Beginning with a simple Zoom call in 2020, we began processing the emotional burden we felt in our world: the political, racial, and social unrest, and the novel effects of lockdown. As we fumbled through our feelings and tried to remind ourselves of the true and beautiful and good, we began singing out our hope—honest and aspirational expressions of our profound aches. As one song turned into many, the Wood Drake Sessions was born.

We are Paul Ranheim and Kirk Sauers, friends from earlier days in Nashville, TN. Paul is a minister and songwriter in Colorado, with a particular heart for resourcing the church’s worship and cultivating her leaders. Kirk is a worship leader in Georgia, with a passion to shepherd the diverse and beautiful body of Christ through music.

We love the local church. Our aim, like so many before us, is simply to write sacred songs for followers of Jesus to sing together. When our tunes meet the studio, we love including a plurality of voices beyond our own to feature both the music and also the great variety of God’s people.

From the beginning, our aim has been to compose in a way that allows deep, ancient truths to stir our emotions and invite a heartfelt response. Reading this poem by Wendell Berry, we sense exactly how we want these songs to come to life. (This is also where we drew the inspiration for our name!) We hope our music welcomes you—amid whatever chaotic fears you face—into the joyous peace of the Lord.