Folk-pop singer/songwriter McKinley was created in Seattle but raised at different factors including Alaska and SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA. While studying mechanised executive at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, she performed in an area music group, and after graduation shifted to London. After coming back stateside in 1997, McKinley approved an engineering placement, only to become contacted just times later from the Samson Music label using the give of documenting an record; her debut LP Big Best Shop Talk implemented a year afterwards.