The story behind the album...

Some of the lyrical themes dealt with in 'Iraena's Ashes' were inspired by true events.

Iraena Asher (born July 17, 1979) was an Auckland trainee teacher and model who disappeared under controversial circumstances after a party at Piha, a West Auckland (NZ) beach, on October 11, 2004. At 9 p.m. on October 10, Iraena called the New Zealand Police service using the 111 emergency telephone number, from the party, expressing fears for her safety. Suspecting that Iraena was abusing the service to get a "free ride" home, a police seargent at the time decided to send a taxi for her instead of a patrol car. A taxi was dispatched but went to the wrong address in a suburb on the other side of the metropolis, 40km away. Iraena reportedly left the party soon after the call and was later found disoriented and wandering in the area by a Piha resident, Julia Woodhouse, who took Iraena into her home for several hours, let her shower and change and offered her a bed for the night. At 1:10 a.m., she left the home without explanation and was subsequently seen by others, semi-clad, walking towards the beach. She is reported to have run off before she could be approached. She was never seen again. Theories surrounding the case suggest that Iraena walked into the notoriously treacherous  waters of Piha. Most have dismissed any theories of foul play.