Erland Cooper

{{Infobox musical artist

| name =

| image = Erlandandthecarnival copyrightGalvin2009.jpg

| alt =

| caption =

| image_size =

| landscape = yes

| background = composer

| birth_name = Gawain Erland Cooper

| alias =

| birth_date =

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| birth_place = Orkney, Scotland{{cite news | title = nature's songwriter - Erland Cooper | first = Patrick| last = Barkham | url = https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jan/08/erland-cooper-musician-orkney-interview | newspaper = The Guardian | publisher = | date = 8 January 2019 | accessdate = 8 January 2019}}

| instruments = Piano, Guitar, Electronics

| genre = Alternative, classical, electronica, ambient

| occupations = composer, producer

| years_active = 2010–present

| label = Decca Records, Universal Music

| associated_acts = Erland & the Carnival, The Magnetic North

| website = [http://erlandcooper.com ErlandCooper.com]

}}

Gawain Erland Cooper is a Scottish composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist. Cited as "one of the most unique, consistently engaging composers of his generation",{{cite news |last1=Murray |first1=Robin |title='Critical Distance: Erland Cooper’s Quiet Majesty | url=https://www.clashmusic.com/features/critical-distance-erland-coopers-quiet-majesty}} he was born and raised in Stromness, Orkney. As an interdisciplinary artist, he has released five acclaimed studio albums, with five additional companion albums and multiple EPs, achieving a number 1 album in the UK classical charts and number 4 in the US Billboard classical crossover chart. This includes a trilogy of work inspired by his childhood home, as well as themes of nature,{{cite news |last1=Burnside |first1=John |title='How a seagull, a short-eared owl and an oystercatcher have released an album'|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2018/04/how-seagull-short-eared-owl-and-oystercatcher-have-released-album |newspaper=New Statesman |accessdate=15 April 2018|date=15 April 2018 }} people, place and time. His work combines field recordings with classical orchestration and contemporary electronic elements.{{cite news |last1=Barkham |first1=Patrick |title='If it moves me to tears, I've achieved what I wanted': nature's songwriter Erland Cooper |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jan/08/erland-cooper-musician-orkney-interview |newspaper=Guardian |accessdate=19 February 2019|date=8 January 2019 }} Cooper also works across mixed media projects including installation art,{{cite news |last1=On |first1=Whats |title='NEST London Borough of culture opening': NEST |url=https://wfculture19.co.uk/erland-cooper-qa|accessdate=19 February 2019|date=8 January 2019 }} theatre{{cite news |last1=On |first1=Whats |title='portia-coughlan': portia-coughlan |url=https://www.youngvic.org/whats-on/portia-coughlan|accessdate=19 February 2019|date=8 January 2019 }} and film. He is a recipient of a Royal Television Society award and his music is played frequently on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 6 Music as well as featured on various TV network productions.

He is widely known for burying the only existing copy of the master magnetic tape of his first classical album, a violin concerto in Orkney, deleting all digital files and leaving only a treasure hunt of clues for fans and his record label alike to search for it.{{cite news |title='Composer buries album in Orkney':|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/hunting-for-erland-cooper-s-carve-the-runes-then-be-content-with-silence-dcrn9zhvq }} He buried the tape in early spring 2021 and intended to retrieve and release it in 2024.{{Cite web |last=Guyoncourt |first=Sally |date=2021-07-06 |title=Erland Cooper buries only copy of new album, with fans urged to find it to be first to listen |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/music/erland-cooper-buries-only-copy-latest-album-fans-search-1090070 |access-date=2022-06-18 |website=inews.co.uk |language=en}} After a year and half in the soil, the tape was found in September 2022 by two amateur sleuths.{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Huw |title=Erland Cooper: Musician's 'planted' tape found in Orkney |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-63131823 |access-date=5 October 2022}} It dried out on public display in record shops in Scotland for another year and a half and was released and premiered exactly as it sounds from the earth. The record became the first planted number 1 classical album, in collaboration with nature, topping the UK official charts in 2024.

He is credited by Mojo Magazine with exploring the concept of psychogeography, connecting identity, memory, and place through music, words and cinematography. He explores these themes further by partnering with well-known artists and writers in his work and live shows.

Music career

=Erland and the Carnival=

In 2009, Cooper co-founded the band Erland and the Carnival in London with multi-instrumentalist Simon Tong.

=The Magnetic North=

In 2011 Cooper co-founded the British shoegaze band The Magnetic North with Simon Tong and singer, composer and orchestral arranger Hannah Peel.{{cite news|last=Tyler|first=Kieron|title=Interview & Video Exclusive: The Magnetic North|url=http://www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/interview-video-exclusive-magnetic-north|accessdate=25 October 2012|newspaper=The Arts Desk|date=6 March 2012}} Formed in London, they released their debut album, Orkney: Symphony of the Magnetic North on 6 May 2012.{{cite news|last=Malone|first=Ailbhe|title=Indie bands get into the island life|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/apr/07/indie-music-islands-orkney-eigg%20|accessdate=25 October 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|date=5 April 2012}} Cooper said that the inspiration for the album came from an appearance of long dead Betty Corrigall in one of his dreams, insisting that he wrote an album about his home.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/music/music-news/simon-tong-reveals-how-orkneys-2065306|title=Simon Tong reveals how Orkney's rugged landscape inspired his new band to create haunting debut album|last=Fulton|first=Rick|date=2013-07-19|website=Dailyrecord.co.uk|access-date=2016-12-09}} This theme is currently being developed into a stage production.

=Solo career=

Cooper released his debut solo album Solan Goose, heavily influenced by native Orcadian birds, on 23 March 2018. The album is the first of a triptych that reflects on the natural world surrounding Orkney, with its tracks each taking their titles from Orcadian dialect words for birds.

Cooper's second album in the triptych, Sule Skerry, was released on 24 May 2019 on Phases. {{Cite web|title=Erland Cooper - Sule Skerry / Phases from Piccadilly Records|url=https://www.piccadillyrecords.com/counter/product.php?pid=128446|access-date=2020-10-27|website=www.piccadillyrecords.com}} The album was included on the Scottish Album of The Year shortlist for 2020. {{Cite web|date=2020-10-08|title=SAY Award announces 2020 Shortlist|url=https://www.list.co.uk/article/119902-say-award-announces-2020-shortlist/|access-date=2020-10-27|website=The List|language=en-GB}}

In 2022, Cooper provided a soundtrack, Music For Growing Flowers, to the Superbloom wildflower meadow installation within the moat of the Tower of London.{{Cite web|date=2022-03-30|title=Superbloom: Music For Growing Flowers|url=https://www.erlandcooper.com/superbloom|access-date=2022-09-05|website=Erland Cooper|language=en-GB}} The music has also been released as an album and a score.

=Writing credits=

Cooper is known for his contemporary arrangements of traditional Scottish and English folk songs, including most notably "Love Is a Killing Thing" and "The Derby Ram" collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams. He has also written for established artists, such as Paul Weller.{{Cite web|date=2023-01-06|title=Paul Weller on X|url=https://x.com/paulwellerHQ/status/1611330451444060161?lang=en|access-date=2024-07-11|website=X.com|language=en-GB}}