Artist description Just an aspiring independent recording musician and just a musically gifted person. Just being... Vi An specializes in the art of "Impromptu" (improvisation litterally in the moment and on the spot), using mainly the instrument most commonly known as "Koto" (a Japanese word to have universal meaning of "Asian Long Zither" or harp). My instrument is actually the Chinese predecesor of the Japanese 13-stringed "koto" named -- Gu Zheng(goo-jung), a 21-stringed harp like sounding instrument or long zither. For more info on it and other instruments please visit the links section of this site. Thank you. Vi An also produces electronic music using various means including software (MixMan StudioPro) and hardware (Roland Fantom FA-76) and her PC. Vi An is only best described in person during performances in public areas like Eau Claire Festival Market in Calgary or restaurants or concert halls. Indescribable. Hense -- Vi An is Vi An. Enjoy and best blessings to all! ~Vi An(vee~ahn) To book/hire Vi An for your next event or occasion please click on "Contact" above...

Music Style All original and unique hybridizations by Vi An (for the sharing).

Musical Influences Classical, electronic(a) especially breaks&beats/ d&b/JUNGLE; traditional world instrumental -- Chinese 'Gu Zheng', Japanese 'Koto' and Vietnamese 'dang tranh' music, ETC :: ETC ...

Similar Artists Björk; Enigma; or even (former)Dead Can Dance... Vi An is all about being in the moment and re-defining (music that is all incompising. You just can never put a finger on it, with the music of Vi A

Artist History "...Since childhood, I have always been fascinated with the Gu Zheng and the Koto. Since I got my first little keyboard for my 13th birthday (NOW age 24), I have been composing music (intuitively and mostly improvisation) since. Classical music has always been a major enjoyment in my life, we flew over to Canada (the family and I) in 1983. Reggae music helped me to establish a lot of my rhythmic and percussive influences actually. Not being able to afford to go through any sort of musical training, my mother has always been a major source of encouragement and support. There are no traces of musicians in my family and ancestory. However -- my father has always had an immense appreciation for music. So I had to count on my own heart-felt instincts, it comes natural to me to feel and to play the music from within, and this is a constant thing for me like most "musicians", you live, eat, sleep, wake to and talk music 24/7! It's gotta be that way for serious musicians. Some may say that I learned how to walk and run with my musical gift before I started crawling with it?... Perhaps. "...But I'm trying to re-invent music all together for the instruments I practice -- they become part of me and I'm not always formal, my thoughts, emotions and intuition never follows form or structure; it's loose and open-ended (it leaves the audience a desired sense of imagination!)..." ~Vi An.. I've worked very hard during my grad. year of High School and then for another two years to beable to purchase and pay into the instruments I now collect and all the equipment needed for recording. Now it is all paying off because I am doing what I most enjoy in life and living comfortably off my music career, what more could I ask for? Nothing (well... maybe a Japanese Koto with 30 strings? *LOL*)... In 1997, the year of my graduation and only 4 months into working 7 days a week and 9 hours each day, I was able to purchace my first concert Gu Zheng (as show in my Photo/Images gallery link above)! It's a romance story on it's own. You'll have to hear it personally from me. So it starts, turning away then from my trainings as a French couture designer (in training) to a self-aspiring music career. Bringing me now to this present day of "comfortable success" with my music. Wow, it's been 5 years..." -- / -- Vi An can be found performing locally in restaurants, galleries, both publicly and privately for various venues, events, etc since 1997. In Nov.24.2000 Vi An release a debut "koto" CD called "RHYTHMIC AS MELODIOUS". An innovative, inventive, experimental and energetic 3 year endevour (with tons of help from other talented musicians also featured on the CD). This project expresses her inner most love to entertain and share, so what all was recorded is whats all which came out in the moments -- discoveries, passions, curiosities, etc... Two years later in March of 2002 Vi An released the long awaited "KUAN SHI YIN", this was to be a project to show growth and maturity. A more mindful endevour which proved to be more classically appealing and mellow, still spontaneous and still evolving, always a lesson to be learned. ***The release of the exciting electronic LP entitled "R A D A" was officially unleashed the week leading up to "Kuan Shi Yin's" release, R A D A proved to be very well accepted and highly regarded as pure innovation and "...unpredictability..." by Clint in Alabama!!!!***

Group Members Self-taught on guitar aswell as self made and gifted -- Photographer / Graphics Design & Artistic Concepts creator/ Imaging rendering, & muscial collaborator. :: ::: .Bryan . . ::. : :: .: Visit his site in the links section for more -- thanks. Karen Sim -- a most talented musician and fiddler, an artist, athelete and best friend. Mizue Kauffman a most magnificent Koto player, an ispiration, teacher and best friend!

Instruments 21-string 'Gu Zheng' (gu ~ jung) -- the CHINESE long horizontal harp-like, zither (plucked instrument - is the predecessor of the JAPANESE 'koto'); __the Japanese 'koto' (13-stringed long floor zither) ; __a PC ; an ___EGYPTIAN hand drum __ A new Roland Fantom Synth. Vietnamese 26-string (custom made from Hanoi)

Albums Discography TO Date:. Please refer to Images link above for more details...

Press Reviews THIS JUST IN!!! http://www.rootsmusiccanada.com is featuring yours truly in the "World" music catagory since earlier August, yippie! You can find Vi An in the East Asia section within the World music genre on that site too. Currently working with an eclectic group called "Myrrh" formed by John who plays various world instruments including dijeridoos, African/Latin drums and middle eastern frame drums. Aran on keyboards and Dave on Sitar. I am responsible for embelishments and sorts on Koto/Gu zheng/Dan Tranh/Keyboard and Egyptian dumbek. The group came together in Feburary of this year 2003 and is already breaking grounds, we are already recieving many requests to play at various artistic venues and corporate funtions. Full of talent -- full of enjoyment check us out!!! (Link for "Myrrh" will be up shortly please always check back). My current electronic project is entitled "ENDANGERED" and will be released in the very near future, July even. Created on the Roland Fantom along with further live manipulations using various software/hardware samples it is a follow-up to the popular "R A D A" release... Vi An's all ladies ensemble "MYTH" has come back out of the dusty basement and welcomes new member "Ai" who will be on flute. Currently it's members are: Karen, Mizue, Vi An and Ai. This ensemble will feature special guest musicians/collaborators from time to time also!!!

Additional Info NEW LP/CD Project!!! Conceptualized on.. : .o6.2002 (for accoustic album feat: Asian strings); conceptualization of ENDANGERED (r a d a ii) on o8.2002.: .

Location Calgary, Alberta - Canada

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