Nashville is known for being the most cut-throat and saturated city for musicians; some even call it a ten year town. But in Makena’s first year alone, she racked up Nashville milestones one by one. She quickly stood out for her unique writing style and voice and was noticed by Eric Fortaleza and Mike Gannon, the founders of the award winning artist collective Pitch Meeting and was asked to join the world class house band in its early stages in January 2021. The group went on to win “Best Writers’ Night” by the Nashville Scene that year, as well as grace the Ryman Auditorium stage for a sold out show as the backing band for the Whiskey Jam Ten Year Reunion. Makena has since sung backup vocals for numerous top acts in music including Lainey Wilson, Karen Fairchild, Charles Kelley, Randy Travis, David Ryan Harris, Gavin DeGraw, and countless others. When she realized she was sharing stages with artists who used to only be voices in her headphones and whose lives she watched from afar, she realized just how much potential this city had for her and that she certainly made the right decision. She has become a member of the popular all-female songwriter round Song Suffragettes at the Listening Room Cafe, and played multiple full band showcases at the Whiskey Jam.  

Being a core member of the Pitch Meeting band, Makena would perform her songs at the weekly full-band writers’ open mic night, and at many of the other events and venues the group played such as the Brooklyn Bowl, and the Bonnaroo festival. Songs, “The Apple”, “LA”, and “She Decides” became staple crowd favorites due to their universally felt themes such as overcoming generational trauma, enduring unrequited love, and becoming empowered to leave unhealthy relationships. While Makena gravitates toward song themes with weight, they have an undertone of empowerment and positivity that lightens up the darkness of the human experience. She quickly earned the nickname “Songbird of Nashville” around town by musicians and artists due to her soaring melodies, feminine essence, and her storytelling and vocal power.