Sometimes it pays to be a big fish in a small pond.

That's the advice from McCartney K. Darrell. She has a chance at stardom thanks to the last Bermuda Music Festival when she sang background for Quincy Jones and Friends.

Now, she is on her way to spend six months in Los Angeles, California, recording and touring.

"At the end of the Bermuda Music Festival, Kenny Moran, vice president of New Vintage Records, asked me how serious I was about my music career," said Mrs. Darrell. "I said 'I am as serious as serious you can be'."

So in February, Mrs. Darrell went to Los Angeles to do vocal training and record five singles.

"When I got there, Kenny said 'you separated yourself from all the others we hear say they want to sing, because you showed up'," she said.

While there she stayed in a hotel, which made it an expensive trip.

"But when you are willing to make a sacrifice for your dream anything is possible," she said. "So many people rallied behind me to help support me on the trip, I felt so honoured. It was amazing."

Financially, she was helped by Shawn Murphy, Glenn Doars, and the Makeda Trust, a Bermudian charity that tries to break down the barriers that stifle individual creativity.

Mrs. Darrell is originally from Boston, Massachusetts. She has been singing since she was three. Her mother, Debye DeLorean, was a professional singer. She named Mrs. Darrell after Beatles singer, Paul McCartney and gave her the middle name 'K' because she thought 'McCartney K' would make a great stage name.

"My very first experience was on the stage when my mother had a concert," she said. "I got up on stage and sang her song word for word."

She is married to Tory, a Bermudian, and has been living on the Island for four years.

"As soon as I got here I started singing in different venues," she said. "Before I got here I was travelling with different artists and trying to pursue a singer career .

"When I got here there were so many different opportunities singing-wise, I actually feel like Bermuda is the reason why all of these things are happening for me."

She said people often say that Bermuda is too small and it is hard to get exposure.

"People don't understand that in America you are a dime a dozen times a million," said Mrs. Darrell. "Sometimes, it seems like everyone has talent and is able to sing.

"To be able to open for Earth, Wind and Fire, Quincy Jones and Donnie McClurkin last year at the Bermuda Music Festival would have been almost impossible in the States."

But she said if you solidify yourself as a professional artist in Bermuda more opportunities come your way.

"I truly believe this is an inspiration to all these Bermudians who are trying to do things," she said. "Sometimes, you can be a big fish in a small pond and that will lead to bigger things, rather than trying to be a minnow in a big humongous ocean."

She said in 2009 and 2010 she was determined to make something happen for her singing career.

"Two weeks before the Bermuda Music Festival I was asked to sing background for Quincy Jones and Friends," she said. "I just decided that every time I was around these guys I was going to be extremely professional.

"I was going to do exactly what they asked us to do."

The reward came when Quincy Jones pointed her out at a practice session and called her "Ghettoo..." which apparently was high praise.

While at the Bermuda Music Festival she met Greg Phillinganes, who was Michael Jackson's musical director.

"He is an amazing talent," said Mrs. Darrell.

She met up with him again while in Los Angeles. She also met many other celebrities.

Now she is preparing to go back to Los Angeles for six months to do more recording and touring.

"All of my band members will be local," she said. "There is an unbelievable amount of talent here."

Her band members will include Troy Washington, Dainavon Tuzo, and Leroy Francis, among others. Her singers will be Cindy Smith and Chandra Serenity Maybury.

"Since I have been here I have been working with Steve Easton and Just Platinum Records," she said. "He is wonderful. I feel like I am blessed. Bermuda has rallied around me and I want to pay back the favour if I get some international recognition."

She said that Bermudians are always willing to rally behind their own.

"I feel like they have accepted me in as one of their own," she said. "My mission is to put Bermuda on the map in terms of vocals, engineering, writing and musicianship. Bermuda should be very proud of the talent that is here."