Amanda Ava Koci reached international prominence in 2018 with the release of her single "Sweet but Psycho," which topped charts in 22 countries. Born in Milwaukee in 1994 to Albanian immigrants, the American singer and songwriter established a career in pop music through years of independent demos, eventually signing with Atlantic Records in 2016.
Early Development and Relocation
Raised in Hampton Roads, Virginia, Koci began performing in singing competitions at a young age, including events at Greenbrier Mall. She briefly lived in South Carolina, where she attended Lexington High School. After relocating to Los Angeles at age 17, she struggled to secure professional footing, working with her brother before experiencing financial instability and industry rejection.
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In 2014, Koci met producer Cirkut at a dinner party in the Chateau Marmont. This collaboration resulted in hundreds of songs and led to her 2016 contract with Atlantic Records. She adopted the stage name Ava Max during this period, choosing the surname to signify a blend of masculine and feminine qualities, and developed a signature hairstyle known as the Max Cut.
Commercial Breakthrough and Studio Albums
The 2018 single "Sweet but Psycho" became a multi-platinum success, reaching the top ten on the US Billboard Hot 100. Following this, she released "Kings & Queens" and her debut studio album, Heaven & Hell, in 2020. Her second album, Diamonds & Dancefloors, followed in 2023. In 2025, she released the album Don't Click Play and subsequently ended her nine-year tenure with Atlantic Records.
Fast facts
- Born: 1994, Milwaukee
- Stage Name Adopted: Age 14
- Record Label (2016-2025): Atlantic Records
- Breakthrough Single: Sweet but Psycho (2018)
- Debut Studio Album: Heaven & Hell (2020)
- Second Studio Album: Diamonds & Dancefloors (2023)
- Languages: English, Albanian
- 2024 Award: Spellemannprisen for hit of the year
Questions readers ask
What is the origin of the name Ava Max?
She adopted the name Ava at age 13 because she disliked being called Amanda, and chose Max as a surname to represent both masculine and feminine elements.
Did Ava Max study music formally?
She was raised by a classically trained opera singer mother and a pianist father, and competed in numerous singing competitions throughout her childhood in Virginia.
Achievements
- Instruments: voice
- Genres: dance-pop
