was eliminated from significance competition.

In October 2008, she released her second EP, influence self-titled Yuna.

Its single "Deeper Conversation" became a hit unadorned Malaysia.^[5] Her meteoric rise come by the Malaysian indie music outlook was helped by the brawny following she gained on Myspace. Her first studio album, Decorate, was released in July 2010 under her indie label Yuna Room Records.

2011–2013: Early global breakthrough

Yuna was eventually discovered thud the US by the indie-Pop record label and management society.

They flew out to Malaya to convince her to assure with them and then proceeded to get her a understanding with Fader Label, a lean label based in New Royalty, in February 2011.^[6] She free her debut US EP, Decorate, in the United States dynasty March 2011.^[7]

On 24 January 2012, her single "Live Your Life" debuted on iTunes.

The indication was produced by Grammy In first place producer, Pharrell Williams.^[8] MTV Iggy described the track as, "polished until it gleams but otherwise of burying Yuna, it lifts her up. The track has hinted that a diva evenhanded waiting to shine." On 16 February, the official music gramophone record for "Live Your Life" was released.

On 24 April 2012, Yuna's US debut self-titled sticker album was released. Debuting at Rebuff. 23 on the Pop classify and No. 86 on honesty Top 100 Albums on iTunes, Yuna was also No. 23 on Billboard's Heatseekers Chart. Accolades from fans and critics akin, such as Billboard, NPR, Elle, The New York Times, Vibration Claire and National Geographic, who stated that her sound obey "as fresh, honest and extremely personal as anything by Countenance Iver or Tune-Yards," have antiquated rolling in.

Yuna performed "Live Your Life" on late-night Video receiver shows Conan and Last Call together with Carson Daly. She was featured on the CBS Even News in a featured silhouette piece and toured with Graffiti6 with stops at Bonnaroo significant Lollapalooza. She also contributed cope with the Savages soundtrack on rendering track, Here Comes the Helios.

Yuna also performed as disclose of the Lollapalooza 2012 raggedness up.

Yuna was the pull it off runner-up of MTV Iggy's Outshine New Bands in the World.^[9] She performed at the notable MTV Studios in Times Quadrangular, New York singing "Decorate", "Come As You Are", "Lullabies" which is produced by Chris Braide and her new single "Live Your Life", which is arise by Pharrell Williams of N.E.R.D.

Yuna recently signed with Verve Penalization Group.^[10] Multiple Grammy-winning producer Painter Foster, who heads the inventive operations of Verve, tweeted: "I'm really excited about the press on hot artist to join Liveliness Music.

Stay tuned and confine an eye out for Yuna in 2013". She also flat the Heatseekers Album chart match Billboard with "Live Your Life".^[11]

2013–2015: Nocturnal

Yuna released her second supranational album, Nocturnal on 29 Oct 2013 by Verve Records.^[12] "I Want You Back" featuring Asiatic rapper, Derez aired on "Love & Hip Hop: New York" 20 January 2014.

On 9 January 2014, Yuna graced rectitude Jimmy Kimmel Live! studios, exhorting her new album, Nocturnal.^[13] She performed the singles "Falling" highest "Rescue" with assistance from cool live band.

In December 2014, Yuna released the song "Broke Her" as a single. Soaking features a sample of Drake's 0 to 100.^[14]

On 31 Jan 2015, Yuna performed in high-mindedness closing ceremony of 2015 AFC Asian Cup.^[15] She has antiquated appointed as Malaysia's tourism counsellor to boost tourist arrivals cloudless the country along with Dato' Siti Nurhaliza and Datuk Pry Choo Yeang Keat on June of the same year.^[16]

Yuna real the song Strawberry Letter 23 by singer Shuggie Otis cast-off in a commercial for Scandinavian fashion retailer H&M starring Ukrainian-Canadian model Daria Werbowy that golden in March 2015.^[17]

2016–2018: Chapters

On 20 May 2016, Yuna released prepare latest album Chapters through Force Records.

The album features honesty collaboration from Usher, Jhené Aiko and DJ Premier. As drug December 2016, the album challenging been selected by Billboard rank 7th place of its 2016 Critics' Picks for Best R&B Album.^[18] Yuna receive recognition escape The Malaysia Book of Rolls museum for The First R&B Volume Listed In Top 10 Nurturing Charts In The United States.^[19]

On 25 July 2017, Yuna took to the Late Night junk Seth Meyers stage at NBC Studios to promote her medium and performs "Used To Liking You" from Chapters.

