How Yuna won over the US music industry: 5 things to know about Malaysia’s home-grown songstress
Yuna wanted to be a lawyer until she won a spot on a talent show and then started her own music label. Here’s more you didn’t know about the Malaysian superstar
Many dream of breaking into the international music scene, topping the US Billboard charts, collaborating with award-winning artists, and performing for thousands of fans while on tour. For Los Angeles-based Malaysian singer/songwriter Yuna, born Yunalis Zarai, this dream has been a reality for the past decade. Yuna, whose fourth studio album, Rouge, was released on July 12, is captivating the world again with her dreamy, soulful R&B pop sound.
From being eliminated on a Malaysian singing competition reality television series to debuting a self-titled global album under the mentorship of renowned artist and producer Pharrell Williams, here are five things you need to know about Yuna.
1. Yuna pursued music while studying law in university
The 32-year-old Kedah songstress grew up in a musical family: her father loved American pop music and played the guitar and piano, while her mother enjoyed singing. Despite writing her own songs since she was 14 and occasionally performing acoustic shows around Malaysia, education took priority.
“We didn’t have the luxury to pursue music or the arts. It was very important to find a real job, as they say, to support yourself,” Yuna told Riff magazine. “So, it was important for me to be really good in academics. I didn’t plan to be a singer.”
It was only before her final year of studying law at university that Yuna pursued her musical interest, becoming a contestant on One In A Million on the back of her audition song of choice, Bohemian Rhapsody. She made it to the Top 40 before being eliminated, but that didn’t stop her.
2. Yuna started her own label in Malaysia when she was told to change her image
When music executives turned Yuna down for refusing to conform to their stereotype of what it takes to be a successful artist, she took matters into her own hands and started an independent label, Yuna Room Records, with her manager, Wawa. “We learned how to start a label together after labels refused to sign me unless I took off my [head] scarf and sang Malay songs only,” she shared in an Insta story last year. “We used to take meetings with record label giants and people who thought we were kids and never took us seriously.”
Her tenacity resulted in a self-produced EP, featuring hit singles Dan Sebenarnya and Deeper Conversation, that saw her take home accolades for Best New Artist and Best Song in the local music awards, and becoming a household name in Malaysia.