Joan As Police Woman Returns With “Full Time Heist”

Joan As Police Woman photo credit: Paola Kudacki

Joan As Police Woman is back with a new song and music video for “Full Time Heist”, the latest single off her forthcoming album Lemons, Limes & Orchids, which drops on September 20 via Play It Again Sam. Lemons, Limes & Orchids follows Joan As Police Woman’s The Solution Is Restless; the collaborative album made with the late Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen and multi-disciplinary artist Dave Okumu. Earlier this year, Joan joined Iggy Pop’s touring band as a keyboardist and background vocalist. In October she’ll be embarking on her own European headline tour.

The accompanying music video pulls reference from Wim Wenders’ classic film Wings Of Desire, where angels are able to gently soothe the humans on earth they engage with, but cannot change an outcome or get involved. The focal couple of the video fight about what constitutes “truth” and who is playing who while Joan watches them, having little agency over what happens.

The piano-driven “Full Time Heist” hears Joan As Police Woman reflect on meeting someone consumed by their need for praise. Witnessing the lengths taken to convince the world and themselves they should be worshiped, Joan portrays them as using a blindfold on anyone they can to mask reality. Her powerfully controlled vocals are on full display, singing in almost a whisper while building to small explosions of harmony and intensity.

“”Full-Time Heist” is about an attempted bank robbery. The bank, in this case, is truth. The hook of the song uses the phrase “pull the wool over one’s eyes”. The etymology comes from 18th century wig-wearing gentlemen. Thieves would try to steal from them by pulling their massive wigs over their eyes. ‘You think if you insist enough, someone will believe you, well sadly you’re right. Few think for themselves and you can use that, few think for themselves.” Says Joan As Police Woman.

Joan As Police Woman has played alongside Lou Reed, Rufus Wainwright, Damon Albarn, John Cale, Laurie Anderson, Sufjan Stevens, and most notably the late Jeff Buckley, who she has affectionately referred to as her soulmate. When not touring and recording, Joan also teaches at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music.

Joan As Police Woman
Lemons, Limes & Orchids
Play It Again Sam

1. The Dream
2. Full Time Heist
3. Back Again
4. With Hope In My Breath
5. Long For Ruin
6. Started Off Free
7. Remember The Voice
8. Oh Joan
9. Lemons, Limes and Orchids
10. Tribute To Holding On
11. Safe To Say
12. Help Is On Its Way