MAJA JAKU  (Jakupović)  was born in Kosovska Mitrovica (SRB).

Her childhood was influenced by her musical family. In this way, her father, Ljuba Jakupović, is a Jazz trumpeter, her grandfather an opera singer and her uncle a Funk bassist. This surrounding has proved inspiring for her as an artist.
In her early childhood she used to listen to her father’s vinyls of Lee Morgan, Horace Silver, Art Blakey´s Jazz Messengers, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard, Ella Fitzgerald, Mahalia Jackson, Sarah Vaughn, Betty Carter, Shirley Horn, George Benson, Stevie Wonder etc. and enjoyed singing along.
As a young child she already performed at children’s festivals which were broadcasted live on TV.
At the age of fourteen she founded her first band, gained experience on the stage and won several prizes in former Yugoslavia. 

Four years later she decided to go to Graz in order to study Jazz singing.

She managed to pass the entrance exam at the University of Music in Graz and started studying in the classes of Mark Murphy, Andy Bey, Sheila Jordan and Jay Clayton. As a highly talented student she was given credit for her proficiency and ambition.
“It was a pleasure to work with MAJA, she is a fantastic singer who possesses a beautiful and natural instrument. Her passion for music is at the highest level“- Sheila Jordan.

“MAJA has a great vocal range, quality and spirit “- Andy Bey
The well-known Austrian Jazz critic Othmar Klammer stated: “This Jazz-Diva convinces with her passion, intimacy, volume and naturalness. Her voice is the answer to the coolness of some American singers”
“Being relaxed is the most important thing. When I am singing I always try to be as honest as possible” MAJA JAKU says.

During her studies she participated in workshops of Barry Harris, Joe Pass, Wynton Marsalis, Lester Bowie and Tania Maria.
When she joined Gerd Schuller’s Band “Attack“, she started to perform at many Jazz Festivals. Besides, they recorded a CD called “No compromise” 
In addition to her Jazz studies, she has always been interested in Gospel songs, which encouraged her to sing in churches as well.

1996-99 she played important roles in two Musicals - "Hair" and "Godspell" - performed at the opera in Graz. In the media, numerous approvals were found.
”The theater was a great experience. I learned how to deal with the big stage...” MAJA reports.
In 1997 she founded her own band together with the Croatian pianist Saša Mutić: the MAJA JAKU BAND. Today the two musicians are married and have a son called Viktor.
”Working with Saša means being very creative. He is relaxed, patient but also precise and critical. He is willing to support me and to realize my spontaneous ideas. Above all, he taught me how to think as a band leader and not only as a singer.”

MAJA JAKU performed in projects, concerts and jam sessions with Andy Bey, Barry Harris, Peter Mihelić, Steve Gut, Reša Revišin, Darko Stonajkovski, Johnathan Blake, Howard Curtis, Fritz Pauer, Karl-Heinz Miklin, Ewald Oberleitner, Erich Bachträgl, Alex Deutsch, Andre Jeanquartier, Jure Pukl, Milan Nikolić, Dušan Novakov, Andjelko Stupar, Sava Miletić, Renato Chicco, Predrag Perić, Sava Medan, Martin Wöss, Werner Radzik,  Dragan Tabaković, Fernando Corea, Nenad Vasilić, Dennis Irvin, Oliver Kent, Brad Lily, Klaus Raible, Dejan “Munja” Čosić, Dušan Simović, Mario Vavti, Luboš Šramek, Robert Jukić, Martin Harms, Uli Renert, Peter Kunsek, Thorsten Zimmerman, Viktor Palić, Wolfram Derschmidt, Wolfram Abt, Kolja Gjoni, Walter Rath, Vladimir Kostadinović, Jaka Kopač, David Jarh, Vlada Krnetić and many more...

In 2002 MAJA JAKU produced her first album “Talking Jazzik” (Extraplatte-Vienna). Positive reviews in the media confirmed the quality of the CD.
What is more, MAJA also sang in Big Bands such as with the Big Band RTV Beograd and the Sigi Feigl Orchestra.

In 2006 her second album was published “Message” ( PG Records-Sounddesign-Austria). This album enjoyed great success.

It was especially praised in music magazines, e.g. Jazzzeit-Wien, Kulturwoche-Wien as well as in international papers such as in the JazzHot-Paris.

MAJA has already performed in Graz (Opernhaus, Stefaniensaal, Minoritensaal, Kunsthaus, Schauspielhaus, Generalihof Konzerte, Stockwerk, Royal Garden Jazz Club, Miles Club, Wist), in Vienna (Museum Quartier, Porgy & Bess, Birdland, Metropol-Theater, Summerstage Festival, Jazzland), in Italy, Germany, Serbia, Slovenia and of course in Croatia...

”My great inspirations are: God, love, honesty, Viktor, my family, Graz, Kosovo, Serbia, Sheila, Andy, all my friends and enemies, my band and my fans.

...God bless you all... MAJA”