Maki first auditioned for the reality TV singing competition The Voice Teens. Early in his career, he considered stepping away from music as he was about to graduate from college. However, a friend discovered his demo tape, which led to Tarsier Records taking notice of him.
In addition to performing at gigs and busking events, Maki released his debut single, “Halaga”, in December 2021. In 2023, he released the song “Saan?”, which addressed feelings of separation anxiety. The song went viral on TikTok, with over 500,000 views.
Maki’s debut EP, Tanong, came out on September 22, 2023. It included “Saan?” and “Bakit?”. Maki described the songs as reflections on missed opportunities and people who are no longer in his life, with the lyrics stemming from his personal journal entries.
In 2024, Maki gained widespread recognition with his hit song “Dilaw”, which topped local Spotify and Billboard charts, even entering the global Spotify chart. The song’s music video featured Maloi Ricalde from the P-Pop group Bini. Maki revealed that the song had been in his vault since August 2023, waiting for the right moment to release.
On August 30, Maki released another single, “Namumula”. Later in October, he performed as a guest at a concert by the American pop rock band LANY in the Philippines.
In August 2024, Tarsier Records announced that Maki would hold his first solo concert at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City in November. The concert sold out within hours, leading to a second show. Several guest artists, including Johnoy Danao, Ebe Dancel, and Sitti, were announced for the concert. Maki also planned a regional tour in Cebu, Baguio, and Cagayan de Oro for early 2025. The concert featured Maki’s original songs, collaborations, and covers of artists like Kitchie Nadal and Taylor Swift, along with performances of new singles like “Bughaw” and “Itim Na Ulap”.
