AN effervescent singer who launched a successful cabaret career on the high seas has returned to dry land to enjoy life with her most precious production.
West Devon-born Lucinda Burrows has been a leading light aboard cruise ships since 1999 as she achieved a dual ambition to sing and to travel.
It was while at sea she met Swedish husband-to-be Johan Rydquist, and the couple married in 2002.
Now based in Tavistock they have a 10-month baby called Oliver ? and a totally different lifestyle.
?Being a mum is the best job in the world!? beams Lucinda who has, for the forseeable future, given up any thoughts of returning to a life on the ocean waves.
But she still finds time to perform ? albeit for the time being within a self-inflicted boundary of the West Country.
?My husband is a chief engineer on the cruise ships but when he is home he is my sound engineer! As he is so tall he is great for putting up the speakers!? she laughs.
Lucinda has thoroughly enjoyed her cabaret career on the cruise ships but admits to occasionally hankering for dry land.
?What I missed was the birds and the smell of cut grass ? things that on land you take for granted. But when you are home for a couple of weeks and another cruise ship offer comes along it?s ?goodbye birds and goodbye grass? and off you go again.?
Having a child, she says, changes life for the better.
?As a singer you seek success but when you have a family the wealth is about the family and everyone being happy. Life seems richer because of that.
?I enjoy being back. My parents are here and it is nice to have grandparents for Oliver.?
Since the birth of her son Lucinda has been spending a lot of time in the studio polishing her recording studio techniques.
?You have to learn all about dynamics. You have to sing quietly loudly and loudly quietly! When you are recording it is so sensitive in the studio that if you belt a note out it is so loud it gets compressed.It?s hard work but it is fun.?
She says delivering a song well is a bit like acting.
?If you get a really good powerful ballad you can put yourself into it. You have to understand it and act it. You should get a nice emotional effect at the end,? she says.
?As you get older and have experienced a bit of life you can take a song and understand where it is coming from. Then when you sing it you can relate to something that has happened to you so you can perform with an extra bit of emotion.?
She has recently brought out a CD ?You?ve Got Away? in which she treats the listener to some impressive vocals.
Lucinda is a big fan of American music and her record producer Alan Glassock is keen for her to go to Nashville. But with a young family that, she says, will have to wait for a few years yet.