GETTY IMAGES: Shawn Mendes
Shawn Mendes is the Justin Bieber we deserved in 2009.
Not even 20 years old, the Canadian, young and likable, has already produced a plethora of pop-centric, bubbly and refined hits.
In his third album, aptly titled “Shawn Mendes,” the young star finds himself and his voice. Mendes’ persona on this album is playful and youthful, but it has an air of sophistication — one lacking in similar album styles. Still, it took a while.
Mendes began uploading videos of his singing on Youtube, but a boom in Vine’s presence skyrocketed the now-star to a spot among the likes of a young Bieber, with the sound of a budding John Mayer or Ed Sheeran.
Then, when Mendes released his first album in 2015, he left the small screen of the Internet behind and revamped his image. Some young stars never quite escape the confines of Vine’s past — Mendes did with fireworks and a pop of youth off the album “Handwritten.”
Soon after, his second album, “Illuminate,” appeared in 2016. The song list — a little bit of this, a little bit of that — made for a nice intro into sophomore success but fell flat against lasting top hits of the summer.
Hailey Stewart | Argonaut
Now, Mendes’ third album opens pre-summer, just in time for his sound to radiate over the airwaves and make a lasting impression on seasoned fans and new fans alike.
“Lost in Japan,” one of the first singles released early off the album, brings a light, poppy and provocative spin to Mendes’ image. Its release showed he grew up and grew out of the simple-song Vine star that peaked through in his first two albums.
“In My Blood,” perhaps the star of the album, brings out Mendes’ strong voice with a very adult feel. This track shows he is no longer playing around. It’s soulful, powerful and soft — all the makings of a hit track.
Mendes, however, didn’t get to this spot without a little help from his friends.
Well-established pros like Julia Michaels and Ryan Tedder, the lead singer of One Republic, joined in the fun on this album to help produce “Nervous” and “Particular Taste,” both chalk filled with triumphant pop-filled rifts.
Michaels, who worked with Justin Bieber on the hit song “Friends” last year, shares the microphone with Mendes on the track “Like to be You.” The two are like an updated version of Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat from 2008 with this light and bubbly duo.
Listen to the first three chords of “Fallin’ All in You” and you know Ed Sheeran was involved in one way or another. Mendes even mimics Sheeran’s high-pitched tone and knocks it out of the park.
Mendes dives into “Youth” with Khalid. One of the stronger early releases, this track makes a statement about his moment in the spotlight. Mendes bellows into the microphone and brings a bit of raspiness to his sound.
The song to round it all out on the album is “When You’re Ready.” It’s airy, light and sweet — the kind of track that makes Mendes young and beloved.
Even with all the cash flow and doting fans, Mendes still has a rough path ahead — one that means leaving behind teen stardom and entering a hopefully lasting adult career.
By emulating other artists the masses admire, Mendes might be onto something. His sound sprinkles in past favorites, whether it be in tone or vibe, and adds a dash of newness. This is no easy task. We’ve seen young singers rise and fall quickly from using one too many old hits as their own.
For Mendes, this works. He’s a little bit of everything rolled into a young, vibrant and ambitious package — one many young pop lovers can get behind.
Hailey Stewart can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @Hailey_ann97