Born in Borneo in 1986, Izyan Allrahman, known professionally as Zee Avi, gained recognition for her jazzy, whimsical music through her YouTube channel. After moving to Kuala Lumpur at 12 and picking up the guitar at 17, she studied fashion design in London before returning to Kuala Lumpur to perform live. Avi's YouTube videos attracted attention, leading to a record deal offer from Monotone Records/Brushfire in 2008. Her self-titled debut album in 2009 achieved gold status in Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia, followed by the release of Ghostbird in 2011.
Singer/songwriter Kris Rowley discovered Avi's YouTube videos early on and helped amplify her online presence. Avi's popularity grew rapidly, attracting interest from various record labels. Monotone Records' Ian Montone, introduced to Avi's work by Patrick Keeler of the Raconteurs, signed her to the label. Avi's music resonated with audiences in Asia, solidifying her success with multiple gold-certified albums.
