Dan + Shay have kicked off their next project on a very personal note, sharing the single, “Say So,” which also serves as a tribute to their friend, Ben. The duo recently joined Kate Neal for a conversation about new music, their pivot to “real,” mental health, and more.

The duo explain that "Say So" is "maybe the most important song we've ever written" because it was written about their late friend, Ben, who was essential to their start in Nashville, running Warner Chappell Publishing. “He was just really, really an important part of our story," says Dan. “"He believed in us early, and, for those of you guys who don't know, publisher, publishing companies, they represent songwriters, and that's what we moved to town to do, and we were just two songwriters writing songs and he believed in us."

The message on mental health and the importance of knowing you are not alone is part of a larger pivot from the GRAMMY-winning pair, who admit they went from writing "catchy stuff" that "didn't have a lot of meaning" for a few months, feeling like they were "chasing a hit," before moving closer to honesty and authenticity.

“We just kind of had this realization that the only thing that can combat AI and the modernity of what's happening in the world is just like real authentic human emotion, you know, I think people know when it's real."

"It stopped feeling like work and started feeling like, ‘oh, I'm working from a place of overflow because I feel so filled up to be writing these songs, to have these conversations,’” adds Shay. “Because you don't have to fabricate anything you're just reaching for the truth.”

The core message of "Say So" is the importance of asking for help, breaking the “fourth wall” to discuss their own struggles with anxiety and panic attacks, noting that they both found therapy changed their lives. “If it helps one person, if it saves one life, it was absolutely worth it."

Check out the full conversation above for much more from Dan + Shay.