It seems strange that such a distinctly beautiful vocalist was once too terrified to sing, using her violin almost as a surrogate voice. But that’s how Joan Wasser felt before she started singing, and started releasing her own material under the name Joan as Police Woman. Before that she’d been a violinist, keyboard player, and Jeff Buckley’s girlfriend. It was only after his accidental and untimely death, while working with members of Buckley’s band, that she took a lead vocal role. Despite expanding her sound on more recent releases, adding a bit of funk, groove, and soul here and there, her début Real Life is still the best for me: beautiful, drawn out, dramatic, and full of warmth and love.