Harpist Asni's latest CD Travels in Middle-earth will be launched at the Happy Bar & Venue in Wellington on September 16.

A rabid Tolkien fan since her teens, to Asni Middle-earth represents much more than a bestselling book and a blockbuster movie: it is a metaphor for a world where people increasingly refuse to define their identity by "where they are from", by their nationality and ethnicity.

The idea for the CD grew out of her performance at the Return of the Ringers fan party on the eve of the Return of the King premiere in 2003. The project has had enthusiastic support from the fan community. John Howe, renowned Tolkien artist and conceptual designer for the Lord of the Rings movies, was so impressed with Asni's first solo album "700 Years of Pop" that he offered the use of one of his illustrations for the cover of the new CD.Harpist Asni's latest CD Travels in Middle-earth will be launched at the Happy Bar & Venue in Wellington on September 16.

A rabid Tolkien fan since her teens, to Asni Middle-earth represents much more than a bestselling book and a blockbuster movie: it is a metaphor for a world where people increasingly refuse to define their identity by "where they are from", by their nationality and ethnicity.

The idea for the CD grew out of her performance at the Return of the Ringers fan party on the eve of the Return of the King premiere in 2003. The project has had enthusiastic support from the fan community. John Howe, renowned Tolkien artist and conceptual designer for the Lord of the Rings movies, was so impressed with Asni's first solo album "700 Years of Pop" that he offered the use of one of his illustrations for the cover of the new CD.Asni took inspiration from the same sources that spurred Tolkien's imagination - but one does not have to be a Tolkien fan to enjoy the sound worlds she creates.

Not content with just adapting a few songs from Howard Shore's film soundtrack, Asni combines Medieval songs, dance music from Ireland and Scotland, Finland and neighbouring Estonia, and even from as far afield as Spain and Western Africa, as well as original tunes inspired by texts from Tolkien's book on her new album.

Never one to conform to role expectations, Asni has left her origins in classical music behind and created her own contemporary style. She draws on a profound knowledge of musical traditions, and has worked with a wide range of musicians, from alternative pop to traditional Maori music. She was fortunate to collaborate with Alistair Fraser, who plays his taonga puoro (traditional Maori instruments) on several tracks of her new CD. A powerful combination of sounds and ancient musical traditions!

Five years ago Asni took up the New Zealand government on its offer to give her residency on the strength of her international artistic reputation, and settled down in Wellington.

Although adapting to a new and very different artistic environment has been by no means easy - an environment where the question "Where are you from" some-times seems more important than "What do you do and how good are you at it?" - she has never looked back. She now proudly presents her third CD production, and the first produced in New Zealand.

Asni realised the opportunities the internet offered for independent musicians quite early on. In 2002 she took a weekend class and built a website in a text editor: www.asni.net now attracts some 500 visitors every day. Asni has built an international following through the net and was able to raise the funds for producing her new CD through pre-sales to fans in twelve different countries. New Zealanders at large have yet to discover Asni and her way out of the ordinary music.

About Asni

Asked what made her want to play the harp, Asni's answer is spontaneous: "Reading too much Tolkien!" Disappointed with the decidedly un-elfish unwieldiness of the modern pedal harp, which she had learned as a teenager, she became involved in the revival of medieval and baroque harps after finding out about the fascinating varieties of the instrument that had existed in older times. She quickly established herself as one of the leading modern performers on early harps.

After an international career that took her to most European countries and across the United States, she decided to settle in Wellington after coming to New Zealand for a tour, and took up a position as Artist Teacher at the New Zealand School of Music. She has toured for Chamber Music New Zealand in 2005, and went back to Europe in 2006 to perform and teach at the Edinburgh International Harp Festival, as well as recitals in the Czech Republic, Sweden and her native Germany. She has performed with a wide range of musicians both in New Zealand and abroad, ranging from alternative pop to traditional Maori music. She appears on a number of CD recordings and was featured in the BBC's "Destination Music" series.

Since coming to New Zealand, she has been able to more fully explore the other side of her creativity in visual arts - painting, photography, and more recently, video production and animation. Earlier this year she completed the Diploma of Multimedia at Natcoll. Since 2002, she has been running her own website, www.asni.net, where she sells her CDs, photography, artwork and a range of sheet music edited from historical sources.

Asni holds an MA in music history and theory from the University of Utrecht, the Netherlands. She is a member of APRA and of WIFT- Women in Film and Television.

About Alistair Fraser and Tahu

Of Katimana and Kati Pakeha descent, Alistair Fraser was born in Dunedin, NZ, now lives in Wellington, and specialises in building, performing and teaching taonga puoro (Maori traditional musical instruments).

With Henare Walmsley and Mike Hogan, he has founded Tahu, an ensemble specializing in the revival of ancient Maori musical traditions. This Matariki, Tahu has released their first cd recording.

WHAT: Asni: *Travels in Middle-earth* CD Launch
WHEN: Tuesday 16 September 2008 from 8 pm
WHERE: Happy Bar & Venue, corner Vivian St and Tory St, Wellington
WHO: Asni - formerly a world-travelling harper who settled down in Wellington five years ago and now presents her first New Zealand solo CD release featuring an unusual combination of medieval, traditional and original harp music with Maori traditional taonga puoro (performed by Alistair Fraser).
Support: Tahu - Henare Walmsley, taonga puoro & Mike Hogan, guitar.

*Travels in Middle-earth* is available online on www.asni.net and other outlets. CDs will be available for sale at the door.
Tickets at the door: $15 / $ 10 concessions. Buy a CD and get in free!

More information: please visit www.asni.net