Canadian native Shawn Mendes and his trademark acoustic hooks have been the consistently blooming centrepiece on the pop table for the better part of a decade. String and piano arrangements that soundtrack confessional musings and romantic pleas are his specialty, delivering catchy and heart wrenching records that have studded the 2010s pop scene. From gaining a following for his covers on Vine in 2013, to all four of his studio albums debuting at the top of the Billboard 200 charts – let’s hit rewind on Shawn’s discography ahead of the upcoming release of his fifth record, Shawn, on October 18.
Handwritten (2015)
Handwritten marked Shawn’s debut album at 16 years old! The body of work showcased his songwriting ability in its grander and quieter moments, serving as a tentative introduction of Shawn’s own voice after his rise to the public attention by paying homage to others’ works.
Whilst some critical reception described Handwritten as cautionary and palatable, Shawn was simultaneously able to harness hallmark conventions of the pop genre to absolutely nail resounding pop hits out the gate.
A formidable collection of tracks including ‘Something Big’, ‘Life of the Party’ (first heard on his 2014 EP), and ‘Stitches’ spotlighted Shawn’s skill for packaging heartbreaking storytelling in an undeniably upbeat soundscape – a credit also to his predominant collaborator during this era, Ido Zmishlany. The album also showcased Shawn’s underrated first collaboration with fellow musician and long-time love interest Camila Cabello on the closing track, ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer.’
Illuminate (2016)
Following up on expectations set by his first body of work, Shawn proved himself yet again with sophomore album Illuminate. Staying true to his iconic acoustic musicality, this album also melds sounds by swirling in influences from both the rock and blues genre.
Leading this era with capsules of brilliantly oxymoronic self-assured desperation, tracks like ‘Treat you Better’, ‘Mercy’, and ‘There’s Nothing Holding Me Back’ were strong leading singles in securing Illuminate’s relatability and popularity.
Illuminate showcased a maturing in both Shawn’s vocals and romantic perspectives. Such is evidenced by the harmonies on ‘Three Empty Words’ and the exploration of memory’s vulnerability on ‘Like This’, overall solidifying a stronger sense of self to be heard in Shawn’s confessional artistry.
Shawn Mendes (2018)
Shawn’s next era on his self-titled third studio album marked a shift in vibes and production scape in his legacy of work thus far. Stronger throughlines of bass guitar and electrified acoustics paired with lighter beats on percussion curated a light and summery record. It’s something further expressed by the floral features on the album visuals and the fact it was recorded in both Malibu and Jamaica – there is a striking sense of place ingrained in the making of it all.
Shawn Mendes allowed Shawn to take a notable ownership in pushing new frontiers, with tracks like ‘Nervous’ personifying an exciting vocal playground and exemplifying a toeing of boundaries relative to Shawn’s prior musical successes. This creative space lends itself to the huge leagues of collaborators featured on this body of work. Visionary partnerships supported a fresh telling of Shawn’s growth in its devastation and self-assuring lessons, featuring the likes of Khalid and Julia Michaels on vocals, Ed Sheeran as a co-writer, and John Mayer with a producer credit.
This album leaves its legacy with hidden gems nestled alongside household hits, including lead single ‘In My Blood’ and the deluxe edition boasting one of modern pop culture’s most iconic duets: ‘Señorita.’
Wonder (2020)
Shawn’s most recent album, 2020’s Wonder, is aptly named in capturing the awestruck aura of this body of work. Produced by the likes of Kid Harpoon and Scott Harris (alongside others including Shawn himself), this record is an undeniable standout in Shawn’s discography. Fresh in the form of synth-heavy soundscape and bold even in its pensive moments, Wonder feels bigger and demands more attention than any Shawn record that has come before.
For all its different textures, statements, and spins, this album is Shawn’s strongest, most sonically-cohesive work that documents the embrace of emotional storms and captures a freeing shift in creative liberation. Summarised by the title track ‘Wonder’ and strengthened by full-circle collaborations like ‘Monster’ featuring Justin Bieber, this record marks an embrace of emotional storms and a celebration of the not-knowing.
The release of this album was paired with the premiere of Shawn’s first Netflix documentary Shawn Mendes: In Wonder , which also featured as a part of the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival.
NEW AND RELEASING OCT 18: Shawn (2024)
Following the invigorating heights of Wonder, what we know of Shawn’s latest album so far heralds a return to his acoustic beginnings. However, Shawn already delivers on a sound stripped back further than ever before – with soulful instrumentations and a matured lyrical authenticity that roots the star in the folk genre with the feel that it’s where his musical fruitions have long been grounded.
Lead singles ‘Nobody Knows’, ‘Why Why Why’ and ‘Isn’t That Enough’ are charmingly raw home truths that spark huge excitement for what is looking to be Shawn’s most warm and sparkling record yet.
Stream Shawn Mendes’ discography ahead of Shawn’s upcoming release below!
