Arioli grew up listening to Antônio Carlos Jobim, Stan Getz, The Beatles, Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday, and both her parents sang.

[1] Her first ever performance as a young singer was at a community centre, where she went by the name Susie Vacation in a subtle reference to Billie Holiday, whose singing style she initially emulated before developing her own unique voice.

[1] Arioli had been singing in jazz clubs in Montreal when she met guitarist Jordan Officer at a jam led by Stephen Barry.

After a successful outdoor show, they were asked by the Montreal International Jazz Festival to open for Ray Charles.

Her fourth album, Learn to Smile Again, was a departure and featured six songs by country songwriter Roger Miller.