Wild Ponies Release Debut Album THINGS THAT USED TO SHINE Today

Today, September 10 new label Ditch Dog Records releases Things That Used To Shine, the debut album byWild Ponies, a new project by acclaimed Nashville singer-songwriting duo Doug and Telisha Williams. The album not only marks Doug and Telisha's first outing with the band but also the first Ditch Dog release, a label the pair helped form.

The band includes Jake Winebrenner on percussion, and it was the trio's time on the road together-and the gradual evolution of their live show-that led to the forming of Wild Ponies and the making of Things That Used To Shine. Produced by five-time Grammy winner Ray Kennedy (Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris), the album featuresRuss Pahl on pedal steel, banjo and electric guitar, and Casey Driessen on fiddle. Kennedy also contributes keyboards on multiple tracks.

Things That Used To Shine is a 12-song set inspired by the true story of abuse and recovery that led Doug and Telisha to pick up and leave their native Virginia, spend a year on the road as homeless troubadours, and ultimately settle in Nashville where they've become active members of the local music scene. "A lot of this album came from dealing with the recognition of abuse in my past," Telisha says. "There's a lot of loss and rejection on it, and maybe ultimately some redemption." It all started when things in the news-the Penn State scandal, the Catholic Church scandals-began bringing things to the surface that had once been buried. "I had to figure out how to let go of the trauma I'd lugged around for years," she says. "I finally got some real therapy, and (hopefully) some good songs out of it. It helped me find my voice, and gave Doug and me a strong desire to reach out to others who may not have a voice (or may be struggling to find it)."

Wild Ponies spend most of their time on the road, where they've shared the stage with some of their greatest heroes including Lucinda Williams, Darrell Scott, Joe Ely and the late Charlie Louvin. When at home they spend time playing several of East Nashville's hot spots, and Doug and Telisha host the popular radio show "Whiskey Wednesdays" on East Nashville Radio and co-host the weekly East Nashville Song Salon songwriting group. Ditch Dog Records, also based in East Nashville, is a collaborative label started by Doug and Telisha with friends Kristen Bakevich and Luke Stills.

THINGS THAT USED TO SHINE TRACKLIST
1. Make You Mine
2. The Truth Is
3. Trigger
4. Things That Used To Shine
5. Trouble Looks Good on You
6. Iris
7. Valentine's Day
8. Massey's Run
9. Want To Be Gone
10. Broken
11. Revival Wasteland
12. Another Chance