KelownaNow wants to get to know the hard-working, up and coming artists who fill our city with music and we’re almost positive most of you do too! 

Our Saturday Spotlight series that will feature a new, local act every other weekend, to better strengthen our scene and get to know the people behind the music.

Get to know: Common Fires

Indie artist Caleb McAlpine,  has been performing and creating music for over 15 years and has only just dived into his latest project, Common Fires.

Soft and textured, Common Fires perfectly melts together the serene qualities of singer-songwriter music with the abstract tendencies of prog into one beautiful project. 

Inspired by the artistry of Ben Howard, Bon Iver and Sufjan Stevens with a zest of R&B from acts like Moses Sumney, McAlpine describes Common Fires as “very textured and layered” music that takes on a more “progressive indie sound.”

Photo credit: Contributed

Growing up in a musical family, McAlpine knew from a young age he would end up pursuing music, joking that he was “cursed from the start.”

“Music is just what happens when I wake up, I don’t go a moment without thinking about it!” he said. 

McAlpine moved to the Okanagan in 2014 and has found local success in having his creations receive airtime on CBC Radio West, in addition to carving out a spot in Andrew Judah’s live band.

Having only lived here for five years, he firmly believes the talent within the valley is worthy of more recognition than it receives. 

Photo credit: Contributed

“There's a quiet little renaissance happening in the music scene right now — there's a lot of talent worthy of national appreciation lurking in the shadows," he said.

Not only does he feel hopeful of his own career having seen the success of veterans such as Andrew Judah, Icelandia and Windmills, he finds the motivation to constantly grow and create, upon seeing young up-and-comers like Tega Ovie, Sean Waters, Chloe Davidson and Lake Feile. 

Within that motivation mindset, McAlpine has turned out Common Fires debut single, “Avery.”

Filled with warm falsetto vocals, dreamy acoustic plucking and hopeful ambiance, McAlpine has found a way to share his personal narrative through the song — in a relatable way that offers both comfort and support to the listener. 

“The song initially drew inspiration from my parents moving our family off of Vancouver Island to Winnipeg, Manitoba in the winter of 1997, I quickly realized the song was going to be a fictionalized take of it, and the characters took new life during the course of the writing,” said McAlpine. 

While the track tells the story of his own hardships, there is an underlying theme of the importance of mental health that blares between its many layers. 

“It works as a metaphor of mental health and the importance of your loved ones during the "cold" times in life," he said. "I think a lot of people experience a winter of some sort at any time of the year, and it can be hard to keep your chin up (even in the summer) knowing that the winter will come back.” 

Photo credit: Contributed

The four and a half minute track was produced by Judah, a sentiment that McAlpine says helped to reintroduce himself to releasing his music. 

“I deeply appreciate his vision and abilities, I owe him the word for helping me.” 

When it comes to writing music, McAlpine says he writes liberally through the use of low-event metaphors.

“It is all in the details," he said. 

"I want to paint a picture where the tiny elements and details only come together when you zoom out to see the bigger picture." 

Much like his music, McAlpine’s live performances are intimate and inviting, as he often takes the stage in his favourite setting of cozy house concerts.

“It is hard to compete for attention when you’re making softer sounds," he said. 

Photo credit: Common Fires Facebook

"But being in the safety and hospitality of one's home, with their friends and family — it creates an intimate environment that is transcendent for both the musician and the listener.”

His love of house concerts took him on a spur of the moment cross-Canada tour in the Spring of 2018. During that time he traveled from Newfoundland back to BC, a risk that McAlpine says turned out to be one of his proudest accomplishments. 

“It was a terrible idea and a ‘young’ risk that I knew better than to take, but it changed my life for the better,” he said.

Adding: “Now I know there isn’t a thing on earth that I can do better than create music, I have done things that are more quantifiable and much bigger news events, but nothing I am more proud of as of yet.” 

Photo credit: Contributed

While the next Common Fires show is a secret, you can see McAlpine on the guitar with Andrew Judah at Canoe Coffee Roasters on August 29th. Keep up to date with him and his music by following his Facebook page.

If you know of a local band or musician the community needs to hear, nominate them for a Saturday Spotlight by sending an email to savannah@kelownanow.com