Biography
The Lone Star State serves as a wellspring of creativity for Our Religion, where vocalist and composer Ric Swanson channels these regional influences into the group's output, crafting a distinctive Americana sound firmly anchored in Texas traditions. Early musical partnerships between Swanson and guitarist Chris Watkins date back to the initial years of the 1980s, during which they performed in established pop and rock ensembles, notably Nightwork, whose 1986 album marked one of their releases. Eventually, the duo joined forces with identical siblings Jeff and Jerry Doyle to depart from their earlier pop and rock endeavors, establishing Our Religion as a group blending Americana with elements of roots rock and folk. Drawing from their Texan heritage, the musicians also looked to homegrown songwriters including Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, Shake Russell, and Lyle Lovett, alongside iconic figures such as Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and John Cougar Mellencamp. The band's first record came together under the guidance of Grammy-winning producer Marius Perron before its independent issuance in January 2001 through the self-established Right Track Records.
Albums
