American artist Joan Wasser, who goes by Joan As Police Woman, is excited to be returning to Australia to tour her latest album, ‘The Classic’.
“I always look forward to the crowds in Australia. I think that the Australians are always so appreciative that you've travelled 25 hours to get there and just really seem to love music in general. There's a lot of energy,” Joan says.
Joan As Police Woman released her fourth studio album ‘The Classic’ in March where it was greeted with praise from critics. “You never know what anybody is going to think about the album. I make the record that I love myself. When the reviews come back positive I feel very grateful that people are feeling what I'm doing and it makes me feel less lonely. I feel like if people can relate to the music that I'm making then I'm not so alone in this world.”
“It includes an attempt at letting go of a lot of stuff that I felt had been dragging me down for pretty much my whole life. I felt like I sort of shed my skin.”
In the past Joan has worked with big names like Lou Reed, Sheryl Crow, Elton John, The Scissor Sisters and Rufus Wainwright. Joan, however, doesn’t let her past success cloud the progress of her future works. “I know that I can't write thinking about what do people want from me next because then my work won’t feel genuine. So I just try to craft songs, albums and arrangements that feel the most pure and bring the people together to play with me.
“That's all I can do. I don't have any control over anything else. So I have to leave it at that then give it up to the universe.”
‘The Classic’ is a jazz, pop and rock record that Joan describes as compilation of the last three years of her life. “It includes an attempt at letting go of a lot of stuff that I felt had been dragging me down for pretty much my whole life. I felt like I sort of shed my skin, which was of course an amazing feeling once it was shed and pretty intense.
“Sometimes it was painful and sometimes it was uncomfortable going through the changes of that. The music reflects a joy of getting through that time and that's what the record is about, sort of getting through the joy of life. The record... it made me feel really good to make, so I hope that's true for others.”
As for what punters can expect of the live show, Joan says there’ll be an additional band member as she makes the transition from a trio to a quartet. “I've only ever been a trio, so I've done a quartet now. There's four of us. Drummer Parker Kindred who also sings beautifully. Guitar player Matt Whyte who sings and plays percussion and keys. I've got an amazing keyboard player, Eric Lane, who plays bass and keys and I play guitar, keys, violin and sing obviously. We do a lot of changing up of instrumentations and arrangements and harmony singing.
“We generally have a great time playing the shows. We just did two months in Europe and the response we got was overwhelming so I’m looking forward to playing in Australia.”
Joan lets slip that fans can expect another colourful clip for her track, 'Witness'. “There’s a video being made right now for the 'Witness', which is the second single so it should be as colourful as the clip for ‘Holy City’. I love a colourful video that's for sure.”
Ed's note: video was released after this interview was conducted.
The songstress has many more international shows lined up after her Australian tour and won’t be taking a break anytime soon. “After Australia I go back to Europe for the festivals and do more touring there. I am recording a project with another Brooklynite, Benjamin Lazar Davis. We have a project called 2001 and we have written a whole record. We are in the middle of recording it right now so that will be on its way to you in the near future.”
Written by Lexi McKee
Joan As Police Woman Tour Dates
Tue Jun 24 - The Hi-Fi (Brisbane)Fri Jun 27 - Melbourne Recital Hall
Sat Jun 28 - Meeniyan Town Hall
Tue Jul 1 - Lizottes (Newcastle)
Jul 2-3 - The Basement (Sydney)
