Ava Max facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ava Max
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Max in 2023
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| Born |
Amanda Koçi
February 16, 1994 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
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| Other names |
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| Education | Lexington High School |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 2013–present |
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Notable work
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Discography |
| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Chesapeake, Virginia, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Labels | Atlantic |
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Amanda Ava Koci (born Amanda Koçi; February 16, 1994), known professionally as Ava Max, is an American singer and songwriter. She became famous in 2018 with her hit song "Sweet but Psycho". This song reached number one in 22 countries. It also made it to the top 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
In March 2020, Max released "Kings & Queens". This song reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her first album, Heaven & Hell, came out in September 2020. It was very popular in the UK and US. In November 2020, "My Head & My Heart" was released. Ava Max's second album, Diamonds & Dancefloors, was released on January 27, 2023.
Contents
Life and Music Career
Early Life and Beginnings (1994–2012)
Amanda Ava Koci was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on February 16, 1994. Her parents are from Albania. They moved to the United States in 1991. Ava Max's mother was a trained opera singer, and her father was a pianist.
When she was 8, Max and her family moved to Virginia. She started singing in competitions there. At 10, she performed at the NorVa in Norfolk. She sang Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)". Max often traveled to Florida for singing contests. She released music under the name Amanda Kay. At 13, she started using the name Ava.
At 14, Ava moved to Los Angeles, California, to start a music career. She faced many rejections because she was too young. A year later, she moved to South Carolina. There, she wrote songs about relationships she saw around her. She went to Lexington High School for a year. She said she was often bullied there. When she was 17, Max returned to Los Angeles. She worked hard to find producers and songwriters.
Starting Her Career (2013–2017)
In 2013, Max released "Take Away the Pain." For several years, her demo songs were not accepted by record producers. In 2014, Max met producer Cirkut at a dinner party. They started working together and wrote many songs. In July 2016, they released "Anyone but You" on SoundCloud. This song got attention from record labels. Max then signed a deal with Atlantic Records in 2016. She said working with Cirkut changed her life.
After signing her deal, she chose "Max" as her last name. She liked that it sounded both masculine and feminine. From 2016 to 2017, Max created her special hairstyle, the 'Max Cut'. It is seen in her logo. In August 2017, she was featured on the Le Youth song "Clap Your Hands."
Becoming a Star with Heaven & Hell (2018–2021)
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Max released "My Way" in April 2018. It became popular in Romania. She also worked with other artists like Gashi and Witt Lowry. In August 2018, she released "Sweet but Psycho". This song became a huge hit worldwide. It reached number one in over 22 countries. It also hit the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. Max also sang on songs by Vice, Jason Derulo, and David Guetta.
In March 2019, she released "So Am I". This song reached the top 10 in several countries. She also released promotional songs like "Blood, Sweat & Tears" and "Freaking Me Out". In August 2019, she released "Torn". Max won the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Push Act in 2019. She also collaborated with Pablo Alborán on "Tabú". Her song "Salt" was released to streaming platforms in December 2019. She also worked with Alan Walker on "Alone, Pt. II".
On March 12, 2020, Max released "Kings & Queens". This song became very popular. She also sang on the country song "On Me" for the movie Scoob!. Max released "Who's Laughing Now" and "OMG What's Happening" as singles. Her debut album, Heaven & Hell, was released on September 18, 2020. It was a success in the UK and US. In November 2020, she was part of a charity single called "Stop Crying Your Heart Out". "My Head & My Heart" was released as a bonus track for her album. In 2021, Max released "EveryTime I Cry". She also worked with R3hab, Jonas Blue, and Tiësto.
New Music: Diamonds & Dancefloors (2022–Present)
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In February 2022, Max hinted at new music. She changed her 'Max Cut' hairstyle to cherry-red hair. She said her second album was written during a difficult time. The first song from the album, "Maybe You're the Problem", came out on April 28, 2022. Max announced her second album, Diamonds & Dancefloors, in June 2022. It was released on January 27, 2023. Other singles from the album include "Million Dollar Baby" and "Weapons". "Million Dollar Baby" was also featured in the game Just Dance 2023 Edition.
In January 2023, Max released "One of Us". She performed at the WorldPride festival in Sydney, Australia. Max then went on her first concert tour, called On Tour (Finally). During a concert in June 2023, she had an incident on stage where she was hurt. She later said her eye was scratched. She worked with Brazilian DJ Alok on "Car Keys (Ayla)". Her song "Choose Your Fighter" was on the soundtrack for the 2023 film Barbie.
In January 2024, Max and Norwegian DJ Kygo released "Whatever". It reached number one in Norway. In April 2024, she released "My Oh My". She was also featured on a remix by the band Enhypen in August 2024. In September 2024, she released "Spot a Fake". In October 2024, she released "Forever Young" with David Guetta and Alphaville. She also released a Christmas song called "1 Wish". In November 2024, Max performed at the 2024 ARIA Music Awards in Sydney, Australia.
Artistry and Inspirations
Ava Max is known for her pop and dance-pop music. Her songs often use parts of older songs. People have compared her to artists like Sia, Lady Gaga, and Dua Lipa. Max grew up listening to many famous singers. These include Alicia Keys, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, and Whitney Houston. She also named Beyoncé, Madonna, and Gwen Stefani as influences. Max said Mariah Carey was a big inspiration for her album Heaven & Hell.
Her Unique Look
Ava Max is often compared to Lady Gaga because of her music and bold style. Max has platinum blonde hair and a strong stage presence. Max says that while Gaga is an amazing artist, people shouldn't compare them just because they have similar hair or make pop music. She finds these comparisons "lazy" but understands why people make them.
Max likes to wear unique and eye-catching outfits. She wants to give her audience a special experience. She is inspired by 1990s fashion, especially Gwen Stefani and Cindy Crawford. Her famous 'Max Cut' hairstyle is asymmetric. One side is short, and the other is longer and wavy. She said this haircut helps her feel true to herself and unique. She believes it represents her freedom and self-expression.
Personal Life
Ava Max says she is "100% Albanian" and wants to help her community. She can speak Albanian but cannot read it. Max often speaks about female empowerment. This message is also found in her music.
Discography
Studio albums
- Heaven & Hell (2020)
- Diamonds & Dancefloors (2023)
Tours
Headlining
- On Tour (Finally) (2023)
Supporting
- Maroon 5 – 2021 Tour (2021)
- Jingle Ball Tour (2022)
Accolades
See Also
In Spanish: Ava Max para niños
