Manila-born, Northern California transplant, Joyo Velarde, studied opera in Rome before returning to NorCal where she met husband Lyrics Born. The couple helped found Quannum Projects where she quickly found her place as The Quannum Songstress.

In 2000 her first official solo offering - People Like Me - was released on the label compilation Quannum Spectrum. The following year, she further displayed her versatility with the cult hit Sweet Angels, a lilting reggae-inspired tune that quickly became a fan favorite. In 2010, she released of her solo debut: Love & Understanding.