Meet Rhea Makiaris: a musical dynamo captivating global audiences with her extraordinary talent. A self-taught artist with a natural ear for music, Rhea’s soulful voice transports listeners to the golden age of melodies. Beyond her musical prowess, she has dedicated over two decades to serving the American deaf community as an ASL interpreter, gracing over 100 stages and iconic venues like The House of Blues and The Belly Up.
Hey Rhea!
More than a musician, she's a dynamic force weaving inspiration into her journey.More than just a musician, Rhea is an inspiration-turned-business-owner, keynote speaker, and elite performer. Her journey includes two EP recordings and multiple singles, gaining recognition and airplay on diverse radio stations. Currently, she passionately crafts collaborative works, custom songs, and recording projects in her personal home studio. Experience Rhea’s musical journey, where talent meets ambition.
Meet the Collaborators
The Bella Lunas
ASL + MUSIC = MAGIC
Whitney Shay
Guitar & Lead Vocals
Soulful Bluesy Harmonies
Scratch Acoustic Trio
Drums & Percussions
Trio: "First-Rate Talent"
Christopher Dale
Guitar & Lead Vocals
Unity In The Community
Be A Part of Rhea’s Journey
Where memories and visions collide...2022May
In 2022, The Bella Lunas debut at Monserate Winery, inspired by their love for the moon and one of their favorite artists, Jason Mraz’s song “Bella Luna”. Since then, they’ve performed at festivals, special events, benefit concerts, evolving from buddies to creative collaborators. United by a passion for making a difference and advocating for accessibility, they live by the motto “Better together.” It’s pure magic.
2022July
Rhea hosts her first Official Concert For Your Cause for Mara Rescue Sanctuary (raising over $15,000) and starts to develop a vision for the difference these events can make on a bigger scale.
2022March
Amid laughter and brainstorming, Eric and Rhea come up with an idea: why not write jingles? They think of friends with businesses, like Westline Electric, and create “Westline is the best line.” As they laugh and chat, they realize that they could make money from this and help friends promote their businesses. And that’s how JingleBerry is born! Take a look!
2021
In the fall of 2021, Rhea, Mike Strawbridge, Eric Oberschmidt, and Simeon Flick celebrate their 20-year reunion as Rhea and the Octopus.
2020Dec
In Christmas 2020, Rhea experiences the widespread separation caused by Covid-19, sensing what’s missing is connection. She creates this as a possibility to spread love and joy, and springs into action. She reaches out to her community and gathers videos of everyone wishing Merry Christmas. Within 2 weeks, people from all corners of the globe, speaking diverse languages, come together to create something truly magical and powerful: The Rhea Makiaris Holiday Special.
2020March
Amid the March 2020 lockdown, Rhea revives Makiaris Music Mondays: Live-Streams. Every day at 5 PM, she goes live, drawing people from all corners to join in. The aim? To foster connection during the challenging times of Covid-19. As the weeks pass, Rhea takes the streams outdoors, inviting friends to join, turning it into a beloved feature. Fans eagerly anticipate each Monday’s livestream.
2018May
In 2018, Rhea unofficially creates her first “Concert For Your Cause” event. Joy for Jo’s Benefit Concert was an online live-stream organic event for a friend’s granddaughter who had a brain tumor. Rhea also has another concert supporting the 3 Day Walk for Susan G Komen in support of breast cancer research.
2017Sep
Rhea launches Makiaris Music Mondays, a vibrant social media campaign. Every week, she shared her creative endeavors online, fostering her accountability and stayed connected with her community.
2016Sep
Rhea takes a detour for a European adventure, seeking fresh perspectives. Along the way, she lands a couple of gigs, marking her first international tour. From Greece to Croatia, each performance adds a touch of magic to her journey. Trip of a lifetime.
2014Sep
Rhea sings for “Dinner With Friends” supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities and falls in love with the idea of spinning tunes for good causes. This is where the magical idea of ‘Concert for Your Cause’ was incepted.
2014Sep
Rhea collaborates with Simeon Flick at Blue Chair Studio to record her album “Number Two.”
2012Sep
The Us Tour: In 2012, Rhea started the journey of her dream tour, mapping out destinations where she has connections. She hits the road, booking venues all the while, and drives across the country for three months. Along the way, she meets new people and makes lasting connections: from Nashville to the Bay Area, Oregon to New Orleans. Each stop is a vibrant chapter in her musical journey.
2011
The Ukelele Lady Rhea makes a move to Hawaii, spending six months as a nanny to triplets while mastering the ukulele. She catches waves at Waikiki on her birthday, a thrilling experience. In the same year, she launches her HeyRhea website, marking a new chapter in her journey.
2009
Rhea moves to NYC and discovers newfound confidence in songwriting and performing. In her first week, she meets friends at an open mic, forming lasting bonds that endure through the years. As she starts playing her original songs, she grows and feels increasingly brave and confident in sharing her music with the world.
2007
Rhea dropped her debut EP, featuring 4 original tracks—a bold step in sharing her authentic musical glory with the world.
2001Firsts
A lot of Firsts! Her First Open Mic at Miracles Cafe in Cardiff by the Sea where she performs her first social gig. One of Rhea’s first collaborations takes place at the cafe with Mike Strawbridge and Eric Oberschmidt, which ultimately leads to the inception of “Rhea and the Octopus”!
1980SEP 1
Discovered Love For Music. Rhea learned to play the old white upright piano in her family’s downstairs living room. Her creative spirit also discovered music moving through her body and discovered the art of dancing. This is where it all began.