Yuna (singer)

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Yuna
Yuna (singer).jpg
Yuna during the rehearsal of the 24th annual Anugerah Juara Lagu.
Background information
Birth name Yunalis Mat Zara'ai
Born (1986-11-14) 14 November 1986 (age 26)
Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia
Origin Kedah, Malaysia
Genres Adult alternative,Acoustic,Folk Rock,Indie pop[1]
Occupations Singer, songwriter, businesswoman
Instruments Vocals, guitar, ukulele
Years active 2008–present
Labels Yuna Room Records (2008–present)
Indie-Pop Music (2011–present)
Fader Label (2011–2012)
Verve Records (2013-present)
Website yunamusic.com
Members Yuna
Farhan Fadzlishah
Efry Arwis
Adil Ali

Yunalis Mat Zara'ai (born 14 November 1986 in Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia) or commercially known as Yuna, is a Malaysian singer-songwriter.[2]

Contents

Career[edit]

Yuna is an independent Malaysian singer-songwriter. She began writing her own songs when she was 14 years old, and her first performance of her own songs was at the age of 19, after she learned how to play guitar. She has performed in numerous acoustic shows and events in many parts of Malaysia since 2006.

Yuna was eventually discovered in the US by the Indie-Pop record label and management company. They flew out to Malaysia to convince her to sign with them and then proceeded to get her a deal with FADER Label, a record label based in New York, in February 2011.[3] She released her debut US EP, Decorate, in the United States in March the same year.[4]

One of the first few people who expressed interest in her music was Farhan Fadzlishah aka Pa'an (Telephony Delivery), who later became her supporting guitarist. Along the way, Efry Arwis (Lightcraft) helped her with the bass while Adib Azfar handled the drums. Adil Ali (Seven Collar T-shirt) replaced Adib Azfar after the latter quit to concentrate on his drumming role in Oh Chentaku. Yuna performs with her band when she is not active in acoustic gigs.

On January 24, 2012, her new single "Live Your Life" debuted on iTunes. The track was produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Pharrell Williams.[5] MTV Iggy described the track as 'polished until it gleams but instead of burying Yuna, it lifts her up. The track has hints that a diva is waiting to shine'. On February 16, 2012, the official music video for "Live Your Life" was released.

On April 24, 2012, Yuna's U.S. debut self-titled album was released. Debuting at #23 on the Pop chart and #86 on the Top 100 Albums on iTunes, Yuna was also #23 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Chart. Accolades from fans and critics alike, such as Billboard, NPR, Elle, NY Times, Vibe, Allure, Seventeen, MTV Style, Marie Claire and National Geographic, who raves that her sound is “as fresh, honest and deeply personal as anything by Bon Iver or tUnEyArDs," have been rolling in.

She performed "Live Your Life" on late-night TV shows Conan and Last Call with Carson Daly. She was featured on the CBS Evening News in a featured profile piece and toured with Graffiti6 with stops at Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza. She also contributed to the Savages soundtrack on the track, Here Comes the Sun.

Music[edit]

Yuna started out as a solo MySpace artist in 2006, singing in both English and Malay. Her music influences include Feist, The Cardigans, Coldplay, Sia and Bob Dylan.

Yuna's meteoric rise in the Malaysian indie music scene is largely due to the strong following she gained via Myspace. Having played at many gigs since the release of her Demo, EP and then two local albums, she is now focusing on promoting and performing music on her debut US Album.Yuna also will be a part of Lollapalooza 2012 line up.

Yuna describes her music as "a cross between Mary Poppins and Coldplay".[6] In 2008, she released her self-titled EP which become a massive hit in Malaysia most notably the single 'Deeper Conversation'.[7]

Yuna was nominated as one of MTV Iggy's Best New Bands in the World.[8] She performed at the historic MTV Studios in Times Square New York singing "Decorate", "Come As You Are", "Lullabies" which is produced by Chris Braide and her new single "Live Your Life", which is produced by Pharrell Williams of N.E.R.D.

Yuna recently signed with Verve Music Group.[9] Multiple Grammy-winning producer David Foster, who heads the creative operations of Verve, tweeted: "I'm really excited about the next hot artist to join Verve Music. Stay tuned and keep an eye out for Yuna in 2013".

