Vian Izak

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. 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. 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. He is known for his songs "The London Air Raids" and "Revolver." 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. 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.

Vian is married to Sarah Jane Wood (stage name Juniper Vale). 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.

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. He cites U2, Coldplay, and Death Cab for Cutie as early influences. As a young man he moved to Nashville and opened a recording studio on the historic Music Row.

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. Music streaming platform Spotify also highlighted the release as a unique project from Nashville.

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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

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. 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.

2024–present: Fifth studio album, Where Do We End Up When Life Goes On? In April 2024, Vian Izak released his fifth studio album, Where Do We End Up When Life Goes On?. The album was noted in independent reviews for its focus on themes of grief, reflection, and emotional processing. It continues Izak’s pattern of releasing conceptual, narrative-driven projects that blend music with broader storytelling elements.

Discography Albums Northern Anthems (Album, 2018) The Astronaut (EP, 2017) The Astronaut Acoustic (EP, 2017) Starlit Summer's Eve (EP, 2017) Till Your Heart is Still (EP, 2017) Till Your Heart is Still (Parkwild Remix) (Single, 2018) Sangre De Cristo (with Davide Rossi) (Single, 2020) Rank Peak Song Platform Chart Country June 7, 2020 10 10 Threw a Stone Apple Music Singer Songwriter Panama March 20, 2020 122 41 Call the Nightingale iTunes Alternative Italy March 20, 2020 123 42 As You Healed / The Guide iTunes Alternative Italy March 20, 2020 124 43 The Navigator iTunes Alternative Italy July 12, 2019 187 187 Mostly iTunes Singer Songwriter Canada February 16, 2019 51 28 Revolver iTunes Pop Brazil February 16, 2019 91 75 Revolver iTunes All Genres Brazil May 14, 2018 19 14 Revolver (I the AI Remix) iTunes Dance New Zealand April 12, 2018 149 149 Revolver iTunes Pop Switzerland May 10, 2017 107 107 Revolver iTunes Singer Songwriter Australia April 29, 2017 47 47 The Astronaut (Acoustic Version) Spotify Most Viral Ireland December 16, 2016 36 36 Revolver iTunes Singer Songwriter Mexico

Awards