Burns was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, United States. She began playing violin at age 10 and performed in orchestra throughout her formative years.[2] Burns moved to Austin, Texas, in 2005 to attend the University of Texas. While in school she joined folk-rock outfit Alex Dupree & The Trapdoor Band in 2006.[3] Through this band, she met Rob Lowe, one of the founding members of the instrumental ensemble Balmorhea, and joined the group in 2007.[3]
After recording and touring as a violinist for six years, and contributing vocals to the Balmorhea record Stranger,[4] Burns released her first solo album, Life in the Midwater, in 2013.[2] The record features accompaniment by Travis Chapman on upright and electric bass and a guest solo by Alex Dupree.[5]
Burns is the violinist featured on folk singer-songwriter Adam Torres' 2016 LP Pearls to Swine[6] and 2017 EP I Came to Sing the Song. She also contributed to a track on experimental instrumental group Thor & Friends' 2017 release The Subversive Nature of Kindness.[7]
Burns released her sophomore solo album, Argonauta, in May 2018. On Argonauta, called a "stunning composition" by Texas Monthly[8] and "a poignant" album by Pitchfork,[9] Burns' lyrics grapple with the loss of her mother in 2012 alongside the start of a new, life-changing relationship.[2][10][11] As with her prior effort, Burns composed the string arrangements and self-produced the album, which features Jake Woodruff on guitar, Travis Chapman on bass, Dylan Reick on cello and Thor Harris on vibraphone.[12]
Aisha has toured the U.S. and Europe,[13] and has performed at the SXSW,[14] NXNE,[15] Reeperbahn[16] and Explore the North festivals.[17]