In January 2015, Daniel appeared on the fourteenth season of American Idol with the song "Hallelujah". He met future band mate Jack Avery at the auditions, though Jack didn't make it through. He made it to the Top 9 before becoming eliminated on his birthday. He considered the whole experience to be his "first chance" and thought that he didn't work hard enough as he should have. The night he was voted off, Harry Connick Jr came into his dressing room and gave a number to contact. Sometime later Harry Connick Jr. contacted him, holding out an offer to be an opening act at a show near his hometown. After touring for two weeks on the road along with his sister, it reminded him of his love for music.

He began to play at local shows and auditioned for anyone who let him. He dropped covers over his YouTube channel and did a cover collaboration with Lovey James in 2016, "Secret Love Song". He met Jack Avery at a "non-existent show in New York", Jonah Marais through a mutual friend in Portland, and noticed Corbyn Besson online and started to message. He didn't know Zach Herron that well, but watched the "Stitches" video. He initially was not in the first meetup of the band in Los Angeles, but then Jack brought his name up and all five instantly clicked. On September 27, 2016, they formed the band Why Don't We, which Daniel considers is his "second chance".