FM Hi Low is a unique mash up of roots and electronic music that bridges the gap between the backwoods and the dance floor. Soulful hip-hop grooves, roots reggae riddims, dance floor pop and strong songwriting are the fundamentals of the FM Hi Low sound. It is in this combination of style and influences that give FM HI Low its unmistakeable identity while still maintaining a sense of familiarity and universal appeal.
Going beyond the role as musical entertainment, FM Hi Low is a movement of sonic environmentalism. Embracing the pop melody as a form of mass communication and using music as a tool for positive change. Behind Fraser's catchy hooks and the bands groovy beats lay lyrics that have a deep consciousness for the earth and generosity for the human spirit. The songs cary messages that are attuned to the protection and conservation of Canadian waterways, the peace movement, organic farming, human rights, and an overall joi de vivre.
The FM HI Low sound and vision was founded in 2006 on the voice and instrumental compositions of Montreal musician, Fraser MacDougall. It emerged from a natural evolution of sound and personal explorations, both live in front of audiences all over Canada, Australia, and New Zealand and in a handful of home studios from Montreal and Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, to Peterborough, Ontario. Fraser's recording process was a simple do-it-yourself affair comprised of layering a live vocal and guitar take over a rhythmic loop on his laptop, and then adding instrumental color as he saw fit. By playing drums, bass, percussion, keyboards, ukulele, mandolin, and a variety of other instruments on the songs, Fraser tastefully gave each one its own flavour. While the results were always pleasing, they never quite reached the polished perfection of a master recording that Fraser was looking for. It was upon meeting Borza Ghomeshi in 2008 that Fraser's plethora of recordings were refined into an album. Borza, a Producer/Engineer that has worked with award winning artists and record labels and has his own “Mayk Music” Studio located on an idyllic hillside in St-Adele, Quebec, offered his space and sonic expertise to re -amp,re-mix, edit and add new overdubs to his favourite nine tracks from Fraser’s origninal FM Hi Low demos. What resulted from a winter of hard work was the album “Up On the Hillside”, which was pressed independently in July, 2009 and sold at live performances and on iTUNES.
After the completion of "Up On the Hillside", Fraser hit the road for a year with a new band formed of friends, Bassist, Erik Schramek and Drummer, Evan The Pirate. They entered the world of FM Hi Low and brought the studio sound to life with a wild spontaneous rhythm section full of energy and passion. As a trio with Fraser on vocals, guitar (acoustic/electric), keyboards, and percussion, they played over 50 shows together and toured coast to coast Canada, heading as far south as Tennessee, USA to play at Bonnaroo Music Festival. They also played at Folly Fest 2009 & 2010 , Edge of the World Festival 2010, and shared the stage with such acts as Shad, Mishka, Apostle of Hustle, Grand Theft Bus, and Kinnie Starr.