2000–2020: Early life and career beginnings
Maisie Hannah Peters was born on 28 May 2000 in Steyning, a small town in West Sussex, England to a geography teacher and communications worker, Nick and Diane Peters, respectively. She has a non-identical twin sister, Ellen, who has been featured on her YouTube channel and was the inspiration behind Peters' 2021 single "Brooklyn".
Peters began singing around age eight, performing in choirs. She wrote her first song at age nine and began writing songs regularly at the age of 12, after borrowing her friend's guitar for a school project. She attended Steyning Grammar School, where she won the 2015 annual talent show with a performance of her own composition "Electric". She was a part of the Ariel Company Theatre.
At age 15, she began busking on the streets of Brighton and uploading original songs to YouTube. At age 15 in 2016, Peters performed her first recorded show, performing several original songs on The Ayala Show. In August 2017, Peters independently released her debut single, "Place We Were Made". Four months later, she released her second single, "Birthday". The songs gained attention in indie-pop circles and "Place We Were Made" was named BBC Introducing's song of the week early 2018. Following this attention, Peters signed with Atlantic Records UK. Under Atlantic, she released various singles, notably "Worst Of You", as well as two EPs; Dressed Too Nice for a Jacket and It's Your Bed Babe, It's Your Funeral.
In 2020, Peters contributed the song "Smile" to the soundtrack album Birds of Prey, for the film of the same name. She was also announced as the opening act for Niall Horan's Nice to Meet Ya Tour on tour dates in Europe. However, these concerts were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Peters released work for another soundtrack in 2021, this time for the second series of Apple TV+ original series Trying. She wrote and performed all songs, with features by fellow British recording artists James Bay on the song "Funeral", Griff on the song "Happy Hunting Ground", and Bear's Den on the song "I Want You To Change (Because You Want To Change)". Around this time, Peters created an online book club via Instagram.
