Aaron Marsh and Bryan Laurenson signed a record deal with the independent labelThe Militia Group in 2002 and released their first album, Beneath Medicine Tree, a year later. In 2004, 2005 and 2006, they performed at the annual Cornerstone Florida Festival in Orlando, Florida. In Motion, Copeland's second full-length album, was released on March 22, 2005. It was produced by Matt Goldman and Aaron Marsh, and mixed by Ken Andrews. The early copies of In Motion included a four-song acoustic EP, as well as "Beneath Medicine Tree".
2006 to 2008
Beneath Medicine Tree has a heavy medical theme. Aaron Marsh admits that the lyrics in this album were inspired by the hospitalization of his girlfriend and the death of his grandmother. The album booklet includes photographs of hospital scenes by then-bass guitarist James Likeness. Marsh says that, "With Beneath Medicine Tree, I wanted to make a record that moves people," while "With In Motion, I wanted to make a record that makes people move." The lead singer, Marsh, has appeared with other bands such as The Morning Of on their album The Way I Fell In, Underoath on their album They're Only Chasing Safety, Anberlin on their album Cities and Lydia on their album Illuminate. Columbia Records announced their signing of Copeland in a press release dated November 14, 2006. The band announced that they had officially left the label on September 6, 2007. On July 18, 2007, James Likeness announced his decision to no longer be a part of Copeland. He cited pursuing a career as a graphic designer as a chief reason in his decision. About a year after Eat, Sleep, Repeat, they released Dressed Up & in Line on November 20, 2007. It is composed of B-sides, remixes and rarities. A year afterwards, in 2008, Copeland released their final album, You Are My Sunshine under Tooth & Nail Records. The band then decided to split up, holding the Farewell Tour before they ended.
2014: Reunion, ''Ixora'' and ''Blushing''
The band's fifth studio album, Ixora, was released in November 2014. Marsh, who produced at his Lakeland, Florida, studio, The Vanguard Room, reunited with Bryan Laurenson, Stephen Laurenson and Jonathan Bucklew for the album. This was followed by the release of Blushing on February 14, 2019.
Although claimed by some to be a Christian band, Marsh has said that they are not. He said, "It's not our nature to have religious connotations. We are not a ministry band. We have some people in the band that are Christians, but that is not a focus of our band." "We have no agenda in our band other than art."
Band members
Current members
Aaron Marsh – lead vocals, keyboards, piano, guitar
Marsh was involved with the band Anchor & Braille along with Anberlin's Stephen Christian, producing the band's first album Felt, which was released on August 4, 2009.
As of 2010, Marsh is involved with a new project called The Lulls In Traffic.
Copeland teamed up with Instant Live to create a series of 21 limited edition CDs of many of the band's shows during their tour with Daphne Loves Derby, The Spill Canvas and Melee, between October 13 and November 7, 2005.
