Dan + Shay Have Come So Far Since 2014 Acoustic Performance At KMLE Country

It has been such a joy for me to see how much Dan + Shay have matured vocally, as songwriters, and on the production side of things since I became a fan at the end of March, 2014. Being able to write daily posts for my blog and dig deep into their YouTube video collection, it especially brings a smile to my face when I find a clip of a performance from before I became a fan. 

The duo comprised of Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney did a lot of performances at country radio stations early on in their careers, one of them at KMLE-FM in Phoenix, Arizona as part of their Country Live series that took place on January 15, 2014. The duo performed a set of songs for the audience in the room, which included "First Time Feeling" that would be featured on their debut album Where It All Began, which was released on April 1, 2014.

 Before they started singing, Shay Mooney introduced the song to everyone in attendance at the event.

“Dan and I really wanted to write songs like we grew up on, songs that wouldn't go away, songs that were timeless like the one's we grew up on, and we're just really proud of this song," Mooney said. "We wrote it with a buddy of ours, Ben Hayslip."

Both members of the duo had only known one another for just over a year at the time of this performance. It is truly amazing to watch how in sync they were, how tight Mooney’s vocals were with Smyers’ harmonies, and their ability to be passionate storytellers on a track reminiscing on a first time romantic relationship. Looking at their eyes and body language while singing an acoustic version of “First Time Feeling”, I could really tell that they were 100 percent dialed in and performing from their hearts and souls. If you listen closely, Smyers’ harmonies can also be heard and they match Mooney’s lead vocals perfectly.

I am incredibly proud of how far Dan + Shay have come from their first album through their fifth album, Bigger Houses. They have put in the work from project to project and both guys care about releasing the best work for their fans. It really shows to me as a listener on the other end of the spectrum. I am very excited for what is to come next when Smyers and Mooney release their sixth studio album in 2026. I know that they have upped their game once again and I am sure I will be blown away when I get to listen to those songs for the first time! 

Below is a clip of the duo’s KMLE Country Live performance of “First Time Feeling” courtesy of KMLE Country’s YouTube channel! Enjoy!