Kate Maki

{{short description|Canadian singer-songwriter}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}} {{Infobox musical artist | |  | name = Kate Maki | image = Kate Maki.jpg | image_size =  | background = solo_singer | birth_name = Katherine Ellen Maki<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/895982663 |title=WHITE NOISE |website=ASCAP |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=March 13, 2023}}</ref> | alias = | origin = Sudbury, Ontario, Canada | instrument = vocals, guitar | genre = folk, country, rock | occupation = singer-songwriter | years_active = 2003–present | label = Confusion Unlimited, OwOm | associated_acts = Ruth Minnikin, Howe Gelb, Ryan Bishops, Dale Murray, Frederick Squire | website = [http://www.katemaki.com/ www.katemaki.com] }}

'''Kate Maki''' (born '''Katherine Ellen Maki''') is a Canadian singer-songwriter.<ref name=conjures>Roger Levesque, [http://www2.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=471ee0b5-38cb-456c-b7a1-cf1e02a4cac6&p=1 "Maki conjures up her musical concoctions"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902093955/http://www2.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=471ee0b5-38cb-456c-b7a1-cf1e02a4cac6&p=1 |date=September 2, 2012 }}. ''Edmonton Journal'', May 21, 2011.</ref>

==Background== Maki is of Finnish descent.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koskinen |first=Anu Leena |date=2017-09-17 |title=Aamulehti Kanadassa: Kävimme kaupungissa, jossa joka kymmenes on suomalaista sukua |url=https://www.aamulehti.fi/uutiset/art-2000007271905.html |access-date=2021-04-20 |website=Aamulehti |language=fi}}</ref> Born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario, she 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.<ref name=conjures />

==Musical career== In 2003, Maki recorded her debut album, ''Confusion Unlimited'', with Dave Draves at Little Bullhorn Studios in Ottawa.<ref>Peter Simpson, "No confusion about it, it's a great record". ''Ottawa Citizen'', October 4, 2003.</ref> According to Maki, most of the album's songs were written in response to her grief when shortly after breaking up with her then-boyfriend, she received news that her high school boyfriend and early musical mentor had died in a car accident.<ref>Bruce Deachman, "Making Maki". ''Ottawa Citizen'', December 4, 2003.</ref> The album's blend of folk rock and alternative country earned her favourable reviews, sparking comparisons to Kathleen Edwards, Neko Case and Sarah Harmer,<ref>Jim Moodie, "You just want to hug Kate Maki". ''Sudbury Star'', December 12, 2003.</ref> and quickly sold out its initial printing. The album won the award for Album of the Year at the Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards in 2004, and Maki won Songwriter of the Year for "Over".<ref>"Confusion Unlimited takes top prize". ''Ottawa Citizen'', September 21, 2004.</ref>

In 2004, she returned to Little Bullhorn Studios to record her second album, ''The Sun Will Find Us''.<ref>Laura Stradiotto, "Kate Maki finds the sun". ''Sudbury Star'', December 2, 2004.</ref> The album again won the Album of the Year award at the Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards in 2005.<ref>"Sudbury singer, Thunder Bay filmmaker take top awards at NorOnt ceremony". Canadian Press, September 16, 2005.</ref>

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.<ref>"Midautumn Night's Dream: A musical troupe made to woo". ''Golden Star'', October 12, 2005.</ref>

Maki took a break from touring between 2006 and 2008 and returned home to Sudbury, Ontario to teach high school science.

In March 2007, Maki recorded her third album, ''On High'', at Little Bullhorn Studios with Howe Gelb as producer and Dave Draves as engineer.<ref>Peter North, "Disc shows Maki works well under pressure". ''Edmonton Journal'', May 9, 2008.</ref> 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.<ref>Lara Bradley, "Best of the North recognized". ''Sudbury Star'', April 27, 2009.</ref>

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.<ref name=ffwd>Mark Teo, [http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/music/music-features/vet-songwriter-a-duo-in-life-music-7501/ "Vet songwriter a duo in life, music"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109161753/http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/music/music-features/vet-songwriter-a-duo-in-life-music-7501/ |date=November 9, 2013 }}. ''FFWD'', May 19, 2011.</ref>

In the fall of 2010, Maki and 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.<ref>Drew Hoshkiw, "Maki-Squire duo; Descend on Whyte Horse". ''Rocky Mountain Outlook'', Mah 12, 2011.</ref>

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 in 2012, separated then finally divorced in 2023.<ref>Heidi Ulrichsen, [https://www.sudbury.com/lifestyle/couple-navigate-naptime-and-homework-to-record-latest-albums-309967 "Couple navigate naptime and homework to record latest albums"]. ''Sudbury.com'', June 3, 2016.</ref>

In May 2016 she released the album ''Head in the Sand''.<ref>Calum Slingerland, [http://exclaim.ca/music/article/kate_maki_announces_head_in_the_sand_lp "Kate Maki Taps Fred Squire and Nathan Lawr for 'Head in the Sand'"]. ''Exclaim!'', April 8, 2016.</ref>

After a break of nine years during which she continued to teach,<ref>Judi Straughan, [https://www.thesudburystar.com/entertainment/state-of-the-arts-sudburys-kate-maki-is-back-with-new-album "State of the Arts: Sudbury’s Kate Maki is back with new album"]. ''Sudbury Star'', May 21, 2025.</ref> she returned in 2025 with the album ''Impossible Knot'',<ref>Megan Lapierre, [https://exclaim.ca/music/article/kate-maki-announces-first-new-album-in-nine-years-impossible-knot-shares-all-i-get "Kate Maki Announces First New Album in Nine Years 'Impossible Knot,' Shares 'All I Get'"]. ''Exclaim!'', March 5, 2025.</ref> an album whose lyrics centred in part on the dissolution of her marriage to Squire.<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-92-all-in-a-day/clip/16149034-kate-maki-dissects-end-relationship-album-impossible-knot “Kate Maki dissects end of relationship on her album impossible knot”]. CBO-FM, May 28, 2025.</ref>

==Discography==

===Albums=== *''Confusion Unlimited'' (2003) *''The Sun Will Find Us'' (2004) *''On High'' (2008) *''Two Song Wedding'' (2010) *''Moonshine'' (2011) *''Head in the Sand'' (2016) *''Impossible Knot'' (2025)

===Tour Compilations=== *''A Midwinter Night's Dream'' (2005) *''A Midautumn Night's Dream'' (2005)

===Singles=== *''Calling It Quits/Crazy Tropical Survival Guide'' (2011, with Frederick Squire)

===As Guest Musician=== *vocals: "Cocaine Cowgirl" and "St. George's Lane" - Matt Mays - ''Matt Mays + El Torpedo'' (2004) *vocals/electric guitar: "Covering Up" - Nathan Lawr - ''Secret Carpentry'' (2005) *vocals: "Mountain of Love" - Howe Gelb - ''Sno Angel Like You'' (2006)

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{official|https://katemaki.bandcamp.com/}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maki, Kate}} Category:Canadian folk singer-songwriters Category:Canadian women singer-songwriters Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Greater Sudbury Category:Singers from Ontario Category:Dalhousie University alumni Category:Canadian people of Finnish descent Category:Canadian alternative country singers Category:Canadian folk rock musicians Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:21st-century Canadian singer-songwriters Category:21st-century Canadian women singers