But when her rhythm-and-blues-loving girlfriends got into her car, she turned down the music. Back then, she figured they might not be ready to see a black girl getting down like that.

Today, though, the singer-songwriter proudly wields her acoustic guitar at area clubs and coffee houses. She performs tomorrow at a release party for her second CD at Borders Books & Music in Bowie.

The independently produced and distributed "Capturing the Feel" is a smooth, folk pop ride through Williams's life so far; she wrote or co-wrote half of its 10 tracks. Her deep, affecting contralto narrates a range of scenarios, including upbraiding a former lover in the song "You Don't Know Love," pledging eternal devotion in "Soldier" and coming to terms with God's judgment in "The Day."

"I just write about what's happening around me," Williams said recently. "I don't talk about my personal life [to people] so I confide in my music. It's definitely a release."

Much of Williams's inspiration comes from her family. She and her four siblings grew up following their father to military posts all over the country. She finished high school in Northern Virginia, where she gave her first performance at her 1981 graduation, playing the Beatles's "The Long and Winding Road."

"I was nervous," she recalled. "Sweating at the armpits."

But a few years later, when she got the opportunity to open for a friend who was playing Alexandria's Birchmere club, she leapt at the chance. Always keeping a retail job on the side to pay the bills, Williams hasn't turned back since.

The 39-year-old went on to play several area folk venues, especially those near her Annapolis home, such as Armadillo's, Mums and 49 West. In 1999, she was a finalist in the competition to join the popular Lillith Fair women's music tour. Another career highlight was a performance at the CBGB 313 Gallery in New York.

These days, Williams is focusing on songwriting. Aside from a few guitar lessons from a Kenny Loggins-lookalike elementary school teacher, she is self-taught.

"The process is natural," she said. "It's whatever I'm feeling that day. I don't force rhymes. I just try to make sure the lyrics make sense. Usually I start strumming the guitar, and some songs come out. Sometimes it takes 10 minutes. Sometimes it takes two months or two years."

With much of today's pop music being hijacked by producers, it may seem that there is little room for introspective folk singers. But Williams makes this prediction: "The singer-songwriter is coming back around," she said, noting the popularity of programs such as MTV's "Unplugged" and the success of as dressed-up folk acts such as Aimee Mann, India.Arie and Jewel.

"I think people want that stripped-down sound," Williams said. "It's not a big extravaganza. Nobody's going through a mosh pit. You hear the harmonies and the vocals. I love that stuff. It's just the best music."

Lisa Williams performs at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at Borders, 4420 Mitchelville Rd., Bowie. Admission is free. Call 301-352-5560. For more information about the artist, visit her on the Web at www.storieswithmusic.com.

© 2002 The Washington Post Company