Vian Izak

Vian Izak, is a South African American singer-songwriter, record producer, and audio engineer. He created an animated alias to maintain his anonymity online.[1] Izak's artist project is part of the virtual band movement popularized by acts such as the Gorillaz and The Archies where the members of the group are portrayed as animations.[2] Although he later dropped the animated persona in favor of personally connecting with his audience, this early focus on multimedia releases, including visual art, comics, and storytelling, has continued.

Vian Izak
OriginNashville, Tennessee, United States
Years active2014 (2014)–present
LabelsVohnic Music LLC, Merlin Network
Spouse(s)Sarah Jane Woods
Websitehttp://www.vianizak.com

He has worked with artists Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Keith Getty, and Kristyn Getty.[3][4] He is known for his songs "The London Air Raids" and "Revolver."[5][6][7][8] He also owns and operates his own independent record label called Vohnic Music LLC in Nashville. The record label is part of the Merlin Network which is the world's fourth largest music rights holder after Universal Music Group, Sony, and the Warner Music Group.[9][10] Vian also produces more electronic based music under the name I the AI and has used the label I the AI Records to release both his own music and Juniper Vale's.[11]

Vian is married to Sarah Jane Woods (stage name Juniper Vale) a former member of contemporary folk band The Arcadian Wild.[12] The pair have also released many songs together, and Vian has produced all of Juniper Vale's solo work to date.

Many of Vian's songs, including popular tracks "The London Air Raids" and "Revolver", were written by his brother Hein Zaayman.[13]

Career

2015–2019: Early career and music

Vian is a South African immigrant who moved to the United States in 2000. His love of songwriting started out of a need to communicate as English was not his native language.[14] He cites U2, Coldplay, and Death Cab for Cutie as early influences.[15] As a young man he moved to Nashville and opened a recording studio on the historic Music Row.[15] Izak brought an international sound to the Nashville music scene which made him stand out.[15][14] This is exemplified in his collaborations with Grammy winning South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo on "Brink of Love" and with Grammy winning Italian composer Davide Rossi on "Sangre de Cristo".[14][16][17]

He often combines his music with the illustrations of his brother, Hein Zaayman, to create multimedia comic stories. His first multimedia release, Northern Anthems (2018), was nominated for numerous awards including two Independent Music Awards.[18][19] Music streaming platform Spotify also highlighted the release as a unique project from Nashville.[20][21]

Starting in February 2019, Vian ran a 13-episode podcast series called "Sounds About Music" where he interviewed other creatives and discussed the process of creating his second album, The Navigator (2019). Guests included artists from his Vohnic Music label, illustrator Hein Zaayman, and more.[22]

2020: Music and COVID aid

In March 2020 Vian worked with U.S. Bancorp to release a COVID-19 television advertisement using his song "Things Will Get Better" encouraging people to stay hopeful in hard times.[23] The advertisement was played nationally in the United States. Additionally, Izak released a music video for his song "The Navigator" thanking healthcare workers for their bravery during the pandemic which received over fifty thousand views on Facebook and YouTube.[24][25]

2020-2021: Third studio album, Flight of the Aeronaut

In 2020, Vian followed the release of his 2019 album The Navigator with a deluxe edition featuring additional songs, as well as a short webcomic following the concept of the album, which can still be viewed on his website. Unlike the Vian Izak's Adventures comic, a print version was never released. Vian also released an animated YouTube lyric video for the song The Navigator, as well as a behind the scenes look with the director, Michael Saby.[26]

Later in 2020, he began releasing one song each month leading up to the July 2021 release of his third album, Flight of The Aeronaut. The album and accompanying singles featured artwork by his brother Hein Zaayman.[12] The album was also released on Vinyl, his only LP to date to have done so.[12]

On March 24th, 2021, Vian performed a live acoustic concert in Nashville, playing songs from Flight of The Aeronaut. He performed alongside Sarah Jane from Juniper Vale and string instrumentalist RǾRE. Recordings from this concert were later released on YouTube, as well as on streaming services as the EP Vian Izak Live 2021.[27]

Vian also released Vian Izak: After Hours EP in October of 2021, a collaboration with UK composer Ben Laver. It features instrumental arrangements of six of Vian's songs in a jazzy, lo-fi style.

2022-2023: Fourth studio album, All the Worlds We Built

Vian continued this same method of continuous releases for his fourth album All the Worlds We Built, releasing one song each month from May 2022 until the album's release in February 2023. Each release was accompanied by an exclusive poster, with artwork done by Andreas Rocha. The concept of the album is loosely based on the Berlin Wall, as well as a Sci-Fi story that Vian developed while traveling through Europe.[28][29] The album includes features from German band Who's Amy, UK electronic project ah BLOOM, saxophone player Max Abrams, and more, all contributing to the international nature of the project.[29]

Vian released a short comic book alongside the album, his third time to do so. Incorporating illustrations by Andreas Rocha and AI art, the comic warns about the dangers of machines taking the place of human expression.[30][29] The comic was one of the first that incorporated AI art and human art equally.[29] A limited number of print versions of the comic were available for purchase online.

