It's again, it's like learning to trust myself in a way that I had never imagined I'd

have to.

Oh, Joan, just read the music and you'll be fine.

And then all of a sudden you take that music away and you're left with, who am I?

From the Ted Audio Collective, this is Design Matters with Debbie Millman.

For 18 years, Debbie Millman has been talking with designers and other creative people about

what they do, how they got to be who they are, and what they're thinking about and working

on.

On this episode, Joan Wasser, aka Jonas Policewoman, talks about how she went from violinist to

singer.

I didn't have control over it.

I had to sing.

It was how I helped myself stay alive.

Joan Wasser began as a violinist, a classically trained violinist.

But in her 20s, she came to New York and started playing as a session musician in many musical

genres.

She also learned guitar and started singing in various bands.

By 2002, she took on their performing moniker, Joan as Policewoman.

Ever since, she's been touring, making albums and collaborating with musicians and performers,

including Ufus Wainwright, Laurie Anderson, Lou Reed, and many more.

She's here to talk about her most recent album and the road she's taken to get here.

Joan Wasser, welcome to Design Matters.

...