Vian Izak

Vian Izak
Vian Izak in 2024 retrieved from Flickr
Background information
Origin	Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Years active	2014 (2014)–present
Labels	Vohnic Music LLC, Merlin Network
Spouse	Sarah Jane Woods
Website	http://www.vianizak.com

Vian Izak, is a South African American alternative folk 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.

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 Wood (stage name Juniper Vale). ^[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]}

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. ^{[17] [18]} Music streaming platform Spotify also highlighted the release as a unique project from Nashville. ^{[19] [20]}

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. ^[21]

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. ^[22] 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. ^{[23] [24]}

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. ^[25]

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 24, 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. ^[26]

Vian also released Vian Izak: After Hours EP in October 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. ^{[27] [28]} 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. ^[28]

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. ^{[29] [28]} The comic was one of the first that incorporated AI art and human art equally. ^[28] 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. ^[30]
• The Astronaut (EP, 2017) ^[31]
• The Astronaut Acoustic (EP, 2017) ^[3]
• Will I Find My Home (Single, 2017) ^[32]
• Starlit Summer's Eve (EP, 2017) ^[33]
• 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) ^[34]
• 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) ^[35]
• Sangre De Cristo (with Davide Rossi) (Single, 2020) ^[35]
• Forward (Single 2020) ^[35]
• The Sweetest Words (Single, 2020) ^[35]
• Orchards (Single, 2020) ^[35]
• My Bonaparte (Single 2020) ^[35]
• Keep Me Warm (with Juniper Vale and Ben Laver) (Single, 2020) ^[35]
• ShiningDown (Single, 2021) ^[35]
• Feel My Love (with Juniper Vale) (Single, 2021) ^[35]
• The Rule of Life (Single, 2021) ^[35]
• Can You Feel My Love? (Acoustic Version) (With Juniper Vale and Erika Ishii) ^[35]
• Vian Izak: After Hours (with Ben Laver) (EP, 2021) ^[35]
• When I Fall (Single, 2021) ^[35]
• Decades(with Juniper Vale) (Single, 2022) ^[35]
• Song I Believe In (with Davide Rossi) (Single, 2022) ^[35]
• Who Am I (Without You) (Single, 2022) ^[35]
• Tear it Down (Single, 2022) ^[35]
• Carry it Down (US Version) (with Who's Amy and Max Abrams) (Single, 2022) ^[35]
• Letting Go (Single, 2022) ^[35]
• Berlin Sunrise (Single, 2022) ^[35]
• New Year '89 (Single, 2022) ^[35]
• You Are Not Alone In This (Single, 2022) ^[35]
• Let the Old Fall Away (Single, 2023) ^[35]

Live releases

• The Astronaut - Live 2017 (Single, 2018) ^[3]
• Sangre De Cristo (Live in Nashville) (Single, 2021) ^[35]
• Mostly (Live in Nashville) (Single, 2021) ^[35]
• Vian Izak Live 2021 (EP, 2021) ^[35]

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 ^[36]

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

Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2018	Vian Izak - Starlit Summer's Eve	Independent Music Award for Best AC Song	Nominated [18]
2019	Vian Izak - Northern Anthems	Independent Music Award for Best AC Album	Nominated [17]

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. Archived from the original on September 1, 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. 26 March 2021. 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. "Vian Izak Weaves A Tapestry Of Sound And Nostalgia On Sangre de Cristo – Neon Music". 7 August 2020. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
17. Robert Fontana (April 4, 2019). "THE 17TH INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED". Independent Music Awards. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
18. Robert Fontana (February 13, 2018). "THE 16TH INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED". Independent Music Awards. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
19. "Spotify Tweet". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
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22. Spirit Strong. US Bankcorp. Apr 13, 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2020– via YouTube.
23. Izak, Vian (May 1, 2020). "The Navigator" . Retrieved October 13, 2020– via YouTube.
24. Vian Izak - The Navigator (Official Music Video) , retrieved 2020-10-13– via Facebook
25. Vian Izak - The Navigator (Official Lyric Video), 5 June 2020, retrieved 2023-04-07
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27. LORE for "All the Worlds We Built" Sci-fi World (Part 1) || Intro to the Vian Izak Project, 2 August 2022, retrieved 2023-04-08
28. "Vian Izak // Music that Matters, for People that Matter". The Up & Up. 2023-03-15. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
29. I wrote an album about A.I. while using A.I... Here's why I did it... #aiart, 16 February 2023, retrieved 2023-04-08
30. Spotify (December 5, 2016). "Spotify Viral 50 Charts Canada". Spotify. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
31. Chris Tanner (February 3, 2017). "Vian Izak - "The Astronaut"". New Sick Music. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
32. Will I Find My Home, 2017-04-28, retrieved 2017-07-28
33. Starlit Summer's Eve, 2017-07-28, retrieved 2017-07-28
34. Starlit Summer's Eve - Noble Remix, 2018-04-27, retrieved 2018-04-27
35. "Vian Izak". Spotify. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
36. "Soundcharts". app.soundcharts.com. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
37. Sound Charts (June 13, 2020). "Vian Izak Chart Positions All Countries". Sound Charts. Retrieved June 13, 2020.