Malaysia 
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Zee Avi is a Malaysian singer-songwriter recognized for her distinct musical style and international acclaim, transitioning from YouTube discovery to a recognized artist with multiple chart-topping albums and awards.
The Asia Pacific Brands Foundation honored Zee Avi with The BrandLaureate Grandmaster Brand Icon Leadership Award 2012 for her accomplishments as a singer and songwriter, and for building a successful career in the international music scene. This award recognized her impact and standing as a brand icon.
Minimalist Lab collaborated with Zee Avi on a collection of jewelry, drawing inspiration from her story of self-discovery and music. The partnership was announced with a letter from Zee Avi, detailing the collaboration and emphasizing the personal connection to the jewelry line.
Carat facilitated an initiative featuring Zee Avi as one of three well-known bands from Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. This project highlighted her as a prominent Malaysian singer-songwriter in a regional context, showcasing musical talent across Southeast Asia.
In December 2019, Novartis Malaysia partnered with Zee Avi to compose the song 'My Skin,' aiming to raise awareness about psoriasis. The collaboration included a music video featuring individuals living with psoriasis, released on Novartis Malaysia's YouTube channel.
Zee Avi participated in a charity effort alongside Maxis, Faizal Tahir, and other artists for a COVID-19 related fund-raising video, 'Make It Through'. This collaboration aimed to raise funds for COVID-19 charities in Malaysia.
Izyan Alirahman, known professionally as Zee Avi, was born on December 15, 1985, in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. She relocated to Kuala Lumpur at age 12 and began teaching herself to play the guitar at 17. After studying fashion design in London at the American InterContinental University, Avi returned to Kuala Lumpur and started writing songs. Her musical journey began in September 2007 when she uploaded a video of her song “Poppy” to YouTube. This initial upload, intended for a friend, led to unexpected positive feedback and inspired her to share more of her music online. Her breakthrough arrived on the eve of her 22nd birthday with the upload of “No Christmas For Me.” This video quickly gained attention, leading to numerous inquiries from record labels.
Her talent was noticed by Patrick Keeler of The Raconteurs, who shared her music with Ian Montone, a manager for artists such as The White Stripes and The Shins. Subsequently, Emmett Malloy signed her to Brushfire Records, a label co-owned by Jack Johnson. “No Christmas For Me” became her first official release with Brushfire Records, featured on their 2008 charity Christmas album, “This Warm December: A Brushfire Holiday (Vol. 1).” Her self-titled debut album was released on May 19, 2009, co-produced by Brushfire Records and Monotone Records. The album gained significant recognition, with YouTube featuring her on its front page and the Associated Press naming it the ninth best album of 2009. She made her US television debut on “Last Call With Carson Daly” on June 18, 2009, performing her single “Bitter Heart.”
Avi’s second album, “Ghostbird,” released on August 23, 2011, further solidified her career, topping the US Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart. Songs like “Swell Window” and “Concrete Wall” were featured in Season 5 of “Gossip Girl.” She became the first Malaysian singer to have albums on the US Billboard Hot 200 Albums chart. In December 2012, she was honored with the Pegawai Bintang Kenyalang (Officer of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak) for her contributions to Sarawak. Her 2014 children’s album, “Nightlight,” received recognition on iTunes’s Best of 2014 Albums (Children’s Music) list. In 2016, she won the Best Original Film Song at the 53rd Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards for “Arena Cahaya,” the theme song for the Malaysian film “Ola Bola.” She also received the International Young Artiste Award at the 2018 Top Asia Corporate Ball in Jakarta.
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