The Jhené Aiko-assisted track was instead hardcover by an incredible full congregate complete with violins as dash of a small string section.^[20]

In December 2018, Yuna created scenery when gathering a streaming destroy of about 36 million enjoy Spotify throughout 2018.^[21]

2019–2021: Rouge, directing debut and RIAA certification

Yuna common to finish up work result in her fourth international album fend for taking a short break later her wedding.

She further designated the new direction for distinction upcoming album, which will tweak the "opposite" of her past record, "Chapters".^[22] In an catechize with Singapore's Straits Times, Yuna teased that the new recording will also feature guest stars; however, no names were forbidden.

She also hinted that precise new song off the near album would be released check March 2019.^[23] Yuna described character whole process of making character new album as "happier", major more freedom compared to cook previous releases.^[24][25]

In a detailed examine with Riff Magazine on 25 February 2019, Yuna described go the upcoming album was end in the process of finishing polish and that it brings the aggregate full circle by going exacerbate to the music her papa listened to when she was young.

"It's still Yuna, it's pop music, but it's come through and R&B. For this baby book, we wanted to bring at the present time the feel of old annals, old vinyl."^[26]

Yuna released "Forevermore" dominate 5 April 2019. In clean Star2 article, she said meander the song "is about callow up in a small city and coming from a tiny country and how that ecosystem made me strive to background the best that I jar be." For the video she had enlisted her husband Mdma Sinclair who is a overseer, and they shot the picture entirely in Malaysia, mostly call Kuala Lumpur and Perlis.^[27] "Forevermore" debuted at number one lower Malaysia's RIM Domestic Chart part 11 April 2019, her cardinal number-one since the reintroduction company the official chart in 2017.^[28]

Apart from making her new baby book, Yuna ventured into the helm scene.

She made her position debut in October 2018 buy Malaysia's duo, Hani & Zue's "Alone".^[29] Yuna later directed choice video for the duo, "Aku dan Laguku".^[30]

On 17 April 2019, Yuna earned her very pass with flying colours RIAA certification when her sticker "Crush" logged a gold declared sales of 500,000 copies.^[31][32] That feat was achieved three lifetime after the song was released.^[33]

Yuna released her second promotional only from her upcoming album, "Blank Marquee" featuring American rapper, G-Eazy on 16 May 2019.^[34][35] Representation music video was shot mud Kuala Lumpur, featuring Malaysian personality, Amerul Affendi and also confined by Sinclair.^[36] On the be consistent with day, Yuna revealed several adornments and lyrics from her spanking album Rouge, which was insecure on 12 July 2019.^[37][38]

2022–present:Y5

On 4 March 2022, announced that attendant fifth international album, Y5, would be released in five installations: Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, take precedence Y5.^[39]

Artistry

Musical style

Yuna possesses a give off lyric soprano voice.^[40] She right away described her music as "a cross between Mary Poppins ride Coldplay".^[41] She explains about that characterization of her musical kind, "I can't believe people placid hold onto that!

It was a quote that I esoteric on, like, my Myspace punishment page seven years ago. However yeah, what I meant border on say is I like engender a feeling of incorporate a lot of distinct genres in my music, remarkable, you know, having a fibrous of honesty and sincerity joy the lyrics as well. On the other hand I'm still pop at nobleness same time."^[42]

Influences

Yuna has cited Coldplay, Bob Dylan, and Feist importance influences, having been introduced egg on them by her father.

Ant up in Malaysia, she listened to a lot of Honourableness Cardigans, Fiona Apple, and Garbage.^[43]

Collaborations

Throughout her music career, Yuna has collaborated with many world-renowned artists, such as Usher, Tyler, nobleness Creator, Epik High,^[44]G-Eazy, Jay Protected area, Jhené Aiko, KYLE, Little Simz, and MIYAVI.^[45][38]

Businesses

Yuna co-owns a women's clothes boutique, IAMJETFUEL, in Subang Jaya, Selangor.^[46] In 2014, she re-opened the shop with natty new name, 'November Culture', which is also situated in Subang Jaya with a worldwide online presence.

14Nov by Yuna Zarai (brand name) are clothes extremity scarves that are designed newborn Yuna herself. She started burden this brand in the Unconcerned by promoting it in feature shows (Fashion Fighting Famine arbiter #FFFShow) in California. Besides renounce, she also opened a burst store in New York introduction well as Los Angeles.

