Why Dan + Shay Are Chasing Authenticity On and Off Stage in Their “Young” Era: 'We're Different Guys' (Exclusive)

Daniela AvilaFri, May 22, 2026 at 4:25 PM UTC

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Dan + Shay
Credit: Live Nation -

Dan + Shay's upcoming album Young marks a shift toward authenticity and explores themes like mental health and personal growth

The duo reflects on their journey, embracing their evolution as artists and prioritizing music that resonates with their lives now

Their new album drops on Aug. 21 and they'll embark on a North American tour in September

Dan + Shay have come a long way since their debut single "19 You + Me" came out in 2013. With five studio albums under their belt, a near-split and in Shay Mooney's case, four kids later, the country music duo is no longer chasing chart-toppers — they're making music that feels authentic to their lives in this current moment.

This fall, Mooney and Dan Smyers, will release their sixth studio album Young (out Aug. 21) and embark on a North American tour. So far, the band has released singles "Say So" and "Young," which have set the tone for the band's thematic turning point in their music. (In "Say So," the band sings about suicide prevention and it's dedicated to their late mentor who died by suicide in 2025.)

"With 'Say So' coming out about mental health, I feel like it's allowed us to break the fourth wall a little bit and open up about struggles with mental health and anxiety and going to therapy," Smyers, 38, tells PEOPLE exclusively.

Dan + Shay in Nashville in November 2023
Credit: Astrida Valigorsky/WireImage

He continues, "For the last few years, or our last couple tours, I've dealt with a lot of anxiety and imposter syndrome and stage fright. I think being so honest and real with this album, it's allowed me to minimize the gap between who I am onstage and who I am offstage."

For Mooney, 34, Young was "a real look back at what got us here" and they've taken a "deep, hard look" at who they are as people and the messages they wish to convey.

"We're different guys than when we first started and I think that's a beautiful thing. The point of life is not to make mistakes; it's to learn from them and have a new perspective," he says.

Now, the "Tequila" singers have discovered "the value of being yourself," especially in music, and it's brought a newfound peace this release cycle.

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"You spend time chasing what you think other people want from you and you just gotta do you," Smyers says. "I don't even care if this stuff doesn't smash. I'm just proud of it and I'm just glad it exists in the world."

Mooney adds, "We've been doing this for a very long time and it felt really amazing to be able to do this and enjoy the process. I was reminded by making this album how important that piece of it was and how much I really do love music and that we were made to do this. This wasn't something that we fell into... We were made to bring hope and joy into the world and to write songs that help other people process emotions and help ourselves process emotions."

Dan + Shay in Austin in March 2014
Credit: Rick Diamond/Getty Images

As the "Can't Say No" singers gear up for their upcoming tour, their main goal is to translate the "humanity" of the album on stage and to give fans an escape from the "craziness of the world." They also hope to continue to create moments of hope with songs like "Say So."

"There's certain songs that are almost on a spiritual level or just goes beyond the notes and the lyrics. This song has impacted people on a really, really deep level," Mooney says of "Say So," which they performed live on the ACM Awards earlier this month. "So to stand there on stage with conviction knowing that this song could save somebody's life that's in that crowd... I'll cry if think about it right now. That's crazy."

As for their lives on the road, Mooney and Smyers are "pretty low maintenance guys." They don't need much besides some golf clubs for Mooney and some meal prep and a mobile studio rig for Smyers. On their days off, Mooney is spending time with his four boys and Smyers can't wait to get home to mow the lawn.

"Being on the road is a lot of work. You're doing your thing, you're putting yourself out there. Mowing the grass is just so simple and it's therapy for me. I love it. Then the sad thing is when you get home and it's raining and you can't cut the grass," Smyers admits, laughing.

"We're pretty simple guys," Mooney concludes with a smile.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”