Joan As Police Woman on new album: “More critical thinking is needed”

US artist Joan As Police Woman talks about love, optimism and the strength it takes to not lose faith in humanity.

Here comes Joan As Police Woman with her new album “Lemon, Limes and Orchids” Photo: Paola Kudacki

taz: Joan As Police Woman, what are the central themes of your new album?

Joan Waters: Love plays an important role in all of my songs. For me, it includes different aspects in different phases – such as newly falling in love or feelings of loss. I have also dealt intensively with how we humans are becoming more and more alienated from ourselves. Everyday observations flow into my lyrics. In relation to the current state of the world, one thing in particular struck me: the world can be cruel and disturbing and at the same time beautiful.

Taz: Is “Longing for Ruin” about humanity destroying itself?

Water: Yes. People are strange. On the one hand, we trust each other and respect each other. We try to protect our planet. But on the other hand, we too often carry on as before and ruin our environment. We can hardly see into the future or think ahead.

taz: Why not?

Water: Because otherwise we would have to ask ourselves: What is really good for us? We alienate ourselves from one another too often. And in doing so we forget how important empathy, love and communication are.

taz: Who should initiate sensible visions of the future, the politicians?

Water: Politics has now become a strange reality TV show that many people no longer take seriously. Basically, we don't even need to know what politicians look like. Ideally, they could even be boring. Because it's not their personality that should be in the foreground, but their actions. In general, politicians need to listen better to the citizens of their respective countries. That happens far too rarely…

How do you feel about the election campaign in the USA?

Water: In the USA we are now in a situation where Trump can come back to power. At least this bad option is attracting a lot of attention. Hope dies last.

taz: Are you also worried about the prospect of a possible second Trump term?

Water: I don't think Trump will win the election. But even before his first term in office, during the election campaign, I thought he had no chance, that he would never make it to the White House. And then he became US President. What can I say? I live in New York, a liberal city that is not representative of the entire United States.

taz: Nevertheless, in the piece “Oh Joan” you conjure up a rather gloomy vision of the future in a conversation.

Water: While I was talking to a friend about the sad state of our world, he said to me, “Oh Joan, what is there to do?” That just summed it up for me, so I wanted that exact phrase in my song.

taz: Does that mean that you are quite pessimistic about the future?

Water: In my opinion, things can definitely turn around for the better. Especially if citizens stand up and stand in the way of politicians – as is currently happening in Israel. Hundreds of thousands are protesting against Netanyahu's course there. Corrupt heads of state like him must be stopped.

taz: How do you deal with the numerous horror stories in the news?

Water: I notice them and that's why I'm worried. Of course, I'm not a politician, I'm a musician. I feel that artists like me can make a difference. When I hear all those songs from the 1970s that I grew up with on the radio, I know every line of the lyrics. I learned from Bob Marley that you can get your message out into the world by making art that resonates with listeners.

taz: What power do we get from music?

Water: We have a lot on our plate, and our everyday lives are often hard. People are busy earning a living for themselves and their families, raising children, looking after their friends and the neighborhood. Music can bring them comfort. Maybe some songs even remind us that we have the power to bring about change.

taz: Doesn’t music sometimes just serve as escapism?

Water: In fact, it can help us relax, it makes us feel like human beings again. This is especially important when negative headlines threaten to overwhelm us. I have no children or pets myself. At home I am surrounded by plants and instruments. In this respect, I am in a privileged position compared to those who also have to bear the responsibility for others who depend on them.

taz: Not everyone reacts so calmly when I think of the boastful influencers in “Full Time Heist”.

Water: In the song, I think out loud about why we seek external validation. Influencers certainly fit into that group of people we look up to.

taz: What experiences have you had with influencers and social media?

Water: I connect with others on social media through music, which is usually a nice experience. Otherwise, I don't let influencers influence my life much. So-called beautiful, interesting people have always been paid to promote certain products. What we need much more of is critical thinking. We have to analyze what is true and what is not true. I would like to see critical thinking promoted more in schools and in our culture as a whole. Then everyone would definitely be better off.

taz: You yourself provide food for thought in “Help Is on Its Way”, for example. Does this title have different levels?

Water: It can be read as a love song, but I also use it to address environmental pollution and climate change. I'm trying to encourage people. The idea behind it is that as soon as I release music, it no longer belongs to me. In essence, it has become part of the universe. My music belongs to everyone.

taz: That sounds like a conceptual approach.

Water: I never approach the music of a new album with such a specific intention. I don't think the new songs have to sound jazzier. Jazz has been with me since childhood. This is obviously reflected in my new pieces – especially since we recorded them in a studio in Woodstock like a jazz band jamming. The nice thing is: you can react immediately to what the other musicians are doing.

taz: Among others, bassist Meshell Ndegeocello supported your production. What impetus did she give?

Water: Meshell draws a unique sound from her instrument, her style is unmistakable. I would describe her bass playing as very melodic and equally rhythmic. She knows how to make a song lively. And with a lot of soul.

taz: And how does soul music fit with your voice?

Water: The focus when composing is basically on my singing. But on my last album, “The Solution Is Restless,” the music was very dense. The album was created during the pandemic from improvisation sessions with Tony Allen and Dave Okumu. I then spent a lot of time editing the resulting material in my home studio. I needed new arrangements, I had to bring the music more closely together with my singing. That was very time-consuming. For this reason, the production process should be less complicated this time. I wanted simpler songs to give my voice more space in them.