Yuna is a Malaysian singer-songwriter best known for establishing her initial fan base through MySpace, where her music gained early international attention.
Yunalis binti Mat Zara'ai was born on November 14, 1986, in Alor Setar, Malaysia. Her father, originally the Pahang State Legal Advisor, later served as a Judicial Commissioner at the High Court of Johor Bahru. Her mother is a retired high school science teacher.
Yuna completed her secondary education at SMK USJ 4 in Subang Jaya, Selangor. She later pursued higher education at Universiti Teknologi MARA in Shah Alam, graduating in 2009 with a Bachelor of Legal Studies (Hons).
In 2015, Yuna began dating Adam Sinclair, a Malaysian film director. The couple first met in 2013 during the production of a television commercial. Their relationship led to an engagement in August 2017, held at Yuna’s family home in Shah Alam. They were married in January 2018 in a private ceremony at Puncak Rimba in Bentong, Pahang.
Yuna began writing songs at the age of 14 and later learned to play guitar, which enabled her to perform her original material by the age of 19. She emerged in Malaysia’s indie music scene around 2006, performing at acoustic gigs across the country. That same year, she participated in the inaugural season of the reality TV competition One in a Million, making it to the top 40 before being eliminated.
In 2008, Yuna released a self-titled EP featuring the breakout single “Deeper Conversation.” The track gained popularity through MySpace, where Yuna built a strong online following. Her growing digital presence eventually led to her discovery by Indie-Pop, an artist management firm known for recognizing internet-born talent.
Yuna signed with the New York-based Fader Label in February 2011. Her first U.S. single, “Live Your Life,” produced by Pharrell Williams, was released on iTunes in January 2012. This was followed by her U.S. debut album, Yuna, in April 2012. The album earned critical acclaim and charted at No. 23 on the iTunes Pop Chart and No. 86 overall. It also reached No. 23 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Albums chart.
That same year, she gained additional recognition as the first runner-up in MTV Iggy’s “Best New Bands in the World” competition. As part of this honor, she performed live at MTV Studios in Times Square, delivering renditions of “Decorate,” “Come As You Are,” and “Lullabies.”
Over the years, Yuna has released multiple albums and built an international fan base, collaborating with artists such as Usher and Jhene Aiko. Her genre-crossing sound—combining R&B, pop, and folk—has helped her remain relevant in both Western and Southeast Asian music markets. In 2019, she performed at the Camp Flog Gnaw music festival in Los Angeles, which drew attention largely due to an unexpected and controversial appearance by rapper Drake.
Although her net worth is not publicly confirmed, estimates suggest Yuna has accumulated significant earnings through her music, brand endorsements, and international tour performances.
