Hot on the trail of her ‘Real Life Evolution’ album, released early this month by iconic NYC artist Joan As Police Woman via UK independent Reveal Records., she presents an intimate performance of the title track – the ‘Real Life (Real Life Anniversary Sessions)’. This is the latest offering from this video series, recorded by Adam Sachs at The Owl Music Parlor in Brooklyn and filmed by Ehud Lazin. Also as part of the 20th year anniversary of her debut album ‘Real Life’, she earlier shared stripped-down trio-format versions of ‘Eternal Flame’, ‘Flushed Chest’, ‘The Ride’, ‘Anyone’ and ‘I Defy’.
Joan Wasser, known as Joan As Police Woman since 2004, is a critically acclaimed musician and producer, and a sought-after collaborator, dubbed “the coolest woman in pop” (The Times) and “one of the 21st century’s best musicians” (The Economist). As a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, her music defies easy categorization, crafting her own sound that blends various genres.
Joan confesses, “I wrote this song to romance a man. We met once for 3 minutes and I had decided he was The One. Bear in mind, this is ages ago. Conveniently, we lived 6000 miles apart. We were pen pals. It felt like high romance. He was brilliant actually – perhaps too smart. He was intractable and of course that drove me mad. The song describes the walk to the post office with the love letter – in this case, the cassette recording – and imagines the moment it lands in his hands. I brazenly put his name in the song. Unsurprisingly it didn’t work out between us. But the song did.”
Unveiled exactly 20 years from her debut’s release, Joan As Police Woman has reimagined her ‘Real Life’ album with numerous guests. Through countless performances, these renditions are brought to life by the brilliance of the players who helped define their sound. The result is ten stunning tracks with varied flavours and collaborators.
“People ask me all the time: “Do you ever get tired of playing your old songs?” The answer is an unequivocal no. And if I ever did, I’d reinvent them until the joy came back — not as an act of revision, but of rediscovery. Songs live beyond their creators. Like us, they settle into themselves over time, finding their own equilibrium. That spirit is the pulse of this new album — ten reimagined versions of every song from the original ‘Real Life’. Some transformations are subtle. Others are seismic. All of them were made with an entirely new cast of collaborators,” says Joan Wasser.
“Among them are two extraordinary vocalists. The inimitable Iggy Pop — whose band I’ve had the privilege of touring with, playing keys and singing — recorded a stunning version of ‘Save Me’ while we were on the road in New Zealand. We had to work around the birds outside, who apparently had strong opinions about the session. Then there’s Krystle Warren, a true original and one of my favorite singers alive. Her voice is so deeply soulful that ‘I Defy’ feels like it thoroughly enjoyed easily slipping into its brand new groove.”
Joan As Police Woman has released ten albums of original material, two cover albums, and an anthology. She has recorded and performed with hundreds of artists, including Afrobeat legend Tony Allen, Lou Reed, Anohni & The Johnsons, Meshell Ndegeocello, Rufus Wainwright, John Cale, David Byrne, Dave Okumu, Chris Dowd, Lau, Scissor Sisters, Sparklehorse, Beck, Laurie Anderson, Lloyd Cole, Afel Bocoum, Dave Gahan, Tanya Donelly, Damon Albarn and Gorillaz.
Joan adds, “From my current touring trio, Will Graefe brings his emotionally masterful guitar work and Jeremy Gustin his remarkable rhythmic sensibility to several tracks. Parker Kindred’s inventive drum creations were the spark behind others. Thomas Bartlett unlocked a new dimension of the title track — honoring its original feeling while casting it in a warmer, amber light — and added Rhodes bass throughout. This album gave me the chance to reunite, decades on, with upright bassist Tony Scherr, guitarist Oren Bloedow, and funk bassist Danny Blume — musicians whose artistry has only deepened with time. I’m so glad to share this with you. I’m Real Life. You’re Real Life. We’re Real Life.”
The ‘Real Life Evolution’ album is out now, available everywhere digitally and also on CD and Limited Edition exclusive red marble vinyl from Bandcamp. Later this year, Joan embarks on her Real Life 20th Anniversary Tour, performing the ‘Real Life’ album as a trio, plus singles from her catalogue, fan favourites, deep cuts and many surprises! Tour tickets can be ordered at www.joanaspolicewoman.com/tour
CREDITS
All songs written by Joan Wasser
Published by Fists of Fury (BMI / Domino Publishing),
except “I Defy” written by Joan Wasser & Anohni (Rebis Music (ASCAP))
Produced by Joan Wasser except “I Defy”, “We Don’t Own It” and “Feed The Light” produced by Joan Wasser & Parker Kindred
Mixed by Patrick Dillett at Reservoir Studios
Mastered by Chris Gehringer at Sterling Sound
Joan Wasser – vocals, piano, Wurlitzer, strings
Krystle Warren – vocals
Will Graefe – acoustic guitar
Oren Bloedow – electric guitar
Danny Blume – electric bass
Parker Kindred – drums
Krystal Warren – vocals on ‘I Defy’
Iggy Pop – vocals on ‘Save Me’
Album package concept & design by Judi Rosen
(p) & (c) 2026 Sweet Police LLC under exclusive licence to Reveal Records
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR
ALBUM TRACK LIST
1 . Anyone (Real Life Evolution version)
2 . Flushed Chest (Real Life Evolution version)
3 . The Ride (Real Life Evolution version)
4 . I Defy feat. Krystle Warren (Real Life Evolution version)
5 . Feed The Light (Real Life Evolution Version)
6 . Christobel (Real Life Evolution version)
7 . Save Me feat. Iggy Pop (Real Life Evolution version)
8 . We Don’t Own It (Real Life Evolution version)
9 . Eternal Flame (Real Life Evolution version)
10 . Real Life (Real Life Evolution version)
REAL LIFE ANNIVERSARY TOUR 2026
NOV 5 London, UK – Union Chapel
NOV 6 London, UK – Union Chapel
NOV 7 Manchester, UK – RNCM (Royal Northern College of Music)
NOV 9 Glasgow, UK – Oran Mor
NOV 11 Brugge, Belgium – Cactus Club
NOV 12 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Zonnehuis (sold out)
NOV 13 Hamburg, Germany – Mojo Club
NOV 15 Aarhus, Denmark – Train
NOV 16 Copenhagen, Denmark – DR Concert Hall
NOV 18 Budapest, Hungary – House of Music Hungary
NOV 20 Roma, Italy – Angelo Mai
NOV 22 Berlin, Germany – Haus des Rundfunks & Großer Sendesaal