The heat of summer seems to be the prime time for turning up some country music and finding a way to cool off. And for all you fair weather country fans, who only appreciate that Nashville twang in the dog days of summer, I think I’ve got a great album for you to get back in the country summer state of mind.

Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney were two strangers chasing their dreams of making a name for themselves in the music business when they met in 2012. They stayed up all night singing and playing around with words and melodies, and instantly knew they would be perfect partners to write songs. Dan remembered, "We fell in love with country music because of the stories, the storytelling country music does, and the way that it makes you feel, the emotions that can be put into a song like that. That’s what we wanted to do." Initially they were just a couple of songwriters hoping for a label and a big name to pick up their songs for a star to sing. But once those producers heard them sing their own songs, they became the stars. They signed with Warner Brothers and released their first album in 2014.

Dan and Shay have now dropped their third album “Dan + Shay” and it is the summer album to help you bridge the gap from your other music into country. It is a modern take on country music, with a lot of pop influences, and they aren’t ashamed of that. Shay commented, "Country music is such a cool thing, and it’s always evolving, especially now." While some country fans are constantly disappointed by the lack of the classic sound in new music, Dan and Shay embrace it, hoping to get more people under that country fan umbrella. The album has 11 songs, and one of them features Kelly Clarkson. The songs tell stories, just like they aspired too, and those stories range from summer fun, passionate relationships, and the moment when a guy knew his relationship was over. The range of emotions and song styles will keep you listening, and the smooth voices and powerful harmonies Dan and Shay command will have you falling in love with their music.