Swamp Rat Experience is looking for local song writers to submit proposals for a song. The song will be the backdrop to a carnival Side Show based on the Canadian written musical Ride The Cyclone.
This immersive experience starts outside as audiences will walk through a travelling carnival to get to the venue. Upon arriving at the venue they are greeted with a Side Show that will include art provided by artists of all different kinds. The backdrop to this Side Show will be a song. The song will play through the venue and provide the inspiration for the artists’ works. The song will set the tone for both the Side Show and the main event, the musical Ride The Cyclone.
Ride The Cyclone follows the stories of the spirits of six teenagers who were in the St. Cassian High School Chamber Choir that are summoned after perishing in a roller coaster accident. The six teenagers are informed that one of them will be resurrected, and they have to plead their case as to why they deserve it the most. The show deals with themes such as home, life, death, friendship & love all on a set that will look like an old dilapidated carnival ground.
Creative Lead, Steph Link, describes this endeavor as “A project for all artists of every mode, method and creativity.” She wants to remind the artists of Fort McMurray that “We are more the same than we are different and we should create art together!”
The song should have carnival vibes and be dark in tone. The finished product will be instrumental (no lyrics) and be 30 minutes in length (appropriate looping may be used). The song will be used to inspire the artists who will fill the Side Show with every variety of art from performance to written word, sculpture, visual art, and anything that can be imagined. It will then be played during the Side Show as audiences walk through the exhibits and watch any performances while they visit the themed concession and get ready to take their seats for Ride The Cyclone.
Work Media
Swamp Rat Experience welcomes submissions from both established and emerging artists. Swamp Rat Experience will not be purchasing the final work, only the ability to play the song for all rehearsals and performances. The song will be used as background music under the discretion of Creative Lead, Steph Link, for the Side Show portion of this endeavor and may be looped and/or played multiple times. We will accept new songs only but the work may contain parts of previous work as long as over 60% of the work is new. Artificial Intelligence may NOT be used in the creation of this work.
Submitted digital files of the song shall follow the below requirements:
- Files must be .wav format.
- All artworks and elements within the artwork must be the sole intellectual property of the artist.
Entry Requirements
Please submit the following items in one email to steph@swampratexperience.com: The successful candidate will be commissioned to produce the final song based on the information provided.
- Email subject line: Ride The Cyclone – Song Proposal
- Artist Statement explaining the relevance of your work to the theme and how your submitted examples of work will translate to the final product. (300 words maximum)
- Artist Bio (150 words maximum)
- No more than 3 examples of your work which will showcase your ability and style
Some of the information provided above may be used to give credit to the successful artist at the event and in other promotions. Please make sure this information provided is correct, with proper grammar and punctuation.
Submission Deadline
Submissions must be received by 12:00 PM (Noon) on Monday, September 14th, 2026.
Selection Process
Artwork will be selected by the “Core 4” Artistic and Technical Team working on Ride The Cyclone. The selection is final and the successful artist will be notified by Monday, September 21st, 2026.
Please note that only the successful artist will be notified. Artists submitting their artwork keep full copyright of their submitted media. Submissions that are not chosen will not be used in any way by Swamp Rat Experience or third-party organizations, unless requested by Swamp Rat Experience in advance and approved by the artist.
Next Steps and Fees
The successful song writer will be tasked with creating the above-described song, the first draft of which will be delivered by Monday, November 23rd, 2026, the Creative team will consult and give feedback by Monday, November 30th, 2026. The final version of the song will be delivered no later than Monday, January 4th, 2027.
The successful artist will be paid a one-time, all-inclusive licensing fee of $1,500, inclusive of GST, to be paid upon receipt of the final product.
Contact Information
Steph Link
Creative Lead
steph@swampratexperience.com
Learn more at www.swampratexperience.com/ride-the-cyclone
