Dan Shares why Dan + Shay Works as a Duo

(L-R) Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney of the duo Dan + Shay
(L-R) Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney of the duo Dan + Shay (Photo credit: Catherine Powell)

The duo of Dan + Shay have been making music together since 2013. That includes three albums and 12 singles.

Two of those albums hit #1 on the Billboard Country Album sales chart. Seven of the singles reached #1 on the Billboard Country Airplay singles chart.

Dan + Shay have won ACM Awards, CMA Awards, Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards and CMT Music Awards. Dan Smyers shares what he believes is the duo’s winning formula.

“Balance is definitely part of what makes Dan + Shay work. When we found each other, our songwriting balance and our performing, and our harmonies kind of just met in the middle and created a sound that was unique, that people hadn’t heard before. Still ’til this day every-time we write we know our roles and we know where to balance each other out so that’s one of the Yin and Yang, ebb and flow things that make this whole project work and makes it what it is today.”

That balance does seem to keep working. Dan + Shay’s latest single “Glad You Exist” is approaching the Top 10 on the Billboard Country Airplay singles chart this week. Listen for the song on Bloomington-Normal’s #1 Country, B104.

What do you think is a key part of making any partnership work?

By: Buck Stevens
Buck Stevens