Karin Bergquist

She has contributed complete songs such as Paul and Virginia, The Genius of Water, Poughkeepsie, Rhapsodie, Anyway and Little Blue River to the band's body of work thus far, and collaborated with Linford on many others. Karin plays guitar and piano in addition to singing and songwriting, nurtures no mean rose bush, and grills salmon guaranteed to wake up the cats and get them downstairs acting friendly.

Linford Detweiler

Linford has written many of the songs which make up Over the Rhine's oeuvre and could probably be accused of being the band's main lyricist, although Karin's contributions have been significant. (Ric contributed lyrics to Gentle Wounds, Circle of Quiet, and Melancholy Room.) Linford paid for the band's early recordings and has often functioned as the band's producer and de facto fearless leader. Much of the Over the Rhine ethos derives from Linford's sensibilities, or lack thereof. Linford collects books, photographs, paintings, woodcuts, and all manner of ephemera including paper dolls and birds' nests. (Perhaps this is why he enjoys disappearing occasionally to monasteries where there are few if any distractions.) In 1992, Linford contacted the aging widow of Rockwell Kent to gain permission to decorate the Patience booklet with Kent's exquisite woodcuts and typically collaborated with Michael Wilson on the content for this and the other packages, drawing liberally from Michael's resonant, melodic photographs.

Linford remembers showing the woodcuts to Brian who was wondering what the big deal was and the only argument he could come up with for wanting to use them was, "They make my heart beat faster."

Offers for record deals came in shortly thereafter and, after ten recordings, Over the Rhine has won the respect of many of their peers. One rewarding development was an invitation Karin and Linford received to become honorary members of the Cowboy Junkies. This special creative collaboration continued for three years and included extensive recording sessions. Canadian singer/songwriter Sarah McLachlan also made a special effort to meet Karin and let her know that she was a fan. Over the Rhine and their music have been referenced by name in such prime time television shows as The X-Files and Angel, and their songs have been heard on Third Watch, Felicity, Jack and Bobby and Mysterious Ways as well as on international compilations alongside artists such as Radiohead, Coldplay, and Dido.

Karin and Linford realized that they were definitely no longer a local band when FILMS FOR RADIO, their 2001 Back Porch release, actually sold more copies in Paris, France, than it did in the entire state of Ohio. The band followed in 2003 with a two CD set named after their home state. OHIO won the duo rave critical reviews and appeared on numerous top ten lists in the U.S. and the U.K. Paste magazine called OHIO “a true confessional masterpiece.” Performing Songwriter described it as “a record of disarming beauty and stunning emotional focus.”

For their new album, DRUNKARD’S PRAYER, Over the Rhine re-immerse themselves in profoundly deep waters, opening the floodgates of their personal relationship. A relaxed, emotionally vulnerable record made in their living room, the album showcases the sonic warmth that can come from recording at home.

“Part of the challenge of being a working musician,” explains Linford, “is just being away from home so much. On the one hand, it’s a real privilege to be able to perform our songs in front of an appreciative audience. On the other, it’s difficult to establish rhythms, be rooted, and build a good life at home when we’re constantly coming and going.” So, the pair opted to record the album in their living room, in a wooden house lovingly called the “Grey Ghost.”

“We decided to keep it close to home this time,” continues Karin. “We gathered a few friends together and made a simple record that was deeply connected to this time in our lives. We chose a palette that included our piano, acoustic guitars, upright bass, some cello, a few horns and subtle textures.”

“We had been sketching and writing off and on for much of the year. We started recording for real in early November and finished mixing on Thanksgiving eve,” says Linford. “We didn’t labor over the songs, which tend to be quite personal. I don’t think we did more than three takes on any of them and quite a few were recorded after playing them once or twice. We’ve found there’s an undeniable warmth and honesty that often comes through in the recordings we make at home.”

Among the introspective vignettes is Born. Several months into a national tour in 2003, Karin and Linford realized that while good things were happening with their music, little energy, creativity, or time was left for their life together. The road began taking a toll on their marriage. They opted to put the tour on hold and retreat home. “When we came home, we bought two cases of wine and decided we were going to put a bottle on the kitchen table every evening and start talking until nothing was left. The idea wasn’t to get smashed, but to talk face-to-face and open up, even if that meant deep into the night.” I Want You To Be My Love caps the sentiment. Linford mentions, “I love when the simplest song, nothing extravagant, nothing innovative, can still make somebody feel something. It’s like experiencing a tiny, three-minute miracle.”

Already a fan favorite, the title track, Drunkard’s Prayer, holds a special place among the songs on the album. Karin explains, “It was the first song we recorded and it set the tone for the songs that followed. Everybody wants to be drunk on the good stuff – drunk on life, love, music, the wine of God, and what not. It seemed natural to name the record after it. Also, DRUNKARD’S PRAYER sounds a little like the name of a race horse, a long shot, a horse with little chance of winning, but the one you’ve got all your money on. We put the image of a white horse on the cover, which we associate with redemption, and we feel the songs on this record tell the story of two people finding their way back home after almost losing everything, each other included.”

“There’s a lot of love on this one.”