From rocking stand-outs like "Fall," to aching ballads like "Tonight," Wilshire's new release, Second Story, is a passionate, pop-rock tribute to the extraordinary feelings that are born out of these, and other, everyday situations.

Wilshire began its own "second story" nearly a year ago. The husband and wife duo left the comfort of a record label contract to spread their wings as an independent act. They say that striking out on their own was a daunting experience, but they couldn't be happier with the way that things have worked out.

"The independence that we've experienced has suited not only our music, but also our personalities," says Lori. "We've had total freedom to be and express who we are. We didn't have to answer to any other artistic direction other than our own. And it gave us the courage to say, `We refuse to be pigeon-holed.'"

As a result, the couple welcomed a less structured approach when they recorded Second Story.

"Almost the entire thing was cut in our living room," says Lori. "We didn't have to worry about time costing money. The process really began with us writing songs with a few people and demoing them to see how they would turn out. We loved the results. Then it hit us one day: why not turn this into a record?"

"When it came to recording this album, our method involved not having a method," confirms Micah. "When it came to writing the songs, sometimes we'd begin an idea together and sometimes one would bring half a song to the other and we work from there. We also brought in outside writers, which prevented us from becoming stagnant."

Wilshire's passionate vocal delivery might lead the listener to assume that all of the songs on the album were inspired by events in Micah and Lori's own lives. But this isn't exactly the case.

"When we write, we just try to take snapshots of life, though not necessarily from our own," says Micah. "For example, `All Been Said' is about a relationship that's been put through the ringer and left unresolved, just like in life. On the other hand, `Ordinary' is a song that describes the feelings we all have when we're in love -- how the world around us just seems to fade away."

Faith is another one of the "everyday" themes that run throughout the album. "`The Prayer' is just that -- a prayer written at a time when I didn't understand what was happening in my life," says Lori. "I was asking God to give me strength, or to carry me through. And `Shame' is about losing faith in yourself."

The couple is influenced by a spectrum of artists, and these influences are evident in their vocal styles. She's a fan of classic soul and rock singers like Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin ("They're such passionate performers," she says), while he counts the Police, the Beatles, Little Stevie Wonder and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith ("The best rock singer ever," says Micah) among his musical favorites. But the couple share an appreciation for the talent of singer-songwriters like James Taylor and Patty Griffin. "It's the depth of their storytelling," says Micah. "It can make you cry."

In addition to sharing songwriting duties on Second Story, Micah and Lori act as co-vocalists and guitarists. The duo grew up singing in church - Micah in Virginia, and Lori in Texas - where they each learned to harmonize. "I think that what sets us apart as an act is the fact that we are two lead singers," says Micah. "We really try to intertwine melodies and our voices-so much at times that it's hard to tell who's singing the lead."

While Second Story marks a new chapter in their career, Micah and Lori are excited to see what the future holds for them. "I like to think that we've grown a lot as artists since the first record," says Lori. "Hopefully, we'll continue to evolve musically. I think that success comes from being unafraid to try new things. It's made this project feel more `like us' than anything else we've done before."