We don’t often post covers on The Circle Pit. But when a talent like Mike Dawes picks up the guitar, it’s hard not to pay attention. In this case, the fingerstyle acoustic master opted to tackle the Periphery track “Scarlet” in his own style and the results are beyond brilliant. You can watch the masterful playthrough down below.
You can catch Mike Dawes on tour in North America right now! Head over to his Facebook page for the dates and pray you didn’t miss the opportunity.
“As a lifelong metal fan myself (my first concert was Iron Maiden at the age of 13) I really wanted my next arrangement to highlight the wonderful melodies and textures of a great metal track, arranged for an audience that may initially be put off by the volume and intensity of the original. In covering ‘Scarlet’, I’m really trying to express the core ingredients of the track, melody and harmony, as with any genre, and that once an individual can get over and accept the intensity of a metal arrangement you can find some of the most beautiful tunes out there. ‘Scarlet’ is a brilliant example of this and if just one acoustic guitar fan discovers the original, discovers Periphery or discovers metal through this cover, then the arrangement will have been a success.” – Mike Dawes
“Mike is an extraordinary talent. He’s got a style that is completely unmistakable, and I can’t really compare him to anyone else in his genre. The first time I heard his cover of ‘Scarlet’, I was floored at how unique of a spin he put on the song. It’s moody and sombre, which is such a different feel from the Periphery version. But in my opinion, the best kinds of cover songs are the ones that give you a completely different perspective on what was written. Mike has accomplished just that.” – Mark Holcomb (Periphery)
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Mike Dawes: Facebook // Official Website
Periphery: Facebook // Twitter // iTunes
