Before he hits the stage, Nigerian rapper, songwriter and producer Phyno likes to create the perfect setting for positive pre-show energy. He takes the mantra of "eat, drink and be merry" literally: In order to set the mood for a good time, he needs snacks — finger foods, specifically — and his libation of choice.

Phyno breaks down his backstage must-haves in the latest episode of Herbal Tea & White Sofas. The singer says his current list includes "finger foods to nibble on." And to drink? "It probably has to be, like, cognac."

After the show, Phyno makes sure he has headphones to allow him ample opportunity to decompress and zone out.

But what's even more important than his backstage must-haves are his backstage must-not-haves, he points out. "What's forbidden backstage to me is negativity. I love to be happy," Phyno says. "I think it rubs off on the crowd. The mood determines how you are before you get on stage."

Creating a positive environment isn't merely for his own benefit. It's actually a key ingredient in making sure that he puts on a show that leaves fans feeling a little lighter than they felt when they walked in. "I love to pass the message along and just keep it positive with the fans," he adds.

Watch the full episode above to hear what other items help Phyno create the perfect backstage vibe — and what he loves most about performing in front of a crowd.

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In the typical fashion of touring rock stars, Sarah Shook & the Disarmers' lead vocalist River Shook prefers an assortment of fruits and vegetables: hummus, baby carrots, baby peppers, and salsa. "It's nice to have some snacks that are a step up from gas station snacks," Shook says in this episode of Herbal Tea & White Sofas.

However, the most difficult healthy food to find is bananas, as Shook reveals: "In my experience, the bananas are half raw, green and half way too ripe. I don't know how gas stations do that because I haven't encountered that anywhere else." 

Sarah Shook & the Disarmers aren't just on their best behavior with clean eating habits — they also make sure to treat every green room with the utmost respect.

"We just played someplace with a special note in the tour doc that was like, 'No inappropriate behavior backstage,'" Shook recounts. "And we were like, 'What? What are people doing back here? I don't want to know. I'm good.'"

Through everything, the most important aspect of touring for Shook is being able to show their authentic self. "Even the oldest of the songs that we're still performing are so personal to me because they come from my life experience [...] The closeness of the band shines through our music and through our live performances."

Press play on the video above to hear more about River Shook's touring lifestyle, and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Herbal Tea & White Sofas.

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When gnash is on tour, it's important for him to have items that will keep him in tip-top shape — and it's not much different than his daily routine on or off the road.

"My current tour rider is what I do on a daily basis here at home," he reveals in this episode of Herbal Tea & White Sofas. 

While four of the five items he mentions are food or beverages, gnash has one tour essential that helps him create and capture fond memories: a disposable camera. As he explains, not only are they simple, but they're more efficient — a win-win while traveling the world.

In gnash's eyes, shows are as much about sparking joy as they are about the music. That's why he wishes that he could also consume "a little bottle of pure love" before each show.

"When you're going out on stage — in person, in front of people — that's a really, really raw form of expression and joy," he adds. "There's a big obsession in the music world with things going viral, but music isn't a virus — it's meant to heal."

Press play on the video above to hear more about gnash's passion for music and tour diet, and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Herbal Tea & White Sofas.

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After traveling the world together over the past decade, there's one thing EDM duo Sofi Tukker quickly agrees on: staying healthy is the top priority. That's why their tour rider primarily consists of fruits, vegetables and vegan snacks.

"Our rider is filled with things like kale, avocado and olive," Sophie Hawley-Weld explains in this episode of Herbal Tea & White Sofas. "We both have pretty restrictive diets. We're trying to be as healthy as we possibly can be because we want to give out the best energy every night, and traveling for a living is not easy."

Her bandmate Tucker Halpern emphasizes that they always request a trash bag full of ice — a surprisingly disputed item. "The most controversial thing, especially in Europe, is ice," Halpern says. "People will fight you about it!"

Hawley-Weld often opts for a cryo tank, a sensory deprivation tank filled with salt. "I find that to be one of the most recharging things I can do. I think it's polar opposite to what we do on stage."

The duo is also slated to appear at more than 10 music festivals this summer, including the Governors Ball, Bonnaroo, Electric Forest, Lollapalooza, and Osheaga. Sofi Tukker most recently returned to Coachella, where they live-debuted their latest single "Jacaré," a cheeky Portuguese-language single inspired by Hawley-Weld's longtime appreciation for Brazilian culture. 

Press play on the video above to learn how Sofi Tukker stays in shape while on tour, and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Herbal Tea & White Sofas.

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While traveling the world as a comedian, actor, and rapper, Jay Pharoah's top priority is maintaining a healthy lifestyle — mainly with a diet of baked chicken, broccoli, gin, grapefruit juice, and beet juice.

"I'm all about health, man. I was an overweight kid, so I'm pretty much scarred," Pharoah explains in this episode of Herbal Tea & White Sofas.

One thing Pharoah emphasizes will never be a part of his tour rider are anchovies due to his severe allergies. "If I have them, I will puff up like Will Smith in Hitch. Or, I would look like a blowfish… after you aggravate the blowfish," he jokes.

He also enjoys an assortment of wasabi almonds and shelled pistachios. "When you eat spicy things, they really do make your metabolism quicker — along with exercise. Don't think you're just going to sit around and watch 'Euphoria,' and then you'll lose weight!" Pharoah laughs.

Pharoah closes this episode with an impression of former president Barack Obama discussing his hypothetical tour rider, which includes cigarillos, his wife's memoir and his daughters' whereabouts.

Press play on the video above to watch Jay Pharoah's hilarious explanation of his tour rider, and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Herbal Tea & White Sofas.

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