Poppy Ackroyd

Description

The celebrated composer and pianist Poppy Ackroyd returns with "Liminal," her new, very personal album set to be released on June 12th by One Little Independent Records. The album, written and recorded during a time of profound upheaval and change, marks a return to the core of Ackroyd's work, bringing piano and violin back together. For the first time since "Feathers" in 2019, Ackroyd exclusively combines these two instruments, with every sound on the album originating solely from piano and violin. Melody, harmony, rhythm, and sound texture are all derived from the instruments themselves, from bowed and plucked strings to percussive elements. Working within these boundaries remains central to her creative process. "Liminal" was created unusually quickly for Ackroyd, composed within three months during which the core structures and musical ideas were established. The recordings took place shortly after she moved into a new studio. Piano and violin improvisations were recorded alongside the composed material and carefully edited over time. This process of sifting through improvisations to find small, human moments has always been part of Ackroyd's approach, but here she chose to keep more of the raw material intact to preserve its cathartic qualities. "In the last three years, everyone I loved the most suddenly needed me," she explains. "There was new life and death, heartbreak, and many other things I don't want to talk about. Plus, I moved across the country to a part of the world I had never lived in before." Although the album emerged from an exceptionally difficult period in her life, it is carried by a quiet determination. Ackroyd describes how she listened to the album while walking and felt almost to dance, discovering a joy that wasn't always present when writing. "I had a few chaotic years, but the only way to deal with it was to allow things to be chaotic," she says. "Accepting the chaotic and imperfect, but still getting things done. I decided to apply this approach to my music-making and found that I still have the same attention to detail, but without the pressure, and I fell in love with making music again in a whole new way." Ackroyd's works have also been heard in countless documentaries and dance productions, including at the New York City Ballet, as well as in theater, where the National Theatre used "The Calm Before" as the opening music for "The Seagull." Her collaboration with Ainslie Henderson, "Shackle," was awarded Best British Film at the London International Animation Festival. In 2025, Ackroyd released "Notes On Water," a collaborative project created in her father's final months, shortly after his passing. The work combined Ackroyd's music with her father's last etching, serving both as a tribute and a means to process loss through a shared creative language. At its core, "Liminal" is about resilience and transformation. "It's an euphoric feeling when you've done something you were afraid of," Ackroyd reflects. "I feel like I've been broken in a way I never thought possible, but I am also stronger than I ever imagined." Those who wish to experience this strength firsthand are warmly invited to Halle 424 on November 13th, when Poppy Ackroyd will present her latest work live.

Highlights

• Poppy Ackroyd presents her new album "Liminal"
• Live concert at Halle 424
• Return to piano and violin

General Information

Poppy Ackroyd, the celebrated composer and pianist, performs with her new, personal album "Liminal." The concert takes place at Halle 424 in Hamburg and offers a unique musical experience combining piano and violin.

Location

Stockmeyerstraße 43, 20457 Hamburg, Germany

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