Chico >> Behind the bar at Duffy’s Tavern, bartender Lisa Valentine is a soft-spoken and poised woman who shies away from extra attention.

But when the Chico songstress walks onto a stage, she transforms into a scorned lover commanding the room with her powerful pipes belting out heartbreaking anthems and soul-wrenching ballads.

“When I’m up there, that’s the happiest moment in my life, so I just feel really free on stage,” Valentine said. “Something changes and I get really into it and I don’t control whatever happens — it just happens.”

The soulful siren will debut new material off her latest eight-track EP titled, “Happiness,” 8 p.m. Saturday at the Chico Women’s Club on 592 E. Third St.

A new slew of refined musicians join the singer as she leaves the Unloveables behind and continues performing as Lisa Valentine.

Joining Valentine on stage for the EP release show will be Dave Elke (guitar), Andy King (keys), Larry Casserly (bass), Ben Sallman (trombone), Jeff Daub (trumpet), Robert Delgardo (drums), Joel Quiney (viola/violin) and Ben Jaks (arco bass).

Just last month, she announced her departure with the Unloveable musicians, but fans of the sultry singer can still anticipate music in the same vain but a tad more adventurous.

“I was thinking I wanted to move into a different direction, but no,” Valentine said. “The whole R&B thing kept calling me back.”

The recent passing of Valentine’s grandmother, whom Valentine said raised her, was a huge influence on the musician’s decision to modify her sound and opt for a more stripped down, indie vibe.

“I think when I was going through that change of, ‘Oh, I want to go in this direction with music,’ maybe I was a little bit in a weird, different spot creatively,” she said. “At the time, some of the songs I was coming up with and the way I was hearing them was with more strings and very open — very ethereal.”

A song titled, “Release” off “Happiness” was inspired by Valentine’s late grandmother who passed eight months ago.

Despite the songwriter’s loss, her anticipated album is filled with the same riveting energy Valentine has honed over the years but this time she strays away from belting out tales of heartbreak and loneliness found in her previous EP “Secret Lover.”

“Happiness,” produced by Elke, evokes Valentine’s same powerful emotions voiced and penned by the timeless singer/songwriter, driven by rhythm and blues and backed by a large, full sound.

“It’s definitely throw-back sounding like it’s something from the ’60s,” Valentine said. “It’s a little gritty, and I have some progressive lyrics.

“There’s not as much doo-wop going on but a little more grit and soul. There is definitely still some retro feel to the songs but there’s also some modern stuff like synthesizers going in the songs. I’m just experimenting. It’s a lot different than the last one.”

Although her new album is currently available for digital download, “Happiness” will be available for purchase at the Saturday show — two for $15 or

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