Emancipator, born Douglas Appling, is an American producer and composer from Portland, Oregon. Active since the 2000s, he has developed an atmospheric instrumental sound blending downtempo, trip-hop, instrumental hip-hop, electronic music and acoustic influences. With albums such as Soon It Will Be Cold Enough, Safe in the Steep Cliffs and Dusk to Dawn, Emancipator has built a distinctive melodic and contemplative universe shaped by beats, strings and layered electronic textures.