Joan Wasser, known to fans around the world as Joan As Police Woman, has always embodied the spirit of artistic evolution. Born in Maine in July of 1970 and named after Joan of Arc, she was adopted with her brother just outside New York City. Growing up amid the city's bustling creative scene, Wasser was immersed in music from a young age, picking up the violin at just eight years old. She found a deep connection to music that went beyond sound - something transcendent, akin to how people describe divine experiences. That connection would shape the music she would go on to create.

Her talent was apparent early on. While still in high school, Wasser performed Mahler’s Resurrection under the guidance of the legendary conductor Benjamin Zander, igniting her passion for classical music. She continued her musical studies at Boston University with Yuri Mazurkevich but soon felt a pull toward more experimental sounds. She explored rock, punk, and even grunge, while also pushing the boundaries of what her violin could do, using amplification to create something new and exciting.

Throughout the '90s, Wasser became a fixture in indie rock, playing with bands like the Dambuilders, Mind Science Of The Mind, and the Grifters. She toured alongside artists like Weezer, Sonic Youth, and Beck, embracing the unpredictable and raw energy of the era. But in 1997, tragedy struck when her partner, the legendary Jeff Buckley, drowned, leaving Wasser devastated. The violin, once her emotional anchor, no longer felt big enough to contain her grief.

This profound loss prompted a creative rebirth. She turned to singing, first with friends in the band Black Beetle, and later under her now-iconic moniker, Joan As Police Woman - a cheeky nod to the 1970s TV show starring Angie Dickinson. Wasser's sound began to evolve, blending soulful melodies, classical influences, and raw emotional depth. She wasn’t just playing music; she was channeling the universal through intimate, personal experiences. Her collaborations with Anthony And The Johnsons on I Am A Bird Now - which won the 2005 Mercury Music Prize - propelled her forward, and by 2006, she released her stunning debut album Real Life.

As her career progressed, Wasser continued to push boundaries. Albums like To Survive reflected personal losses, such as the death of her mother, while 2011’s The Deep Field embraced expansive textures and pop hooks. Each record mirrored her journey, as if her life experiences were being recorded in the grooves of her music. Whether she was collaborating with artists like Rufus Wainwright, David Sylvian, or covering songs by icons like Bowie and Hendrix, Wasser remained fearless in her creative expression.

In 2019, Joan As Police Woman released Joanthology, a compilation celebrating Wasser's first fifteen years as a solo artist, reminding the world of her versatility as a musician, writer, and producer. This period culminated in an acclaimed solo world tour, solidifying her reputation as one of the 21st century’s most important musicians, as noted by The Economist.

When the pandemic hit, Wasser didn’t slow down. In 2020, she released Cover Two, a collection of inventive covers, followed by The Solution Is Restless, a joint release with legendary drummer Tony Allen and multi-instrumentalist Dave Okumu. Now, in 2024, she has returned with her twelfth studio album, Lemons, Limes, and Orchids. Backed by an all-star band that includes Meshell Ndegeocello on bass and Chris Bruce on guitar, the album is a deep meditation on love, loss, and collective reckoning.

With every project, Joan As Police Woman's voice and vision only grow stronger. She captures the essence of vulnerability, allowing listeners to feel the full range of human emotion, from joy to heartache. As she’s said, “Music has saved my life.” That sentiment rings true in every note she plays, and Lemons, Limes, and Orchids is no exception - a crowning achievement in a career defined by reinvention and resilience.