Queen of Harps

Also known as Anise Pearson

Based in Edinburgh, Scotland

Roles rapper · MC · harpist · spoken-word artist · songwriter

hip-hop spoken word experimental hip-hop

Queen of Harps is the performing name of Anise Pearson, an Edinburgh-based rapper, MC, harpist and spoken-word artist who grew up in Shetland. Combining clarsach playing, sampled harp, beats and poetry, Pearson describes the sound as hip-hop-harp. She attended workshops at the Edinburgh International Harp Festival from childhood and later studied with harpist Savourna Stevenson. In 2023 she was shortlisted for BBC Introducing Scottish Act of the Year and received nominations for the Scottish Alternative Music Awards and the Sound of Young Scotland Award. Her performances have included Kelburn Garden Party, Sneaky Pete's and the Tall Ships Races in Lerwick. She has also collaborated with Conscious Route on the track Hearts & Sleeves and with Joe Taylor on Analog Freestyle. She has also worked with Hamish Campbell of Sound Sound, whose music production website lists Queen of Harps among his clients. Her track High Beam, with Wends, received a Morphamish 4x4 rework.

Early career

Began learning clarsach through Edinburgh International Harp Festival workshops at approximately age six; subsequently received tuition from Savourna Stevenson.
2020 — Performed a Pianodrome Session with Intercultural Youth Scotland, published November 2020.

Releases

Situation (2022)
Analog Freestyle (2023)
Hearts & Sleeves (2024)
High Beam
High Beam (Morphamish 4x4 Rework)

Related artists

Savourna Stevenson — harp tutor
Conscious Route — recording collaboration
Joe Taylor — featured on Analog Freestyle
Hypnokid — early collaboration mentioned in Pianodrome artist biography
Morphamish — 4x4 rework of High Beam (with Wends)
Wends — credited on High Beam / Morphamish 4x4 Rework
Hamish Campbell — Sound Sound production, remixing or mastering client connection; specific service unconfirmed

Festival appearances

Kelburn Garden Party · 2023
Tall Ships Races · 2023
Sonica · 2024

Production and recording credits

Conscious Route · Hearts & Sleeves — featured performer
Analog Freestyle — lead artist
High Beam (Morphamish 4x4 Rework) — original/credited artist

Labels and affiliations

Intercultural Youth Scotland — youth practitioner and collaborative performance
BBC Introducing — Scottish Act of the Year 2023 shortlist
Sound Sound — listed as a production, remixing or mastering client; specific sessions and location unverified

Club nights and gigs

Independent Venue Week · 2024-01-29 · Sneaky Pete's · Edinburgh
Summerhall · Edinburgh