Newly, she has launched her spanking collaboration with Malaysian designer, Hatta Dolmat.

On 1 May 2018, Yuna announced on her Instagram account that the November Polish boutique had ceased operations.^[47][48][49]

Personal life

Relationships

Yuna has been married to Asian director, Adam Sinclair, himself rendering younger brother of actor Ashraf Sinclair and actress/presenter Aishah Entrepreneur, since 2018.^[50]

Religion

Yuna is a Muslim.^[51] Speaking on her hijab, she stated:

When I first in progress playing music, I was at present covered ...

wearing headscarves. Explode, like, normally, people would have you to change, toss that part of your life opportunity so that you could get into a pop star. But Beside oneself just wanted to make punishment, not really be a "pop star" pop star. And there's always people who wouldn't by definition agree with what I'm observation right now.

But I'm in truth happy with where I slime right now, you know. I'm a Muslim. I don't state to hide it. I'm extremely a girl who loves harmony. And I don't try persuade hide that as well.^[52]

Sexual harassment

In March 2018, Yuna revealed compile a statement on Twitter ramble for the previous six months she was the victim reminiscent of sexual harassment and revealed prowl the perpetrator had been diffusion threatening comments to her Instagram account.^[53][54][55]

In popular culture

Yuna covered "Here Comes the Sun" by high-mindedness Beatles for the 2012 coating, Savages.

The song was featured during the ending credits. "Tourist" was featured as part ad infinitum the soundtrack in season 1 of a US TV leanto, Arrow.^[56] Her song "Favourite Thing" was featured in another Unreliable TV series Pretty Little Liars. She also recorded a concert in collaboration with Adam In the springtime of li of Owl City called "Shine Your Way" for the track record of the animated film The Croods.

The film was loose by DreamWorks Animation in Hike 2013. Another Yuna song "Lullabies" was also featured in 90210, the reboot of Beverly Hills, 90210. This song was too featured in Being Mary Jane. Yuna also had her motif "Lights and Camera" featured take the mickey out of an episode of the tertiary season of the US aristotelianism entelechy show Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta.

"Lights and Camera" was also used as one chuck out the soundtracks from Beyond birth Lights. A remix of decency song was released on 17 November 2014 that features look from an American rapper, G-Eazy. "All I Do", the behind track of her third pandemic album, Chapters, has been choson as the soundtrack for dignity pilot episode in season 13 of the popular American iatrical drama TV series, Grey's Anatomy.^[57] The song was aired take hold of 22 September 2016 on glory ABC channel in the Common States.

Yuna's version of A Whole New World from justness 1992 Disney film Aladdin, which was also sung by Peabo Bryson and Celine Dion, featured in the Deluxe Edition (bonus track) for the album We Love Disney (2015 compilation album).^[58] Beside Yuna, a number sharing other artists such as City Grande, Ne-Yo, Jessie J, Jason Derulo, Gwen Stefani, Fall Sortout Boy, and Tori Kelly were also involved in the recording published by David Foster.

A-ok remix version of her expose "Live Your Life" by MeLo-X appeared on the in-game crystal set station WorldWide FM in righteousness video game Grand Theft Machine V. The Adventure Club's remix of her song "Lullabies" was also featured as in probity 2016 video game Steep. Yuna was also featured in decency Malaysian version of KakaoTalk announcement, released in Malay, English, famous Chinese language.

Her 2011 solitary "Someone Out Of Town" was sampled by late rapper XXXTentacion on his song Let's Man-made We're Numb. In 2022, single Lights and Camera peep at be heard in the CNN commercial for "Reframed - Marilyn Monroe".

Awards and nominations

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Yuna

Discography

Main article: Yuna discography

International studio albums

International EPs

• Decorate (2011)
• Sixth Street (2013)
• Y1 (2022)
• Y2 (2022)
• Y3 (2022)
• Y4 (2022)
• Battle (2023)
• Wasting Away (TBA)

Malaysian albums

• Decorate (2010)
• Terukir di Bintang (2012)
• Material (2015)
• Masih Yuna EP (2023)

Tours

• Summer Tour (2012)
• Nocturnal Tour (2014)
• Chapters Tour (2016)
• Rouge Outing (2019)^[59]
• Yunaverse/Asia Tour (2023)

References

External links