Ava Max

While living in Virginia, she competed in numerous Radio Disney singing competitions at Greenbrier Mall in Chesapeake and debuted at the NorVa in Norfolk when she was 10 years old as an opening act, where she performed Whitney Houston's 1987 song "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)".

In 1991, her parents fled Albania after the fall of communism in the country, and lived at a Red Cross supported church in Paris for a year.

While in Paris, they met a woman from Wisconsin who helped them immigrate to the United States and reside in the state, where Max was later born.

During her childhood, Max often saw her parents struggle to earn an income, as they each worked three jobs without speaking English.

Her mother was a classically trained opera singer, while her father was a pianist.

Max moved with her family to Virginia when she was 8 years old, where she was raised in Hampton Roads.

Amanda Ava Koci (born Amanda Koçi; February 16, 1994), known professionally as Ava Max, is an American singer and songwriter.

Amanda Ava Koci was born Amanda Koçi, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on February 16, 1994.

Max's parents are from Albania; her father, Paul (anglicized from Pavllo), is from Qeparo and her mother, Andrea, is from Sarandë.

Max has an older brother named Denis.

Max often traveled to Florida in order to perform in singing competitions, and began releasing music under the moniker Amanda Kay, including a 2008 extended play.

At the age of 13, Max came up with the middle name Ava and adopted it as her first name after stating that she did not like being called Amanda while growing up.

Max adopted the stage name Ava at the age of 14, and moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue a music career at the suggestion of her mother, but was constantly rejected for being underage.

Max relocated to South Carolina a year later, where she began writing songs about relationships she had observed, including those of her brother.

She later stated that she was grateful for the move, as it allowed her to experience a normal childhood.

During her time in South Carolina, Max attended Lexington High School for a year, after being previously homeschooled, and she recalled being constantly bullied there.

After she turned 17, Max returned to Los Angeles with her brother, who acted as her manager.

She acknowledged that the partnership "did not work out" due to differences and receiving orders from her brother and because neither knew anyone in the area.

Max's difficulty in searching for producers and songwriters alone caused her to spiral "down a really bad path", which led her to drink at an early age and survive on 20 dollars a week.

Max released "Take Away the Pain" in 2013, which was remixed by the Canadian duo Project 46 in July 2015.

For several years, her demos were rejected and not returned by record producers and songwriters.

She also faced several incidents of sexual harassment.

In 2014, Max had her first meeting with Canadian record producer Cirkut at a dinner party in the Chateau Marmont.

Cirkut was also an acquaintance of her brother.

She signed with Atlantic Records in 2016, through which she released her breakthrough single, "Sweet but Psycho", in August 2018.

The song peaked at number one in 22 countries and reached number two and number 10 on the Australian ARIA Charts and US Billboard Hot 100, respectively.

Max sang "Happy Birthday" to him, which led both musicians to work together, writing hundreds of songs and releasing "Anyone but You" on SoundCloud in July 2016.

The song gained traction and attracted the attention of various record labels that contacted Max through email, ultimately leading her to sign a record deal with Atlantic Records in 2016.

Max acknowledged that working with Cirkut changed her life, as she considered leaving the music industry after being creatively stifled.

After signing the deal at the age of 22, she began searching for a last name to use as her stage name, eventually deciding on Max.

The name was chosen since it combined elements of being masculine and feminine.

From 2016 to 2017, Max adopted her signature hairstyle titled the 'Max Cut', which is seen in her logo as a substitute for the 'A' in Max.

On August 4, 2017, Max was featured on the Le Youth song "Clap Your Hands", where she sang two different melodies.

Max released the song "My Way" on April 20, 2018, which peaked at number 38 on the Romanian Airplay 100 chart.

On May 11, 2018, "Slippin", a collaboration with American musician Gashi, was released.

On June 8, 2018, Max was featured on the song "Into Your Arms" by American rapper Witt Lowry.

In March 2020, Max released the song, "Kings & Queens", which peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number 19 on the UK Singles Chart.

It was followed by the release of her debut studio album, Heaven & Hell, in September 2020, which charted at number two on the UK Albums Chart and at number 27 on the US Billboard 200.

In November 2020, the song "My Head & My Heart" was released, which peaked at number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number 18 on the UK Singles Chart.

Max released her second studio album, Diamonds & Dancefloors, on January 27, 2023.