Warner Music NashvilleDan + Shay are quickly taking over the country scene. Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney are the first ever duo to debut their song at No. 1 on the country charts, and are quickly proving it wasn't just beginner's luck. Less than a year ago, "19 You + Me" hit the radio, and they've already joined Hunter Hayes and Blake Shelton on tour. They've been nominated for a CMA for Vocal Duo of the year, and their headlining tour, Where it All Began, kicked off earlier this month in Los Angeles.
We sat down with the guys on the plush leather couches of their tour bus, and chatted tour essentials. These two guys are humble, hilarious and clearly going to continue taking over the country charts. Here are nine things we found out about Dan + Shay's tour life:
1. The Most Expensive Thing on Their Bus Is Dan's Laptop: "We recorded our album on it, so I had to put a lot of money into it," Dan says. "Fast drives, that whole deal."
2. Refrigerator Essentials: When asked to share five things that are almost always in the bus fridge, Dan responded, water, Suja juice, hummus, produce (specifically cucumbers, celery and ginger to make fresh juice) and leftover Chipotle. The items Shay likes to have on hand? Suja juice, water, milk ("even though Dan hates milk"), Red Bull and "sometimes beer. You know not a lot of it, sometimes you got to keep a cold one in there in case Blake Shelton comes over."
3. Drink of Choice: Shay has a bit of an obsession with tea. "I'm a hot tea guy. I drink a lot of decaffeinated tea with honey. I drink about four or five a day," he says. While Shay loves tea, Dan is a Starbucks man. Dan will either walk to Starbucks, or if you take a look at their Keurig machine, it's stocked with Starbucks K-cups. No other brand in sight.
4. Early to Rise: "I'm up around 6:45 or 7 in the morning," Dan says. "I love waking up early in the morning, opening the windows, catching the vibe, then I like to go for a run, explore the area."
Shay, on the other hand, prefers to sleep in. "I'm around 6:45 as well, just p.m. I'll wake up around 11, and I just try to close my eyes, I don't like getting out of bed," he says, "I've got to sleep in, it helps me keep my voice, significantly. So, I try to sleep as much as possible."
5. They Miss Home-Cooked Meals: "I love biscuits and gravy, another thing Dan hates," Shay says. "Growing up my grandma used to make that, that's like my favorite meal of all time for breakfast, biscuits, gravy, and eggs. It's just so good."
Meanwhile, Dan misses his mom's chili. "I love homemade chili," he reveals. "My mom always made great chili, when I was growing up."
6. Happy Hour With Blake Shelton: When asked who the better bartender is, Shay points to Dan. Also when it comes to bartending, "Blake's not too creative," Dan shares. Blake's drink of choice? The Voice star likes "vodka and Diet Sierra Mist," Dan reveals. "I don't know if I'm supposed to give that secret away, but I just did."
7. Game On: "Dan had his old Nintendo 64, and brought it on the road, so we play Mario Kart all the time," Shay says. "They even surprised us when we were in New York, by putting in a Wii Mario Kart." The two agree that Shay wins the most.
8. Go Broncos: The two have a Peyton Manning signed football that sits atop a bucket of games in the front of their bus.
9. If They Weren't In Music They'd Be...: Dan could see himself as a professor, "I like academia, I like learning."
"I'd be working in construction, because my Dad owns a construction company," Shay says. "So, I'd be taking over the family business. I did that for years, dug my fair share of ditches, and walked on a lot of scary tall buildings."
We had so much fun catching up with Dan + Shay, and for all those that tweet back and forth with them, they want you to know, yes, it is really them behind all those @replies. "It's why we are on our phones all morning," Dan shares.