Adrian Copeland uses the cello to its absolute extremes of calm and violence. The Montreal-based instrumentalist brings together elements of modern classical, noise, and doom, exploring the dichotomies of minimalism and maximalism, stillness and cacophony, terror and chaos.

Copeland composes on the cello, aided by the instrument’s remarkable range – not only the typical, smooth legato and pizzicato, but a host of extended techniques, as well: scordatura (detuning strings), col legno (striking the strings with the bow), ponticello (metallic, shrill overtones), and percussive sounds created from the cello itself.

The project has a broad, unorthodox variety of influences, which comes through in the final product. While the music is grounded in minimal classical and post-rock, it also reveals colours of black metal, industrial, classical impressionism, and ambient music.

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Copeland released 3 albums under the name Alder & Ash, and one album under his own name Adrian Copeland. This marks a hiatus from Alder & Ash to focus on music scoring.