Discography

Albums
  • Northern Anthems (Album, 2018)[3]
  • The Navigator (Album, 2019)[3]
  • The Navigator (Deluxe Edition) (Album, 2020)[3]
  • Flight of the Aeronaut (Album, 2021)
  • Flight of the Aeronaut (Companion Edition) (Album, 2021)
  • All the Worlds We Built (Album, 2023)

EPs and singles
  • Revolver (Single, 2016)[3]
  • Brink of Love (EP, 2016) features Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Eliza Ramgren[3]
  • Revolver Remixes (EP, 2016) single charted on Spotify's Viral Charts in Canada at #19.[31]
  • The Astronaut (EP, 2017)[32]
  • The Astronaut Acoustic (EP, 2017)[3]
  • Will I Find My Home (Single, 2017)[33]
  • Starlit Summer's Eve (EP, 2017)[34]
  • Till Your Heart is Still (EP, 2017)[3]
  • The London Air Raids (EP, 2017) [3]
  • Marble Floors (EP, 2017) [3]
  • Little Lost (EP, 2017) [3]
  • City of Love (EP, 2017)[3]
  • Starlit Summer's Eve (Noble Remix) (Single, 2018)[35]
  • Till Your Heart is Still (Parkwild Remix) (Single, 2018)[3]
  • Save My Heart (Single, 2018)[3]
  • Can you Feel My Love (Single, 2018)[3]
  • Witchcraft (Single, 2018)[3]
  • Lover's Hill (Single, 2018)[3]
  • The London Air Raids (Michael Schaewel Remix) (Single, 2019)[3]
  • Threw a Stone (Single, 2019)[3]
  • Morning Star (Single, 2019)[3]
  • Light Up (Single, 2019)[3]
  • Midnight Dance (Single, 2019)[3]
  • The Guide (feat. Dan Russo) (Single, 2019)[3]
  • The Navigator (Acoustic Version) (Single, 2020)[36]
  • Sangre De Cristo (with Davide Rossi) (Single, 2020)[36]
  • Forward (Single 2020)[36]
  • The Sweetest Words (Single, 2020)[36]
  • Orchards (Single, 2020)[36]
  • My Bonaparte (Single 2020)[36]
  • Keep Me Warm (with Juniper Vale and Ben Laver) (Single, 2020)[36]
  • Shining Down (Single, 2021)[36]
  • Feel My Love (with Juniper Vale) (Single, 2021)[36]
  • The Rule of Life (Single, 2021)[36]
  • Can You Feel My Love? (Acoustic Version) (With Juniper Vale and Erika Ishii)[36]
  • Vian Izak: After Hours (with Ben Laver) (EP, 2021)[36]
  • When I Fall (Single, 2021)[36]
  • Decades (with Juniper Vale) (Single, 2022)[36]
  • Song I Believe In (with Davide Rossi) (Single, 2022)[36]
  • Who Am I (Without You) (Single, 2022)[36]
  • Tear it Down (Single, 2022)[36]
  • Carry it Down (US Version) (with Who's Amy and Max Abrams) (Single, 2022)[36]
  • Letting Go (Single, 2022)[36]
  • Berlin Sunrise (Single, 2022)[36]
  • New Year '89 (Single, 2022)[36]
  • You Are Not Alone In This (Single, 2022)[36]
  • Let the Old Fall Away (Single, 2023)[36]

Live releases
  • The Astronaut - Live 2017 (Single, 2018)[3]
  • Sangre De Cristo (Live in Nashville) (Single, 2021)[36]
  • Mostly (Live in Nashville) (Single, 2021)[36]
  • Vian Izak Live 2021 (EP, 2021)[36]

