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Ava Max

Ava Max

ALL ARTIST INFO IS PULLED FROM PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATA.
IF YOU REPRESENT THIS ARTIST AND WOULD LIKE TO VERIFY YOUR PAGE OR UPDATE THE INFO, Click Here
birthday
16th
February, 1994
Birth Place
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Birth Sign
aquarius
Biography

Ava Max is Amanda Ava Koci, an American singer and songwriter from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Born on February 16, 1994, the 27-year-old musician scored a record deal with Atlantic early in her career. Not long after, she released her breakthrough single, “Sweet But Psycho,” via Atlantic on August 17, 2018. The song, produced by Cirkut, made it to number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, making Ava Max a household name. 

Ava’s sound has been compared to the infectious pop music of Bebe Rexha, Dua Lipa, and Lady Gaga. 

We’ve got everything you need to know about Ava Max’s life and career right here.

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instruments played
Vocals
Associated Acts

Cirkut

Genres

Pop dance-pop

Labels

Atlantic

Occupation

Singer songwriter

Other Names

Amanda Kay Ava Ava Koci

Website

avamax.com

Years Active

2013 present

Name

Ava Max

Wiki Link

Ava Max’s Early Life

Born Amanda Koci, Ava Max grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Raised by her Albanian parents, Paul and Andrea, she is the youngest of two children – she has one older brother. Her parents are both skilled musicians – her mother is an opera singer, and her father is a pianist. Ava’s parents left Albania during a tumultuous time in the country’s history. They emigrated from Europe to Wisconsin with the help of a woman they met in Paris who was from the state. The woman helped them get into the United States by providing them with passports. Some of Max’s childhood musical influences were Alicia Keys, Celine Dion, Gwen Stefani, Norah Jones, Britney Spears, Fergie, and others.

Getting Into Music 

When Ava was eight years old, her family relocated to Hampton Roads, Virginia, where she first started getting involved in music. She participated in multiple singing competitions in the Norfolk and Chesapeake area, as well as in Florida. She performed her first show at just ten years old. Her first performance featured a cover of “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” by Whitney Houston.  Ava Max moved to Los Angeles, California, at 14 to try to make it in the music industry. However, she ended up moving back east to South Carolina after a year, where she started writing songs. At 17, she moved back out to Los Angeles with her brother, who worked as her manager for a time. However, the partnership between the two siblings didn’t last long, and Ava ended up struggling to get her career to take off. Performing as “Ava,” Max continued sending demos to record labels and producers and not getting any response. She went through years of hardships, struggling to make ends meet as an artist for a long time.  However, she experienced her big break when she collaborated with Cirkut on the song “Sweet But Psycho,” which became her breakthrough single. After the success of the song, she was signed to Atlantic Records, who continue to distribute her music to date.

Making It Big With “Sweet But Psycho” 

After finding early success on the charts in several European countries, Ava had her worldwide breakthrough with the song “Sweet But Psycho.” Preceded by singles like “Slippin” and “Not Your Barbie Girl,” the track made it to number one on the charts in over 20 countries, including Austria, Norway, New Zealand, and Sweden.  “Sweet But Psycho” was produced by Canadian producer Cirkut, who Ava met through her older brother. Ava’s first connection to Cirkut was through singing “Happy Birthday” to him, which prompted the two artists to collaborate on a song that ultimately changed the lives and careers of both forever. After the release of “Sweet But Psycho,” Ava collaborated with Vice, Jason Derulo, and David Guetta on multiple tracks, building up her international profile. In March 2019, she released “So Am I,” a track that made it into the top 10 in several countries, including Finland, Poland, and Norway.

Heaven & Hell 

Ava’s debut studio album, Heaven and Hell, was released on September 18, 2020, via Atlantic Records. The album features the singles “Sweet but Psycho,” “So Am I,” “Torn,” “Salt,” “Kings & Queens,” “Who’s Laughing Now,” and “OMG What’s Happening.” Ava has cited Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, and Christina Aguilera as inspirations for the sound of the album. Heaven and Hell was made with musical assistance from record producers like Charlie Puth, Bonnie McKee, and Ava’s previous collaborator Cirkut. It’s meant to be listened to in two segments: side A, “Heaven,” which showcases the singer’s high-energy pop music, and side B, “Hell,” which has a darker sound. The album was meant to contrast the two sides of Ava’s musical persona.

Ava’s Image

The artist that Ava is most commonly compared to is Lady Gaga, who, like Ava, is known for her theatrical performances and anthemic lyrics. Ava and Lady Gaga’s appearances have also been compared, especially due to what Ava calls the  “Max Cut” hairstyle, which she does herself. The haircut has become a signature part of Ava’s look. 

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