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. Copeland has also produced three albums under the name Alder & Ash. 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. Copeland has released three albums as Alder & Ash, Psalms for the Sunder (2016) , Clutched in the Maw of the World (2017), The Crowneater (2019). Copeland will be releasing the first album under his given name in May of 2022, titled, If This Were My Body.