Following a two-year break to focus on his mental health, singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes is gearing up for a big comeback with new self-titled album Shawn. Ahead of the album’s release on October 18, the 26-year-old Canadian has released a folksy lead single, “Why Why Why” on August 10. The music video, a grainy, evocative film set in the woods, sees Mendes roaming carefree in nature as he strums and sings his way to emotional lyrics like “I stepped off the stage with nothing left” and “thought I was about to be a father”. The first is obviously a reference to his mental health struggle that led to the cancellation of Wonder: The World Tour back in 2022, while the latter predictably garners tons of speculations around his personal life among fans.
Rumor mills aside, the singer has much to celebrate with Shawn’s release.
“2 years ago I felt like I had absolutely no idea who I was,” he wrote on Instagram announcing the album. “A year ago I couldn’t step into a studio without falling into complete panic. So to be here right now with 12 beautiful finished songs feels like such a gift.”
Mendes first rose to fame as a Vine artist. His mainstream breakthrough came with the song “Stitches”, part of his massively successful 2014 debut album Handwritten. With Handwritten, Mendes became one of five musicians ever to debut at No. 1 on Billboard 200 before turning 18. He followed up his sterling debut with more chart-toppers like “Treat You Better”, “Mercy”, “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back”, “In My Blood”, and “Senorita”, a collaboration with ex-girlfriend Camila Cabello.