Personal life[edit]

Yuna went to SMK USJ 4 to complete her studies as a high school student. While being active in the music scene, she was also a law student at Universiti Teknologi MARA in Shah Alam, Malaysia. In 2009, she graduated with a Bachelor of Legal Studies (Hons.) degree.

Yuna also co-owns a women's clothes boutique, IAMJETFUELshop, in Subang Jaya, Selangor as a side project.

Yuna was romantically linked with the Malaysian TV host Qi Qushairi Razali in the past [1], but calls it quit in early 2012 when it proved too difficult to balance their relationship while Qi lives in Malaysia. [2]

In popular culture[edit]

Discography[edit]

Malaysian albums[edit]

Album Notes
Yuna Demo (EP)
  • Released: 7 March 2008
  • Record label: Yuna Room Records
 Tracklist
  1. "Deeper Conversation"
  2. "Cinta Sempurna"
  3. "Greek Goddess"
  4. "Fix It"
  5. "Backpacking Around Europe"
  6. "Dan Sebenarnya" (Live @ Chenta Kasorga)
Yuna (EP)
  • Released: 12 October 2008
  • Record label: Yuna Room Records
 Tracklist
  1. "Backpacking Around Europe"
  2. "After Midnight"
  3. "Dan Sebenarnya"
  4. "Blue Sands"
  5. "Deeper Conversation"
Decorate
  • Released: 23 July 2010
  • Record label: Yuna Room Records
 Tracklist
  1. "Gadis Semasa"
  2. "These Streets"
  3. "Penakut"
  4. "Fireworks"
  5. "Rocket"
  6. "Random Awesome"
  7. "Permission"
  8. "Cinta Sempurna"
  9. "Decorate"
  10. "Super Something"
  11. "Dan Sebenarnya" (Hidden track)
Terukir Di Bintang
  • Released: 7 January 2012
  • Record label: Yuna Room Records
 Tracklist
  1. "Sparkle"
  2. "Photo of You"
  3. "Memo"
  4. "KL Kita"
  5. "Terukir Di Bintang"
  6. "Coffee"
  7. "Someone Out of Town"
  8. "Fears and Frustrations"

USA / International albums[edit]

Album Peak positions Notes
DEN
[11]
 US
Heat
[12]
Decorate (EP) — — Tracklist
  1. "Decorate"
  2. "Deeper Conversation"
  3. "Someone Out of Town"
  4. "Coffee"
  5. "Fears and Frustrations"
Yuna 32 19 Tracklist
  1. "Lullabies"
  2. "Favourite Thing"
  3. "Remember My Name"
  4. "Decorate"
  5. "Planes"
  6. "Bad Idea"
  7. "Island"
  8. "Tourist"
  9. "Fading Flower"
  10. "See You Go"
  11. "Stay"
  12. "Live your life yuna"
  13. "Loud Noises"
Sixth Street (EP) Tracklist
  1. "I Wanna Go"
  2. "Right Again"
  3. "Let Love Come Through ft. Kyle"
  4. "Young"
  5. "Musician"

Motion picture soundtrack albums[edit]

Savages (2012)
The Croods (2013)
  • Shine Your Way ft. Owl City

Singles[edit]

Charting
Year Single Peak positions Album
DEN
[11]		 US
(Heat
seekers)
2012 "Live Your Life" — 37[13] Yuna
2013 "Lullabies" 17 —


Others (Malaysia / Indonesia / America )
Year Song Title Album
2008 "Deeper Conversation" Yuna (EP)
"Backpacking Around Europe"
"Dan Sebenarnya"
And Actually
2009 "After Midnight"
"Cinta Sempurna"
Perfect Love		 Decorate
2010 "Rocket"
"Gadis Semasa"
A Current Girl
"Decorate"
"Itulah Sayang"
That's Love
as part of The Ramlees		 P. Ramlee Satu Indiepretasi
2011 "Gelora Jiwa"
Waving Hearts
"Penakut"
Coward		 Decorate
"Super Something"
"Memo" Terukir Di Bintang
MTV Release
"Bulan Ditutup Awan"
The Moon Dissolves by Clouds		 Single
"Come As You Are" Decorate (EP)
U.S release
2012 "Someone Out of Town"
"Terukir di Bintang"
Etched on the Stars		 Terukir di Bintang
"Sparkle"
"Photo of You"
"Live Your Life" Yuna
U.S release
"Lullabies"
"You're So Fine"
duet with Guba Rawantas		 Hilang
2013 "Shine Your Way"
duet with Owl City		 The Croods
U.S release

