Mikele Buck was the very first artist I ever recorded, and this session is one I’ve wanted to do “proper” for a long time. We finally got together and cut “Irish Road,” one of my favorite songs Mikele’s written. It’s the kind of writing that sticks with you—real memories, real places, and the weight that comes with them. I also brought in my buddy David from Truthful Sessions, and we kept it simple and honest, the way these songs deserve. In the video, Mikele tells you straight up where the song came from: a road in Iraq they had to travel over and over, and it could get pretty hairy. The lyrics carry that tension—faith and fear sitting side by side, a Bible by the head at night, and the feeling of being haunted by what you’ve seen and who you’ve lost. It’s a hard listen in the best way, because it’s not dressed up. If you’re here for Appalachian-rooted songwriting that doesn’t flinch, this one’s for you.