Poppy Ackroyd is a performer and composer from London in the United Kingdom, working in ambient, contemporary classical and instrumental music. Classically trained on violin and piano, she develops pieces from the sounds of those instruments, often using extended techniques, multi-tracking and self-production.

Style and approach

Her music grows out of an interest in the piano beyond standard keyboard playing. She explores sounds made inside the instrument as well as conventional melody and harmony, and applies a similar approach to the violin. Her writing uses layers of piano melodies, chords, violin textures, pizzicato figures and percussion made from taps, plucks, scrapes and other sounds produced on the body, strings and dampers of the piano. Field recordings also appear in her work.

Escapement

Her debut album Escapement is built largely from piano and violin sounds, with only a few field recordings added. It includes seven tracks and combines conventional playing with prepared and inside-piano techniques such as fingers, e-bows and plectrums. The album title refers both to a part of a piano mechanism and to the idea of emotional release. It also includes bird recordings from the Outer Hebrides and rain recorded while driving in Scotland.

Work as a performer and collaborator

Ackroyd records and produces her music herself from a home studio set-up. She also records and tours extensively with Joe Acheson’s Hidden Orchestra, and she composes and performs live soundtracks for contemporary dance and physical theatre. In addition, she collaborates with other musicians, artists, filmmakers, actors, sound designers and radio documentary producers.

Release information

Escapement is released on Denovali Records.