A singer-songwriter, violinist and guitarist, Joan Wasser has been part of New York's indie-rock scene for years. Though initially overshadowed by her relationship with Jeff Buckley -- they were dating at the time of his death in 1997 -- she's since made a name for herself playing with Rufus Wainwright, Joseph Arthur, Antony and The Johnsons and Sparklehorse. Her own band, Joan as Police Woman, is set to release a new album, "To Survive," on Cheap Lullaby Records on June 10.
Wasser earned rave reviews for her previous disc, "Real Life," and her strong-yet-fragile voice should have made her a contender with the Feists and Cat Powers of the world. She may have a shot at the title with this next disc, at least judging by the beautiful, smoky first single, "To Be Loved."
Check out that track at Wasser's MySpace page here, or watch her charmingly odd video for "Eternal Flame," from the previous album, below.
Wasser will play a one-off show May 14 at The Mercury Lounge in Manhattan.