“Black and Blue” was born from two sides of my life that most people never imagine existing together: surviving domestic violence and responding to it as a police officer. I’ve lived both. And for a long time, denial convinced me I could “help” someone become the person I believed they could be. Looking back, that belief was pure delusion.
While my heart was breaking, it was held together by hope—hope that acted like a chain, wrapped around old scars I thought had healed. Like many survivors, I learned that with every bright day came a storm. “Black and Blue” is my story as someone who didn’t yet understand narcissistic abuse, but paid the price of learning it firsthand.
This experience taught me that growth has no age limit and shame has no place in survival. In the first verse, I sing about using up “nine lives” like a cat—yet every time, I stood back up. Now I use my voice to reach the person who might be standing where I once stood. If you see a red flag: run. It’s not a parade. Abuse doesn’t get better. You cannot love someone into changing. Narcissists project; they
don’t evolve.
“Blue lights, white lies” refers to the night I finally opened the door for the police. That moment ended my relationship. He wanted me to lie—“get the story right”—but bruises don’t lie.
Like my song “Warriors,” this track is meant to empower. Domestic violence doesn’t discriminate—age, gender, background, none of it protects you. And as a former cop, even a professional problem-solver, I learned that some problems can’t be fixed. They must be walked away from.
I didn’t stay because of low self-esteem. Mine was solid. I stayed because I thought love could save someone. But only God has that power.
I turned a bad experience into something meaningful—my new single, “Black and Blue.”
I hope it helps someone recognize the truth sooner than I did."
BIO:
A former NYPD officer turned powerhouse vocalist, IWAN isn’t just another name in rock—she’s a movement. Her journey has been one of solitude and resilience, of standing alone but never backing down. That relentless fire fuels her music, turning raw emotion into anthems that cut deep and refuse to be ignored.
Drawing inspiration from icons like Scott Stappand Creed, IWAN blends the grit of classic rock with the intensity of alternative, channeling struggle into strength. Her songs don’t just play; they ignite. With searing riffs, haunting vocals, and lyrics that hit like a gut punch, she crafts a sound that’s both defiant and deeply human.
Her music is a battle cry for the fighters, the outsiders, and those who refuse to break. Somewhere between Joan Jett’s rebellion and Mad Max’s recklessness, IWAN is both force and fury—polished yet raw,
powerful yet unfiltered.
She isn’t just stepping onto the scene—she’s commanding it. With a fan base craving realness and a no-BS attitude, she’s here to
leave a mark.
“I want to be remembered,” she says. “I want someone to say my music helped
them through.”
