Joan As Police Woman

Influential New York musician Joan As Police Woman (Joan Wasser) returns to New Zealand in June 2022 - this time with her band, following her sold out solo tour around Aotearoa in 2019.

Plus1, 95bFM and undertheradar proudly present Joan As Police Woman live in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Dates and venues are:

Thurs 9 June: The Piano, CHRISTCHURCH

Fri 10 June: Old St Pauls, WELLINGTON

Sat 11 June: The Hollywood, AUCKLAND.

Pre-sale tickets for all shows are on sale at plus1.co.nz at 9am Wednesday 10 November – with general sale from Friday 12 November.
What can we expect Said 13th Floor reviewer Caitlin Smith of Joan’s 2019 Auckland show: “She is the torch bearer… and we all want to be close to that warmth and illumination. As for ‘that voice’: it is exquisitely sensitive, mesmerizing, controlled, magnetizing, delicate, nuanced and dynamic.”

Despite lockdowns and live music grinding to a halt worldwide over the past two years, Joan has been prolific, releasing three albums since her 2019 Joanthology New Zealand tour; namely The Solution Is Restless (November 2021), Live (2021) and Cover Two (2020).

Born in Maine, and raised with her brother in Connecticut by adoptive parents, Joan studied violin at school and university. She was drawn to new compositions written for smaller ensembles and performed regularly with local punk bands.

In 1994, she landed in Brooklyn, NYC, and began working as a session musician, playing violin across every genre from Haitian to pop and r&b. She became a member of Anohni’s ensemble (formerly Antony and the Johnsons) and recorded, I Am A Bird Now. In 2002, Joan As Police Woman was born, named in homage to the 1970s television cop show starring Angie Dickinson.

She began touring with Rufus Wainwright for his Want One and Want Two albums, playing in his band and as his opening act. For her EP, Joan As Police Woman played as a simple duo, with Ben Perowsky on drums, and eventually added Rainy Orteca on bass.

Her first record, Real Life, earned the band “Best Rock and Pop Album,” at the Independent Music Awards. Her second album, To Survive, was chosen in 2008, as one of Q Magazine’s, “Albums of the Year.”

Joan has spoken often of how vital music and music-making is to her life. “I can comfortably say that music has saved my life. I am a devotee. It’s not something I can even choose or not choose, it’s just what it is.”

Alongside consistent touring and album making, she has worked with a staggering array of co-collaborators, including Tony Allen, Damon Albarn, Lou Reed, Beck, Lloyd Cole, Afel Bocoum, Meshell Ndegeocello, Toshi Reagon, David Sylvian, Benjamin Lazar Davis, Sparklehorse, Laurie Anderson, Sufjan Stevens, John Cale, Aldous Harding, Woodkid, Justin Vivian Bond, RZA, Norah Jones, Lau, Doveman, Rufus Wainwright and Daniel Johnston.

The Times - ‘The coolest woman in pop’ // Uncut – ‘This is breathtakingly good music // Mojo – ‘full of meditative beauty…ravishing and lovelorn’ // Sunday Times - ‘Sensational’ // The Guardian -‘a voice so wondrous and moving that it makes everyone else’s seem ordinary and mundane’ // Q - ‘Beautiful’