Accessibility links
Joan as Police Woman Joan as Police Woman artist page: interviews, features and/or performances archived at NPR Music

Joan as Police Woman

When finishing an album means talking with ghosts

Joan Wasser turned a prolific session-player career into her own band, Joan as Police Woman. Her latest album, The Solution Is Restless, began as a marathon jam with Afrobeat innovator Tony Allen. Giles Clement/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Giles Clement/Courtesy of the artist

Editors' Picks

When finishing an album means talking with ghosts

The new album by Joan as Police Woman began as a thrilling, one-night-only collaboration with Afrobeat legend Tony Allen. Then disaster struck.

Studio Sessions

Joan as Police Woman: 'To Survive' Alone

WNYC Radio

Joan Wasser spent the 1990s as an alt-rocker and backup violinist in various bands. But when she started performing as Joan as Police Woman, she developed a knack for punk-informed soul. Hear an interview and stripped-down in-studio performance.

Listen Now

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91473888/91450252" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Concerts

Crowded House, Joan as Police Woman in Concert

XPN

The Australian band Crowded House recorded some of the most appealing pop-rock singles of the late '80s and early '90s, before breaking up in 1996. Now reunited, the band headlines a concert from WXPN and World Café Live in Philadelphia, with opener Joan as Police Woman.

Crowded House in concert on XPN Live Fridays - 08/10/2007

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/12610601/12687700" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Browse archive or search npr.org