Music video[edit]

Year Title Album
2010 Raya Oh Yeah Single
2011 Decorate Decorate (EP)
Gadis Semasa Decorate
Come As You Are Single
Memo Single
Someone Out Of Town Decorate (EP)
2012 Live Your Life Yuna
Sparkle Terukir di Bintang
Terukir Di Bintang Terukir di Bintang
KL Kita ft. Qi Razali Terukir di Bintang
Walking Like A Dream Single
2013 Home Yuna
Shine Your Way ft. Owl City Single
In My Dream ft. Lincoln Jesser In My Dreams (EP)
Dwihati ft. Aizat Hamdan Single

Cover songs[edit]

Malay songs[edit]

  • Cinta Sempurna
  • Dan Sebenarnya
  • Gadis Semasa
  • Penakut
  • Raya Oh Yeah
  • KL Kita ft. Qi Razali
  • Terukir Di Bintang
  • Lelaki
  • Dwihati ft. Aizat Amdan

Other songs[edit]

  • Cartoon Couple
  • Greek Goddess
  • I'm Not Like You
  • Hero
  • Missing Star
  • Peer Pressure
  • Walking Like A Dream
  • Mermaid
  • Follow Me Follow Love
  • I Wanna Go There
  • Home
  • Shine Your Way

Awards[edit]

Anugerah Industri Muzik (Malaysia Music Industry Awards)

Anugerah Industri Muzik (or AIM) (literal English translation: "Music Industry Awards" in Malay), is Malaysia's music award-giving ceremony. It is the Malaysia's equivalent of Grammy.[14][15] Yuna has received seven awards out of sixteen nominations.

Anugerah Industri Muzik Malaysia (AIM)
Year Category Nominated Work Album / Material Result Lost To
2009 (AIM17) Best New Artist Won
Best Pop Song Dan Sebenarnya
(Yuna / Yuna)		 Yuna (EP) Won
Best Song Won
Best Local English Song Deeper Conversation
(Yuna / Yuna)		 Won
Best Vocal Performance in a Song (Female) Dan Sebenarnya Nominated Siti Nurhaliza - Ku Percaya Ada Cinta
2010 (AIM18) Best Album Cover Decorate Nominated Aizat - Urusan Aizat Amdan
Best Pop Song Penakut
(Yuna / Yuna)		 Nominated Anuar Zain - Sedetik Lebih
Best Vocal Performance in a Song (Female) Won
Gelora Jiwa Nominated Yuna - Penakut
Anugerah Kembara (Tour Award) Yuna Won
2011 (AIM19) Best Pop Song Terukir di Bintang
(Yuna / Yuna)		 Terukir Di Bintang Nominated Shila Amzah - Patah Seribu
Best Local English Song Memo
(Yuna / Yuna)		 Nominated Jaclyn Victor - Counting Days
Photo of You
(Yuna / Yuna)		 Nominated
Best Album Cover Nominated Mizz Nina - Take Over
Best Musical Arrangement in a Song Terukir di Bintang
(Arranger: AG Coco)		 Nominated Jaclyn Victor - Counting Days
Best Music Video Sparkle
(Dir: Quek Shio Chuan)		 Won
Anugerah Planet Muzik

Anugerah Planet Muzik is the award for artists who engaged in the music world. This award includes singers from the allied countries, that is Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Yuna has received seven nominations.

Anugerah Planet Muzik
Year Category Nominated Works Album Result Lost To
2008 Best New Female Artist Vocal Performance in a Song Dan Sebenarnya Yuna (EP) Nominated Ayu Damit - Hanya Di Mercu
2009 Malaysia Most Popular Artist Nominated Siti Nurhaliza
2011 Regional Most Popular Artist Nominated Siti Nurhaliza
2012 Best Female Artiste Terukir Di Bintang Terukir di Bintang Nominated Shila Amzah - Patah Seribu
Best Song Nominated Alyah - Kisah Hati
Most Popular Regional Artiste Nominated Taufik Batisah
New Media Icon Nominated SleeQ
Anugerah Juara Lagu

Anugerah Juara Lagu (AJL, Malay for "Champion of Songs Awards") is a popular annual music competition in Malaysia, organized by TV3. AJL honours the composers and lyricists of the songs rather than the performing artistes. Yuna has five songs qualified for the contest throughout four years of participation.

