After losing a friend and writing ‘Say So,’ Dan + Shay are back with the autobiographical ‘Young’

The duo Dan + Shay, led by Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney, released a new autobiographical album titled "Young." The lead single, "Say So," marked a significant change for the country music pair, as it dealt with a heavy subject matter. The song was written as a tribute to the duo's late mentor, Ben Vaughn, who had passed away by suicide a year before. The chorus of "Say So" encourages listeners to seek help if they're going through difficult times, singing "If you need somebody, say so."

At first, Smyers and Mooney were unsure about tackling the heavy topic. They shared stories about their friend, Ben Vaughn, and as the songwriting process progressed, they felt that addressing the subject matter was the right thing to do. The creation of the demo, alongside the co-writers David Hodges and Jimmy Robbins, turned into a therapeutic experience for the duo. They felt it was their responsibility to honor their friend's memory, the community he touched, and themselves by completing the song.

While "Say So" is the most challenging track on "Young," it also serves as a central theme for the record. The 10 autobiographical songs on the album reflect the duo's lives, now with a newfound emotional vulnerability. This openness is seen as a "very life-giving thing," according to Mooney.