Caitlin & Will photo courtesy of Columbia Nashville.

Will found his creative niche during the recording process. Though a gifted guitarist in his own right, Will was slightly intimidated by the level of experience the studio musicians had from working with some of the biggest legends in country music. But when they were trying the lead guitar part of Will’s solo song, ‘Your Tears Are Coming,’ he had a completely different melody in mind. So he shyly offered to demonstrate what he thought might work.

"I asked Chris if I could go and play the lead that I was hearing," Will says of his session. "So I sat down and played the lead for them and Julian, the engineer, said ‘Do that one more time!’ So I played through the lead about four more times and Chris pulled me aside and said, ‘Will! What in the world?!’ I thought I had done something wrong and stepped on their turf! But it turned out they really liked the lead and kept it. That was something I was proud of and by doing that, it actually allowed me to do more guitar parts throughout the album." In fact, many of the album’s tracks showcase Will’s prowess on the guitar.

Both Caitlin & Will contributed in writing the title track, which is essentially an autobiography of their unique story. The up-tempo, dirt-under-your-nails anthem is a true representation of overcoming challenges and beating the odds. Both self-proclaimed underdogs, "Dark Horse," encapsulates Caitlin & Will’s unexpected and unconventional successes on the show, and in life. "This is a song about us," Will says. "It’s not only the story of how Caitlin and I came together, but it’s about who we are as people."

During the entire process, the two discovered that part of the beauty in being a duet is that there are always two sides to tell of a story. "That’s what I love about songwriting because everyone has a different take on it," says Caitlin. "I think that’s what makes country music amazing and exciting."

And the end result has certainly made their debut worth the wait. Without stifling their different backgrounds, Dark Horse is a perfect blend of her country style and his southern rock influence. "We wanted to fit in with what’s out there, but we definitely have our own fingerprint on album," Will says. Dark Horse captures the duo’s personality and depth as a creative force in modern country music.

Caitlin & Will’s emotional stamp is evident on every track on the album. "All Because of You" shows love’s strength against all obstacles. Will’s bitter and accusatory solo on "Your Tears Are Comin’" brings a southern rock edge to the album, while Caitlin’s eerily ominous anti-alcohol drama "I’m Not Who You Think I Am," is reminiscent of a classic Alison Krauss tune. Both Caitlin & Will harmonize powerfully on the driving "Looking for a Place to Shine" and the failed romance in "Leaves of September." The ballad "Living Like This" was written specifically for Caitlin & Will’s dynamic blend. "Born Again," is song which proves that everyone deserves a second chance, while "Even Now" portrays a broken relationship where both parties acknowledge they were in the wrong.

As with the fate of many ex-contestants on reality show music competitions, Caitlin & Will could have easily gotten lost in the shuffle. But they both have a genuine likeability that, coupled with their enormous talent and powerful songs, demonstrates that this duo’s presence in the country music will continue for years to come.

"Sometimes we’ll look at each other and think ‘How are we here?’" laughs Caitlin. "It could have gone so differently but we thank God everyday that it didn’t."