“Common Fires perfectly melts together the serene qualities of singer-songwriter music with the abstract tendencies of prog.” - Savannah Bagshaw
— KelownaNow
“McAlpine’s work leans into the abstract; [...] a gratifying blend of folk and prog-leaning production...” - Natalie Hoy
— The Permanent Rain Press
“...superbly talented multi-instrumentalist, [...] heartfelt and breathtaking in equal measures.”
— FV Music Blog
A songwriter, composer, and producer with 20+ years of experience, Canadian multi-instrumentalist Caleb McAlpine has performed music under the name 'Common Fires' since 2017. After years spent developing his craft in the United Kingdom, McAlpine's music now confidently stands at the intersection of story-driven poetry and ambitious musical arrangements.
As Common Fires, McAlpine's music has drawn comparisons to Bon Iver, Father John Misty, and Ben Howard. Utilizing every skill in his toolkit, McAlpine's compositions range from intricate, dynamic theatricality to intimate, vulnerable soundscapes.
Outside of his work as Common Fires, McAlpine can be heard with countless collaborators--most prominently as a member of Andrew Judah's live band (and co-producer of Judah's 2020 release, 'Impossible Staircase'). While composing original scores for videographers represents a lot of McALpine's commercial work, his portfolio as a session musician is always growing: electric guitar (Tromness Lucio & Dina, N. Sherman), bass guitar (Windmills, Rinnovare, Bethany Petch), and vocals (Andrew Judah, N. Sherman).
As a founding member of Sounds Suspicious (a Canadian record label and musical collective), McAlpine serves as a podcast host and content creator.