Korina Lopez

USA TODAY

It's a small world: In Malaysia, Yuna (born Yunalis Zarai) is a household name. Thanks to MySpace, she's working her way around the world. "The world has become a smaller stage, a world stage," says the 27-year-old singer. "My management found me on MySpace and they flew me out to Los Angeles. Next thing I know, I'm working with all these producers."

Genre blender: Her music, which she has jokingly described as a mix of Mary Poppins and Coldplay, reflects her diverse tastes. "I make pop music and fuse a lot of styles," she says. "(I use) electronic and a little bit of folk. I like R&B and hip-hop beats."

Superstar support: At home, she holds a law degree and owns an online fashion boutique called November Culture. But making the move to the U.S. was worth it. In 2012, the prolific Pharrell produced her single, Live Your Life, from her self-titled Yuna album. "Working with him was a lot of fun. He's so talented and working with someone so well established opened up doors for me," says the singer, who wears the hijab head scarf of her Islamic faith. "It was a way to say that I'm here." With her latest album, 2013's Nocturnal, she hopes to step out into the mainstream.

Still a little homesick: While she has no regrets about leaving her home country, there are things she does miss, like nasi lemak. "It's rice cooked in coconut milk and served with anchovies, chili, hard-boiled eggs and cucumber," she says. "Oddly enough, when I was in Milwaukee, a couple of Malaysian fans who knew I liked nasi lemak made me some," she says. "So I got to eat nasi lemak on tour!"