Estianty was born in Surabaya and showed an interest in music at an early age, winning a marching band competition while still in elementary school.

After the dissolution of the band in 2007 and a bitter divorce in September 2008, Estianty formed Duo Maia with Mey Chan.

Estianty threatened to move out; in response, Sigit said he would support her, on the condition that she continue her studies at a state university.

[5] In 1999, Estianty and Dhani agreed to establish a musical duo consisting of a singer and musician, based on concepts pioneered by international bands like Roxette and Savage Garden.

[6] Pinkan Mambo, a café singer, was chosen to be the second member of the newly formed group, named Ratu, which is "Queen" in Indonesian.

[1] The album, which featured two songs by Ratu,[11] sold more than 400,000 copies and was certified double platinum in Indonesia.

[12] The title of the single "Teman Tapi Mesra", often abbreviated TTM and released to promote Ratu and Friends, became widely used to describe those in a physical relationship without an emotional one.

[13] The following year, Maia garnered a role in the Trans TV-funded comedy programme Extravaganza, where she was the only non-Sundanese cast member.

[15] The album was a commercial success, selling 200,000 copies nationally on the day of its release, a record for a work by a female Indonesian group.

[19] Estianty played in Kata Maaf Terakhir (The Last Apology) in 2009 as Dania, the ex-wife to whom Darma (Tio Pakusadewo) must apologise before he dies.

[1] Along with Dewiq and Agus Wisman, she was a judge of the Global TV sponsored musical talent show Dream Girls, which was open exclusively to mothers.

[24] In April 2012, Estianty announced that, although Duo Maia would continue to perform, she intended to focus on her work as a producer.

[31] By September 2013, the conflict between Estianty and Dhani has subsided, after their youngest son Jaelani was involved on a fatal car accident in Jagorawi highway.