- joan as a policewoman - to survive

Although much of her experience in music has come through her violin playing (as a student of the instrument, she played with the Boston University Symphony Orchestra), her songs are predominantly centred around the piano and her voice, which recalls the likes of Ella Fitzgerald or Nina Simone. Make no mistake; her songs are for the most part far from catchy. To Survive does not contain the more obvious melodic hooks that Regina Spektor is so adept at creating, nor indeed the unique quirkiness of Joanna Newsom. But what Joan does have to offer is fragile beauty (‘To Be Lonely’), considered melancholy (‘To Survive’) and chilled out grooves (‘To Be Loved’). Give it your full attention, and by the time of the final track, ‘To America’ (not all the songs have names beginning with ‘To’, but there are certainly a few), which also features Rufus Wainwright, the delicate songwriting of this fine talent will surely have earned its place in your heart.