Production, songwriting, and engineering credits
Year Song(s) Artist Album Role
2016 All[3] Keith & Kristyn Getty Facing a Task Unfinished Editing Engineer
2016 Auld Lang Syne[3] Captain Dipper & The Strawberry Girl Auld Lang Syne Producer, Primary Artist
2016 Heroes, L-O-V-E[3] Captain Dipper & The Strawberry Girl Heroes Producer, Primary Artist
2016 Song of the Revolution, War Against Ourselves, Porcelain Skin, Wind in the Willows, Black Forest Wedding[3] Captain Dipper & The Strawberry Girl Love: A Revolution Producer, Primary Artist
2016 Now (I Want to Move)[3] Captain Dipper & The Strawberry Girl Now (I Want to Move) Producer, Primary Artist
2016 All[3] The Arcadian Wild The Arcadian Wild Producer, Engineer, Mastering Engineer
2016 The Last Time[3] Juniper Vale The Last Time Producer, Engineer, Composer
2016 Wolves of the Revolution[3] The Arcadian Wild Wolves of the Revolution Producer, Engineer, Composer
2017 Fractions[3] Juniper Vale Fractions Producer, Engineer, Composer
2017 The Last Time (I the AI Remix)[3] Juniper Vale The Last Time Remixes Producer, Composer
2017 Envy Green[3] The Arcadian Wild Envy Green Producer, Engineer
2017 Fractions Acoustic[3] Juniper Vale Fractions Acoustic Producer, Engineer, Composer
2017 Will I Find My Home (feat. Vian Izak)[3] Juniper Vale Will I Find My Home Producer, Featured Artist
2017 Willow[3] The Arcadian Wild Willow Producer, Engineer
2017 Singing in the Rain[3] Juniper Vale Singing in the Rain Producer, Engineer
2017 Unchangeable Love[3] Juniper Vale Unchangeable Love Producer, Engineer, Composer
2017 All[3] Juniper Vale Fractions Remixes Composer
2017 The Storm[3] The Arcadian Wild The Storm Producer, Engineer
2017 All [3] St. Dawn in Slumber My Heart Awakened in a Dream Producer, Engineer
2017 Bird Song [3] Juniper Vale Bird Song Producer, Composer
2017 All [3] POLR For the Fatherless Mastering Engineer
2017 All [3] St. Dawn in Slumber when soft you held aloft a light Mastering Engineer, Engineer
2018 All [3] POLR Break of Dawn Mastering
2018 The Poet, Millstatt [3] The Arcadian Wild Look Around Producer, Engineer
2018 All[3] POLR Into the Night Mastering
2018 Fractions (I the AI Remix)[3] Juniper Vale Everything is Color Producer, Engineer, Writer
2018 Lost[3] Jeremy Ravine Lost Producer, Engineer, Writer
2018 Save My Heart[3] Ben Laver Save My Heart Producer, Mixing, Vocals, Composer, Featured Artist
2018 Mirror Mirror[3] Juniper Vale Mirror Mirror Producer, Mixing, Writer
2018 Bester Fehler[3] Who's Amy Bester Fehler Composer
2018 Bester Fehler[3] Who's Amy Bester Fehler Composer
2018 I'm not Alone[3] Jeremy Ravine I'm Not Alone Composer, Mixing, Producing
2018 Don't Hold Back[3] Paden Don't Hold Back Mixing, Producing
2018 Sail On[3] Paden Sail On Mixing, Producing
2018 Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Re-Imagined)[3] Juniper Vale Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Re-Imagined) Mixing, Producing
2018 For the Lost and alone Christmas is Hope[3] Jeremy Ravine For the Lost and alone Christmas is Hope Mixing, Producing
2018 Christmas Chorus[3] Paden Christmas Chorus Mixing, Producing, Composer
2019 Songbird[3] Paden Songbird Mixing, Producing
2019 Jeremy Ravine[3] Jeremy Ravine Don't Let Go Mixing, Producing, Composer
2019 Juniper Vale[3] Juniper Vale The Expanse Mixing, Producing, Composer
2019 Paden[3] Paden Northern Wind Mixing, Producing
2019 Paden[3] Paden Ghost of You Mixing, Producing, Composer
2019 POLR[3] POLR Greenhouse Mastering
2019 Paden[3] Paden Have I Found My Home Mixing, Producing
2019 POLR[3] POLR Row House Mastering
2019 POLR[3] POLR Pond Mastering
2019 POLR[3] POLR Park Mastering
2019 Jeremy Ravine[3] Jeremy Ravine Breathe Mixing, Producing
2019 Dan Russo[3] Dan Russo Gameboy Mixing, Producing, Composer
2019 Hannah Schaefer[3] Hannah Schaefer, Dan Russo Safe House Composer, Co-Producing
2019 Paden[3] Paden Stories Mixing, Producing

Chart positions[37]
Rank Date Rank Peak Song Platform Chart Country
June 7, 2020 10[38] 10[38] Threw a Stone Apple Music Singer Songwriter Panama
March 20, 2020 122[38] 41[38] Call the Nightingale iTunes Alternative Italy
March 20, 2020 123[38] 42[38] As You Healed / The Guide iTunes Alternative Italy
March 20, 2020 124[38] 43[38] The Navigator iTunes Alternative Italy
July 12, 2019 187[38] 187[38] Mostly iTunes Singer Songwriter Canada
February 16, 2019 51[38] 28[38] Revolver iTunes Pop Brazil
February 16, 2019 91[38] 75[38] Revolver iTunes All Genres Brazil
May 14, 2018 19[38] 14[38] Revolver (I the AI Remix) iTunes Dance New Zealand
April 12, 2018 149[38] 149[38] Revolver iTunes Pop Switzerland
May 10, 2017 107[38] 107[38] Revolver iTunes Singer Songwriter Australia
April 29, 2017 47[38] 47[38] The Astronaut (Acoustic Version) Spotify Most Viral Ireland
December 16, 2016 36[38] 36[38] Revolver iTunes Singer Songwriter Mexico

Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2018Vian Izak - Starlit Summer's EveIndependent Music Award for Best AC SongNominated[19]
2019Vian Izak - Northern AnthemsIndependent Music Award for Best AC AlbumNominated[18]

References
  1. Chris Umbach (September 12, 2016). "Hype Machine: Heißer Scheiß aus dem Netz (KW 37/2016)". Tonspion. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  2. "VIAN IZAK Mix Comics & Indie Pop With 'Starlit Summer's Eve'". Newsarama. July 28, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  3. "Vian Izak Credits". All Music. June 17, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  4. Adama (July 11, 2016). "Vian Izak and Ladysmith Black Mambazo in "Brink of love"". Djolo.net. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  5. Johan Alexed (September 2, 2016). "Vian Izak - World of Trouble". Pop Muzik. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  6. Rachel Freitas (September 3, 2016). "EP Review. Vian Izak: Brink of Love". Music Existence. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  7. "Vian Izak Out With Acoustic-Guitar Driven Masterpiece "The London Air Raids"". ROCK THE PIGEON. 2018-03-24. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  8. "Vian Izak - The London Air Raids". We love that (in German). 2018-03-23. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  9. Vohnic Music (March 13, 2017). "Vohnic Music signs Representation Deal with the Merlin Network". vohnicmusic.com. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  10. Ed Christman (June 16, 2017). "Members of Merlin Report Digital Gains in Annual Survey". billboard.com. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  11. "I the AI RECORDS". I the AI RECORDS. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  12. "'Flight of the Aeronaut' album from Vian Izak soars with hope and power". happymag.tv. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  13. Vian Izak - The London Air Raids Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-04-07
  14. James Christie-Murray (March 15, 2018). "PREMIERE: A Life's Work In Equilibrium: Vian Izak breaks ground with new audiovisual project". Happy Magazine. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  15. Jonny Jimison (December 11, 2019). "Navigating Music and Comics with Vian Izak". The Rabbit Room. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  16. Jerry Doby (August 5, 2020). "Vian Izak – Sangre de Cristo". The Hype Magazine. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  17. "Vian Izak Weaves A Tapestry Of Sound And Nostalgia On Sangre de Cristo – Neon Music". Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  18. Robert Fontana (April 4, 2019). "THE 17TH INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED". Independent Music Awards. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  19. Robert Fontana (February 13, 2018). "THE 16TH INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED". Independent Music Awards. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  20. "Spotify Tweet". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  21. Starlit Summer's Eve, retrieved 2020-10-13
  22. "Vian Izak | Sounds About Music". Vian Izak. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  23. Spirit Strong. US Bankcorp. Apr 13, 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2020 – via YouTube.
  24. Izak, Vian (May 1, 2020). "The Navigator". Retrieved October 13, 2020 – via YouTube.
  25. Vian Izak - The Navigator (Official Music Video), retrieved 2020-10-13 – via Facebook
  26. Vian Izak - The Navigator (Official Lyric Video), retrieved 2023-04-07
  27. Vian Izak Live 2021, 2021-08-06, retrieved 2023-04-07
  28. LORE for "All the Worlds We Built" Sci-fi World (Part 1) || Intro to the Vian Izak Project, retrieved 2023-04-08
  29. "Vian Izak // Music that Matters, for People that Matter". The Up & Up. 2023-03-15. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  30. I wrote an album about A.I. while using A.I... Here's why I did it... #aiart, retrieved 2023-04-08
  31. Spotify (December 5, 2016). "Spotify Viral 50 Charts Canada". Spotify. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  32. Chris Tanner (February 3, 2017). "Vian Izak - "The Astronaut"". New Sick Music. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  33. Will I Find My Home, 2017-04-28, retrieved 2017-07-28
  34. Starlit Summer's Eve, 2017-07-28, retrieved 2017-07-28
  35. Starlit Summer's Eve - Noble Remix, 2018-04-27, retrieved 2018-04-27
  36. "Vian Izak". Spotify. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  37. "Soundcharts". app.soundcharts.com. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  38. Sound Charts (June 13, 2020). "Vian Izak Chart Positions All Countries". Sound Charts. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
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