She was influenced by her stepfather Marty Reno, a songwriter and guitarist with Canadian recording star Gene MacLellan.

All four were pulled from their burning home in May 1987 by Constable David Cheverie, who was awarded for bravery and received the Cross of Valour for saving their lives.

Nettwerk Records discovered MacLean singing on a ferry between Victoria, British Columbia and Salt Spring Island.

MacLean made an impact opening for the Dave Matthews Band and she appeared at the East Coast Music Awards where she sang with Marty Reno and Lennie Gallant as a tribute to Gene McLellan.

MacLean embarked on a national club tour to promote the EP, performing as a duo with guitarist Bill Bell.

It was recorded in New Orleans and produced by Malcolm Burn (Daniel Lanois) and then husband Bill Bell (Tom Cochrane, Danko Jones).

To support Passenger, MacLean joined Kendall Payne, Shannon McNally and Amy Correia for a 21-stop Capitol Records sponsored The Girls Room Tour across America.

She also appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and had a Cameo in the Jerry Bruckheimer film Coyote Ugly, and USA Network's Good vs Evil.

On October 8, 2007, MacLean announced that she was leaving Shaye due to parental commitments and the desire to pursue a solo career.

MacLean's fourth studio album Atlantic Blue was released on 22 May 2017 to project supporters on PledgeMusic on digital, CD and vinyl.

Atlantic Blue is a show and an album celebrating of Canadian east coast songwriters and contains covers of songs by Gene MacLellan, Gordie Sampson, Lennie Gallant, The Rankin Family, Rita MacNeil, Ron Hynes, Sarah McLachlan, Shaye, Stompin' Tom Connors, and others.