Arab was born in Iran and spent part of her childhood there. Her family fled to London following the Iranian Revolution in 1979. She became interested in DJing and keyboards, and left college to perform with singer Björk 1994, later working with her as a sound engineer and live mixer. She met Richard D. James while both were on tour with Björk, and both James and Grant Wilson-Claridge suggested she release her solo recordings on their label Rephlex Records.