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Herbal Tea & White Sofas: Amanda Shires' Backstage Go-To Keeps Her Clothes Free Of Wine Stains
Amanda Shires

Photo: Schmelling

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Herbal Tea & White Sofas: Amanda Shires' Backstage Go-To Keeps Her Clothes Free Of Wine Stains

Amanda Shires shares the on-the-go cleaning product she swears by when she's on the road in this episode of Herbal Tea & White Sofas.

GRAMMYs/Jun 13, 2022 - 05:04 pm

Amanda Shires wears many hats on the road: She is a solo artist, one-fourth of the country supergroup the Highwomen (with Maren Morris, Brandi Carlile and Natalie Hemby) and part of the 400 Unit, the all-star backing band for her husband, Americana giant Jason Isbell.

But no matter what the lineup is, Shires has been touring long enough to know what she needs backstage before her shows, and one important component of her tour rider is a wine selection.

"I have a couple different wine riders that go out. The $25 tier, the $40 tier, the celebration tier, the 'what we can get by with when We're in the middle of Amarillo' tier," she jokes. "I'm just a person that really appreciates Jesus' first miracle."

In this episode of Herbal Tea & White Sofas, the singer/songwriter and fiddle player explains that her tour riders are Road-tested. Over the years, she's learned that if she's going to have wine backstage, she also needs an effective way to clean up spills.

"With that, and my clumsy self, I have to have Shout wipes," Shires goes on to say. "Copious amounts of Shout Wipes. It's the only thing that you can get red wine out of your clothes real fast with. And also, it gets rosin off your clothes, if you've been practicing your fiddle backstage. Not to mention whatever other corn dog stuff you get on your shirt."

That's always why you'll probably see her mostly dressed in black when she's on tour ("Black is your friend, right? Its only enemy is mustard," she quips). But Shires says that her Shout wipes revelation didn't truly come along until the birth of her daughter, Mercy, in 2015. 

"And now I probably pretty much single handedly support their business," she adds with a smile. 

Although Shires isn't currently on the road, her website's tour page cryptically reads "Coming Soon." With a new album on the way — Take It Like A Man, due July 29 — it might not be long before Shires is breaking out the "celebration tier" wine rider.

Press play above to watch the full video, and keep checking GRAMMY.com for more installments of Herbal Tea & White Sofas.

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Herbal Tea & White Sofas: 1da Banton Reveals His Secret Ingredients To Staying Happy While On Tour
1da Banton

Photo: Aham Ibeleme

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Herbal Tea & White Sofas: 1da Banton Reveals His Secret Ingredients To Staying Happy While On Tour

Nigerian singer 1da Banton shares the two things he needs on every tour, and why his fans play a huge role in the joy he feels on the road.

GRAMMYs/Mar 13, 2023 - 05:00 pm

It's common to feel a few nerves when you're standing on stage in front of thousands of people. That's why when Nigerian singer 1da Banton goes on tour, he stays grounded by bringing a close group of friends and family members for support.

"I always love to have my people around me. It's like a morale booster," Banton shares in this episode of Herbal Tea & White Sofas. But friends aren't the only things keeping him motivated — he also emphasizes having his usual snack of choice, a sausage roll, backstage at all times.

Good friends and delicious snacks aside, Banton likes to give himself a pep talk before finally hitting the stage every night. "I [tell] myself: 'You got this. This is what you've been preparing for your entire life,'" Banton says.

Throughout his performances, he maintains his stamina from the fans' energy, which also happens to be his favorite part of being on tour. "I can feel the energy from the crowd," Banton explains. "Hearing them sing the songs gives me a lot of joy. My fans are family."

Press play on the video above to learn more about 1da Banton's tour life and passion for performing, and keep checking back to GRAMMY.com for more episodes of Herbal Tea & White Sofas.

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Herbal Tea & White Sofas: Fortune Feimster's Tour Rider Includes This Southern Snack Staple
Fortune Feimster

Photo: Todd Rosenberg

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Herbal Tea & White Sofas: Fortune Feimster's Tour Rider Includes This Southern Snack Staple

Comedian Fortune Feimster can't hit the road without red SOLO cups and a bag of ice, two items that remind her of her North Carolina roots.

GRAMMYs/Mar 6, 2023 - 06:00 pm

Between her career as a stand-up comedian, actress, radio host, and podcaster, Fortune Feimster is always on the go. So when she puts together her tour rider, she makes sure to include items that will make every venue feel like her home away from home.

