Born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario, Maki studied neuroscience at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia and education at Nipissing University in North Bay, Ontario. She taught special education, French and science in Ottawa, Toronto and Sudbury for several years before deciding to pursue a full-time musical career. In 2003, Maki recorded her debut album, Confusion Unlimited, with Dave Draves at Little Bullhorn Studios in Ottawa, Ontario. The album's blend of folk rock and alternative country earned her favourable reviews and quickly sold out its initial printing. In 2004, she returned to Little Bullhorn Studios to record her second album, The Sun Will Find Us. Both albums received Album of the Year awards at the Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards in 2004 and 2005. In 2005, Maki, Nathan Lawr, Ryan Bishops, Ruth Minnikin and Dale Murray participated in two national concert tours, A Midautumn Night's Dream and A Midwinter Night's Dream, which were reportedly inspired by Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue. The five musicians also recorded limited edition tour compilations for each tour. Maki took a break from touring between 2006 and 2008 and returned home to Sudbury, Ontario to teach high school science. During March Break 2007, Maki recorded her third album, On High, at Little Bullhorn Studios with Howe Gelb as producer and Dave Draves as engineer. It was released in North America on February 12, 2008, and was awarded Album of the Year at the Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards in 2009. While touring the United States in 2008, Maki stopped at WaveLab in Tucson, Arizona for two days to record her fourth album, Two Song Wedding, which was released in January 2010. In the fall of 2010, Maki and fellow Canadian songwriter Frederick Squire travelled to Paco Loco Studio in El Puerto de Santa Maria to record two country songs. Calling It Quits/Crazy Tropical Survival Guide was released as a seven-inch two-song single and digital download on March 22, 2011. After touring Canada together in 2011 in support of their seven-inch as well as Maki's fifth solo album, Moonshine, and Squire's second solo album, Frederick Squire Sings Shenandoah and Other Popular Hits, the duo decided to take a break from touring and settled in Copper Cliff, Ontario to start a family. Squire and Maki were married on December 22, 2012. Maki's most recent album, Head in the Sand, was released in May 2016.
