Higher by Painter Fingers

I wrote this song when I was 15. There exists another version out there on CDRs recorded around 1999-2000. My high school band Shylocke released an album called Everywhere at Once, which was created on a Tascam 8-track cassette recorder (with one channel not working).

I decided to re-record this one now, for today, more than 25 years later.

"Higher" holds a special place in my heart because of the people I played it with so many times, and those who sang along at some of those childhood-defining moments like our first Across the Street Bar gig in Dallas or the Jasper High School battle of the bands in 10th grade. Here is a version that now calls back those times, but looks upon them with different and older eyes.

In 2024, I lost a dear friend to a tragedy. One of her last communications with me was suggesting that I record "Higher" again.

And so, here it is.

This recording is dedicated to the loving memory of Stephanie Bower. My dear friend, you will be missed.

Dream folk, indie pop, soft rock

Latest album "Dear Presence" streaming Jan 2, 2026.

Painter Fingers is the recording project of Travis Charles Hagan, a songwriter and middle school teacher from Texas.

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