Anugerah Juara Lagu (AJL)
Year Song Album Composer Lyricist Category Result
2009 (AJL 24) Dan Sebenarnya Yuna - EP Yuna Yuna Open Won
(1st Runner-Up)
2010 (AJL 25) Cinta Sempurna Decorate Yuna Yuna Open Nominated
2011 (AJL26) Gadis Semasa Yuna Yuna Open Nominated
Penakut Yuna Yuna Open Nominated
2012 (AJL 27) Terukir di Bintang Terukir Di Bintang Yuna Yuna Open Won
( CHAMPION )
Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian

Anugerah Bintang Popular (translates as Most Popular Artist Award in English) is an award presented annually by Berita Harian of Malaysia to recognize excellence of professionals in the entertainment industry, including the film industry, as well as record industry. It is considered as one of the highest honours for Malaysian artists in the entertainment industry. Yuna has received four nominations and won three awards.

Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian (ABPBH)
Year Category Results
2009 Popular New Artist (Female) Won
Popular Female Singer Nominated
2010 Popular Female Singer Won
2011 Popular Female Singer Won
2012 Popular Female Singer Nominated
SHOUT! Awards
Shout! Awards
Year Category Result
2010 Popstar Award Won
Break Out Award Won
Mobile Artiste of the Year Nominated
Ultimate Shout! Award Won
2012 Popstar Award Won
Power Vocal Awards Nominated
Music Video Awards Nominated
Fresh TV Series Awards Nominated
Wired Selebrity Awards Won
Others
Other Awards
Year Award Categories Nominated Work Result
2011 MACP Awards Most Performed Malay Song Dan Sebenarnya Won
MTV Iggy Best New Band in the World Nominated
2012 Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards Favourite Asian Act Nominated
MTV Europe Music Awards Best Asian Act Nominated
Newbie Awards Best New Female Artist Nominated
PPMH Awards Stylo Artist Award Nominated
Promising Award Won
2013 Bella Awards Bella Creative Award Nominated

Recognitions and honours[edit]

Government-based
  • National Youth Icon Award (2012) - Awarded by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Najib Razak for her exceptional achievements in arts.[16]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Yuna Zarai". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-07-27. 
  2. ^ "Yuna - Info". Facebook. 2011-03-15. Retrieved 2012-02-07. 
  3. ^ "Yuna joins The Fader Label". February 2, 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2011. 
  4. ^ "FADER Label: Yuna’s Decorate EP". March 16, 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2011. 
  5. ^ Bryan, Beverly (2012-01-24). "Live Your Life by Yuna". Mtv Iggy. Retrieved 2012-02-07. 
  6. ^ Joseph, Charlene (July 15, 2009). "Yuna reveals her dark side". Retrieved 4 March 2010. 
  7. ^ "Someone Out of Town by Yuna Music on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free". Soundcloud.com. Retrieved 2012-02-07. 
  8. ^ "BEST NEW BAND 2011". Mtv Iggy. Retrieved 2012-02-07. 
  9. ^ "It's Official: David Foster Named Chairman of Verve Music Group". Billboard. December 15, 2011. Retrieved June 4, 2012. 
  10. ^ "Arrow Music | Season 1". CWTV. Retrieved 6 March 2013. 
  11. ^ a b DanishCharts.com Yuna discography (Denmark)
  12. ^ "Yuna chart".  Text " Billboard" ignored (help)
  13. ^ Billboard Yuna page
  14. ^ http://www.rim.org.my/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=33&Itemid=58
  15. ^ Suraya al-Attas (13 December 1993). "Countdown to local Grammys". New Straits Times (New Straits Times Press). p. 27. Retrieved 1 January 2012. 
  16. ^ http://www.malaysiandigest.com/news/36-local2/96712-pandelela-yuna-win-youth-icon-award.html

Charted in Heatseekers Album on Billboard "Live Your Life" http://www.billboard.com/artist/431716/yuna/chart

External links[edit]


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