Four-and-a-half-years ago, classically trained vocalist and songwriter Joy Barnum was 'the new sound on the block'.

She was praised then, as she is today, for her vocal range – rock to opera and most other genres in between.

Her new album, 'And Other Places', which features Hott 107.5 FM radio host and Senator Thaao (Tay) Dill, has managed to bring all of her talents in concert.

Tomorrow night she plans to launch the new album at Rock Island Coffee on Reid Street.

This week she spoke with The Royal Gazette about the process involved in its making and the inspiration behind the title.

"Thaao and I had just finished (a) project entitled 'Phlegm in Tay's Closet' in 2005.

"I was burning (CDs) at home and had Maurita Andre and Krystal Smith (now McKenzie) design a simple cover for my birthday.

"As soon as that was over Thaao had another beat so we were at it again in 2006. Only this time he moved houses and I didn't have to stand in his closet (hence the first title), to block out the excess noise.

"It took the songs a span of a full year (for me) to just go in, hear the beats and have Tay hand me the mic for the ten songs on the album."

It soon became obvious to Miss Barnum that another CD would follow.

"Once I'd picked out the first title I just knew Tay and I would be doing another album and I said, 'Tay wouldn't it be wicked if our albums ended up having one long, never-ending title like 'Phlegm in Tay's Closet, And Other Places, I'd Like, To Be'? Tay just went with it so, really, I had a title before there was even an actual album to speak of!"

The singer's decision to quit her full-time job led to the birth of one of the album's offerings, 'Lazy Sunday'.

"I had been working for the Department of Education for a while when I decided that a full-time job was not indicative of who I was as an artist. So I handed in my notice and tried my hand at truly being a full-time artist with a part-time job," Miss Barnum explained.

"This leant for some strange hours available for free time to just sit back and relax.

"I wrote 'Lazy Sunday' after I realised that the best hours of my life at that time were between 4 a.m. and 6 p.m. on a Sunday."

She had much to say about a second tune, 'Suicide'.

"I am a bit sketchy as to which came first, but I'm pretty sure Tay let me hear his version of that particular track before I wrote the song," she said.

"Either way, we were geekin' at the opportunity to get two totally different works out of that one piece.

"Thaao heard my arrangement of the album and was reluctant to put the song on the project, but I really felt hearing the juxtaposition of something so easy to overlook was important.

"It was his and mine and I wanted to share. He has such a unique way of being obvious and terribly obscure all at once!

"I heard the song and had to listen to it over and over again before I decided on the title. I could even be all wrong about the content because the title's based on my interpretation. You decide."

Of the track 'Virgo', she said: "I'm pretty sure my life is an open book when it comes to my lyrics so I will say that at the time the stars were aligned in my favour."

The song 'Carly Said' led this writer to ask how Miss Barnum managed to produce original work that is so diverse in its genres.

She replied: "Working with someone who had a vast knowledge of good music made it quite easy!

"Personally I have quite a broad taste in music. I grew up singing to the radio and am classically trained.

"I learned so much from my classmates in college – about how to hear different styles of music – that I really do find it difficult to make music that is 'incestuous' if you will. I need an extended family to keep me balanced. Ooh, was that in bad taste?! I'm totally not gonna take it back though because I believe the feeling that word produces best describes my annoyance at carbon copy music.

"For instance 'Virgo' and 'Carly' are two different sources of experience."

Asked whether it was her aim to produce an album with a such a wide range of genres, Miss Barnum replied: "You know, I recently had someone ask me why I didn't sing any ballads to really showcase my talents.

"I smiled because everything is not for everybody and if the range of human emotion is lost for another's preference, I'm unwilling to lose it.

"I had such a great experience with the content because it was an outlet, a diary. One experience opened up the door for another. Happy doesn't feel like sad, so I assumed they didn't sound much alike either."

However the creative process was not without a few stressful periods, she admitted.

"I can be nothing but honest when I say that producing is like handing a qualified, or at least professed to be, babysitter your baby (which I honestly don't know first hand about, but let's imagine) and giving them strict instructions to feed and change the said baby at a certain time.

"Then going home and calling every five minutes to make sure it all gets done, while you imagine the worst – like your baby coming back disfigured. Okay in short, yes, (it was) more than gruelling, financially and emotionally crippling – temporarily."

Of the feeling of completion, she simply said: "My nails are growing back!"

So what's now for Miss Barnum? Will she stay in Bermuda and wait for success to come to her or will she pop the rose between her lips and take the bull by the horns? It seems she has taken the latter and is looking forward to performing in the US.

"I'm actually working with Taste of Chocolate (TOC) and have performed and recorded (something new) in Detroit," she said.

"I received an overseas call from my very excited photographer, Simone Green, who took all the album shots, that our song was getting airplay in Texas!"

The Internet has provided her with additional means of marketing the CD.

She said: "Here's the awesome bit. I approached TOC and CellularOne regarding the financial production of the album, vinyl record and a DVD idea I had in the works."

As a result, and with family support, all three projects are not only available in Bermuda, but on the Internet as well – 'And Other Places' on www.CDBaby.com with downloads available at www.digstation.com/JoyTBarnum; the live band performance DVD, 'CellularOne Presents Joy T. Barnum and The Channel' is available at www.FilmBaby.com.

Order information for the vinyl album 'Joy T. Barnum and The Channel' is available in the credits of the DVD. Orders may also be taken at Rock Island Coffee tomorrow night from 8 p.m.

Miss Barnum continued: "Basically I'm excited and want to share that (excitement) with every well wisher over the years with this concert.

"I've asked a few of my friends to join me on the stage Selange, Larrita Adderley, Fanon Khaldun and Spring Flower, as well as DJ extraordinaire Andy.

"Rock Island is such a perfect place to have an intimate winter celebration. See you there!"