The first set of High Country recordings is officially out in the world.

The goal for this project is simplicity. No overdubs and no studio polish. For this initial batch, I used a direct plug-in for the dreadnought guitar. To be honest, as I listen back, I am already thinking of switching to a microphone for the next session. There is a sterile quality to a direct pickup that misses the air of the room and the true vibration of the wood. These three tracks represent the start of a journey to find the right sound, and I look forward to capturing more of that natural resonance in the dispatches to come.

Tyler Childers is the gold standard for modern songwriting, and "Feathered Indians" is a staple for a reason. For this version, I wanted to strip away the distractions and focus on the soulful, authentic energy of the lyrics. It is a song that fits right at home in an evening set when the sun starts to dip behind the pines. It captures the raw, unaccompanied storytelling that defines this mountain sound.

We all know the atmospheric production of the original, but at its heart, this is a deeply reflective folk song. I used a flatpicking approach to give the rhythm a grounded, earthy feel. It is meant to capture that specific mountain silence, the kind that makes you stop and think about who isn't in the room with you. By stripping away the synth pads, the song takes on a new, minimalist grit.

This was the biggest reimagining of the batch. I wanted to see if I could take the ska-punk energy of Sublime and turn it into a Mountain Roots Americana ballad. By focusing on a percussive rhythm on the guitar, we kept the drive of the original but gave it the "High Country" aesthetic. It has quickly become a favorite for afternoon patio sets. It has a relaxed energy that still feels heavy.

These three tracks are the foundation. Moving forward, you can expect new covers every Tuesday and Friday, with an original song dropping once a month. I am already prepping the next session, likely with a microphone in front of the guitar this time to capture a bit more of that high country air.

Thanks for being part of the "Founding Dispatches." More soon.

- Pete