Editors note: The following article was written in June of 2018. Over the winter break period, we will be publishing classic articles that, for one reason or another, were not completed. 

‘Shawn Mendes’ by Shawn Mendes has risen to the top of the Billboard 200 albums chart and his single, ‘In My Blood’ ranked 6 on the iTunes charts.

At 19, Shawn Mendes claims his third Number One Album on the Billboard Charts. The Canadian native released his third studio album on May 25, 2018.

Following his first album ‘Handwritten’ in 2015 and his second ‘Illuminate’ in 2016, ‘Shawn Mendes’ passed both albums reaching 182,000 sold copies after one week.

Mendes started his journey of his album by writing his first released single, “In My Blood”. He followed this single with the release of 5 new singles. “Lost in Japan”, “Youth” featuring Khalid, “Where Were You in the Morning” and “Nervous” all came after his first single release of the album.

The eleventh song on the album is “Youth” featuring Khalid. It acts as a rallying cry that needed at a time where the age range of his listeners are experiencing school shootings at an alarming rate and a leading national movement against gun violence.

During the 2018 BBMAs, Mendes and Khalid brought out the choir from Parkland to help sing “Youth” as a pro-gun control statement. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

His age and experience has spark a new creative flame that speaks to any type of listener with help from Ed Sheeran, Julia Michaels, John Mayer and Ryan Tedder from OneRepublic.

Mendes tested out new areas of texture and tempo. He strains many musical muscles when he features a pop-rock opener in his Kings of Leon inspired “In My Blood” and a R&B groove in “Lost In Japan”, “Nervous” and “Particular Taste”.

He sticks to his roots with the soulful ballads, “Why” and “Perfectly Wrong”. They offer the same heart wrenching lyrics that will draw you in and listen to his stories that are told through the piano riffs and endless falsettos.

The album closes with “When You’re Ready”, a soft, heartstring-tugging ballad. The song is an ode to his past albums as it brings the listeners the Mendes’ roots of his lyrical capability and soft melodies. This song ends unexpectedly, on a lingering note that leaves the listeners anticipating more.

‘Shawn Mendes’ acts as the transition from teen star to career artist. This album proves Mendes and produce all types of songs from anyone to enjoy

If you want more from Mendes, his world tour starts on March 7, 2019 in Amsterdam and his North American tour on June 12, 2019 in Portland, Oregon.

Be sure to give ‘Shawn Mendes’ a listen to see if you are interested Mendes’ diverse new taste.