TWO DRIFTERS - Margot Merah & Kathryn Claire

In a world where folk music so often evokes roots and place, Two Drifters is a rare project that proves home can be a feeling, not a location. This cross-cultural, cross-continental collaboration between Portland-based Kathryn Claire and Amsterdam’s Margot Merah is as unexpected as it is organic. Their story begins, fittingly, in a pub in Amsterdam—one of those magical spots where tunes and fate converge. From that first meeting in 2013, the musical bond was immediate, and it has since blossomed into a heartfelt collaboration that spans oceans and traditions.

Their latest album, Come Close, Come In, is a warm invitation to listeners to do just that—to lean in and feel the richness of their original songwriting, the depth of their musicality, and the rare magic of two voices entwined in breathtaking harmony. The record blends the traditional with the new, the old-world with the Pacific Northwest, creating something deeply connective and refreshingly authentic.

Kathryn Claire’s violin playing rooted in her classical and traditional music background along with her poetic lyricism merge seamlessly with Merah’s storytelling sensibility and rhythmic guitar playing.  Whether playing fiddle, ukulele, bodhrán, or simply letting their voices tell their stories, these multi-instrumentalists craft songs that are honest and tender. There’s strength in their subtlety, and a shared intuition that can only come from a love of the craft and of each other’s artistry. 

Having toured across the US, Europe, and Japan, Two Drifters are proof that music really can bridge any distance. Their partnership is a reminder that sometimes, drifting leads you exactly where you’re meant to be.