Writing, Public Relations, and Content Creation for Music and the Arts
The promotion of music deserves the same care as the music itself. Around the Fire offers public relations and multimedia promotional materials for musicians and artists — press materials that capture an artist’s voice on the page — alongside collaborative video and visual content that help bring a song to life on screen. Whether it’s a one-sheet for a festival submission or a video built shot by shot alongside the artist, the goal is the same: help the work reach the people who need to hear it.
Video Production
Narrative Video/Concept Video
Daniel Raymond’s “Peterborough” reflects on the artist’s musically formative years living in Peterborough through the 1990s, while touching on the broader theme of how our present selves continue to carry the places and people we’ve moved on from. I felt that this called for visual themes of leaving, returning, and the permanence of the past. After using a gimble camera and following Daniel as he walked through Peterborough’s arts district, I set out with a camera to get shots that complimented both the city’s present, and the one that Daniel had left. I supplemented this with archival shots of Daniel, and new photos and footage of him with guitar in hand. The 3-panel format both allowed for both the illusion of a single shot walk (it was a single shot, but edited for time) and the necessary creative b-roll.
I didn’t let the fact that Darren Roy Clarke’s “Westward” was the first video that I had produced and shot stop me from pulling out some ridiculous stops. Being thrown around the back of a pickup truck while trying to film Darren driving head on, from behind, and passing was/and is one of the most entertaining photographic experiences I’ve ever had. I’m not sure exactly how I arrived at the low-fi/b&w aesthetic for this heartbreak travel-weary roadtrip, but it sure covered up some of the rougher patches of “seat of the pants” videography. The song features Travis Good of the Sadies on banjo, Melissa Payne on fiddle and backing vocals, and was produced by James McKenty.
Lyric Videos
I’m not not saying that my inspiration for this lyric video came from a hybrid of Olivia Rodrigo videos, but… I will say that this presented some technical hurdles that strained the capabilities of my editing platforms. And turned out to be a lot more different from Ms. Rodrigo’s work than I had planned!
Promotional Writing and Materials
Around the Fire’s Donald Fraser has been working with and alongside musicians, artists, and arts-based organizations for over two decades. Clients include/have included Rick Fines, Darren Roy Clarke, Daniel Raymond, Kate Suhr, Diamond Dave Russell, Dub Trinity, and more. He has done public relations work for organizations such as Market Hall, Public Energy/Peterborough New Dance, Electric City Culture Council; and sat as a director on the Peterborough Folk Festival board, City of Peterborough Arts, Culture, and Heritage Committee, City of Peterborough Community Funding Committee, Peterborough Arts Umbrella, and others.
Around the Fire will capture your sound in words, telling the story of your songcraft through web copy, one sheets, electronic press kits, liner notes, media releases, reviews, and more. With a proven record in grant proposal writing, we can also help you seek out options for funding your next artistic project.
Promotional Material
Steeped in roots music, Rick Fines crafts a unique blend of warm-hearted blues, juke joint folk, and dockside soul that both embraces and defies the genres that influence him. As a veteran of the North American blues and folk circuits, he engages audiences with captivating songs, diverse guitar styling and his signature vocal growl.
Bio/One sheet: Rick Fines (MapleBlues Awards Songwriter of the Year and Acoustic Act Of The Year)
Describing the ethereal depth of Kate Suhr’s voice is much like trying to hold water in hand. Elusive yet very much present, her vocal range embodies fluidity and depth; graceful whispers dip and roll before soaring to powerful high notes that hit with pinpoint accuracy – a unique sound and delivery that melts expectations and defies stereotype.
Bio: Kate Suhr
As a songwriter, Kate’s stories are equally deceptive by beckoning listeners into familiar waters of love, hope and loss before coursing into deep waters with an emotional intensity and fragility that is both heartbreaking and breathtaking.
Dub Trinity delivers message-based music of solidarity that transcends both borders and genres: true folk music. Rooted in dub reggae and ska, the band has made a career of incorporating diverse elements into their eclectic sound, from activist funk to revolutionary R&B.
Made up of veterans of the Canadian music scene, Dub Trinity has many influences. Band members have been a part of outfits ranging from the Cheap Suits to the Conestokers to the Silver Hearts – and yet they hold an iconic position of their own. After almost 20 years of making music, there is still no one else like Dub Trinity.
Bio: Dub Trinity
Content Creation
Around the Fire will collaborate with you and your music to create compelling visual and graphic web content, including music videos, intimate performance videos, album/single covers, announcements, and advertisements.
Recording and lyric video by Around the Fire.