At the top of her list are water, a red SOLO cup, and ice. "I'm from North Carolina. I have to take it back to my roots," Feimster shares in this episode of Herbal Tea & White Sofas

Without the influence of her partner, Feimster says she would include her favorite guilty pleasure snacks, Snickers and Doritos. "[My wife is] like, 'How about an apple, some almond butter, and cashews?'" Feimster laughs.

Feimster also likes to have an iced cortado, a coffee that's equal parts espresso and milk. Although it might not be feasible, she emphasizes that she would love to bring a portable café to every stop. "In Milwaukee, they have their own coffee shop backstage with a barista," she explains. "If I could get really fancy, I'd somehow have a coffee-barista situation with me."

Press play on the video to find out the complete story behind Fortune Feimster's appetizing tour rider, and keep checking back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Herbal Tea & White Sofas.

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Herbal Tea & White Sofas: Yuju Reveals The Cozy Items That Keep Her Calm On Tour
Yuju

Photo: KONNECT Entertainment

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Herbal Tea & White Sofas: Yuju Reveals The Cozy Items That Keep Her Calm On Tour

K-pop star Yuju dishes on her favorite clothes, foods and scents that help her stay grounded while she's on the road.

GRAMMYs/Feb 27, 2023 - 06:17 pm

Since starting her solo career in early 2022, South Korean singer Yuju has released her first mini-album, appeared on multiple soundtracks, and served as an MC on a Korean variety show. So when the multihyphenate adds a tour to her mixed bag, she prioritizes her comfort and relaxation.

In this episode of Herbal Tea & White Sofas, Yuju shares some of the essentials — from cozy pink slippers to gummy candies — that keep her grounded while she's on the road.

"When I take a rest, if I'm with this kind of soft light rather than a harsh light, I feel more relaxed," Yuju explains, showing off her mood lamp.

The former GFriend member also brings a rose-scented perfume, but she notes that she wasn't always a fan of the item in her childhood. "At some point, I fell in love with the rose scent," she shares. "I spray it on my bedding sometimes and use it often when I feel nervous, so it runs out quickly, and I have to buy a lot."

Despite the nerves she might feel while on tour, seeing her fans makes it worthwhile. "The best thing about performing live is that I can make eye contact with my fans," she says. "It's a good feeling of tension and excitement that I can only feel at that moment."

Press play on the video above to learn more about Yuju's life on tour, and keep checking back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Herbal Tea & White Sofas.

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Herbal Tea & White Sofas: Denzel Curry Keeps It Simple On The Road With Toiletry Essentials And Healthy Snacks
Denzel Curry

Photo: Adrian Villagomez

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Herbal Tea & White Sofas: Denzel Curry Keeps It Simple On The Road With Toiletry Essentials And Healthy Snacks

Rapper Denzel Curry shares the list of items he needs to be his best self on stage — all of which can be found on the shelves of any corner pharmacy.

GRAMMYs/Jan 3, 2023 - 06:00 pm

It doesn't take a whole lot for Denzel Curry to be happy when he's on tour. The rapper says his must-haves are all simple items that help him look his best and feel good, even after a night of going all out on stage.

In this episode of Herbal Tea & White Sofas, Curry says that toiletry items are at the top of the list when he considers what he needs on tour — and he also likes to find healthy ways to satisfy his sweet tooth, too.

"My current tour rider has deodorant, lotion, some snacks like fruit or dried mango," he lists. "First of all, I just like mango. But the reason why I like dried mango is 'cause it's sweeter. It kinda feels like candy, but it's not really candy."

Lotion is a key component of Curry's tour rider because it keeps his skin looking and feeling its best when he's on stage, he goes on to explain. "I don't wanna be ashy. You know what ashy is? It means that it looks like your elbows and your knees are just pretty much white or looking kinda dusty. I can't be looking all dusty like a mummy, you feel me?" he adds with a laugh.

A Denzel Curry show is an immersive experience, he says — so much so that he always walks off stage covered in sweat, and immediately needs to change into something dry. Along with delivering a high-energy show, Curry makes sure he gets up close and personal with his fans. The rapper remembers one particular recent show where he brought not one but two fans on stage to sing his song "RICKY" with him.

"I brought a fan on stage, he had a sign that said '[I wanna] sing 'RICKY' with you'... Then there was another fan that had the same sign, and I brought him on stage as well," Curry recalls. "He got to the stage a little bit late, we were literally on the last hook, and he ended up just killing it. I gave the mic to him... and he killed it."

Press play on the video above to learn more about how Curry's tour essentials help him create a live show that's an epic experience for all involved, and keep checking back to GRAMMY.com for more episodes of Herbal Tea & White Sofas.

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