On March 12 indie rock star Joan Wasser, better known as Joan As Police Woman, finally released her new song “What a World”. The song is one of two new recordings on her upcoming career retrospective JOANTHOLOGY.

“What a World” is a slow tempo-ed and relaxing song you can listen to on a rainy day. Wasser’s voice is soft and unforgiving as she sings about life, including the good and the bad. The drum beat remains steady and slow as the accompanying guitar lines are interspersed throughout the song. The keyboard plays gently throughout and adds an integral yet melancholy factor to the song. Every few lines or so Wasser’s voice sings out, along with a couple other lower voices, “What a world, What a world”. Overall, the tune acts as a touching and honest reflection of life. Wasser herself describes the track best when she states, “At the time of writing, I couldn’t get over that the pain, which felt like it would tear me apart, was part of a larger feeling that made staying alive in this world so inexplicably joyful.”

Wasser got her start in music when she began playing violin at a young age. Later in life she put her violin skills to use when she worked with artists like Sheryl Crow and Rufus Wainwright. In 2002 Wasser created the group Joan As Police Woman. The band released their first single “My Gurl” in 2003 and put out their EP in 2004. Most recently, Wasser released her EP Damn Devotion in February 2018. This EP included her catchy track entitled “Tell Me”, with a featured music video.

“What a World” will be featured on Wasser’s upcoming career retrospective cleverly titled JOANTHOLOGY. The retrospective will be out on May 24th 2019 on the platform Play it Again Sam. It will be a three part CD deluxe set which will include unreleased songs, new tracks, and classic favorites alike. The two new recordings on the retrospective will include “What a World” and a cover of Prince’s “Kiss”. JOANTHOLOGY will include songs recorded for BBC Music and will feature her biggest songs off of all her albums from the last fifteen years from Real Life to Damned Devotion.

Joan As Police Woman will begin her JOANTHOLOGY Tour on May 30th. Here’s the track list below:

CD1:

My Gurl
The Ride
Real Life
Eternal Flame
I Defy (feat. Antony)
We Don’t Own It
Christobel
Honor Wishes (feat. David Sylvian)
Hard White Wall
Start of My Heart
To America (feat. Rufus Wainwright)
To Be Lonely
The Magic
Human Condition
Run For Love
Forever And A Year

CD2:

What A World (new recording)
Flash
Whatever You Like (T.I)
Holy City
Get Direct
Good Together
Your Song (first time on CD)
Myrrhman (Talk Talk)
Broke Me In Two (with Benjamin Lazar Davis)
Valid Jagger
Steed
Tell Me
Silly Me
Warning Bell
Kiss (Prince)

CD3:

Live at The BBC *

To Be Loved
Start of My Heart
Human Condition
She Watch Channel Zero (Public Enemy)
Sacred Trickster (Sonic Youth)
Holy City
The Classic
Magic Lamp (with Benjamin Lazar Davis)
Let It Be You (with Benjamin Lazar Davis)
The Silence
Damned Devotion
Steed