Last night, multi-platinum, GRAMMY-nominated singer/songwriter Shawn Mendes released the lead single from his upcoming album, “Why Why Why,” alongside a second song “Isn’t That Enough.” The accompanying music video for “Why Why Why” was filmed in picturesque Hudson Valley, New York location where songs from the album were written and recorded. Watch here. Both songs will appear on his newly announced self-titled album, Shawn, set for release on October 18.
Last night in Woodstock, NY, Shawn also kicked off his limited run of intimate shows, performing the upcoming album in its entirety. The show provided fans with a first look at his new music in the setting where it was created. These performances will continue in cities where Shawn recorded the new album, including London, Nashville, Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and Seattle. See photos from last night’s performance here and watch the trailer here. Click here for more information.
Speaking on the album in a previous post, Shawn said “Music really can be medicine. Two years ago, I felt like I had absolutely no idea who I was. 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. Honestly thank god for my friends and family. Life can be brutal but having a small group of people you deeply trust to walk you through makes it so much better. I really hope you love this album, I do. I really really do. I hope it makes you feel warm and close to the earth like it does for me.”
Shawn is Mendes’ fifth studio release and draws deeply from his travels and experiences over the last few years, following the cancellation of his 2022 tour. It represents his most musically intimate and lyrically honest work to date, guiding listeners through a profound self-dialogue with each song. Written and recorded over the course of two years, the project was crafted in diverse locations including Nosara, Costa Rica; Clubhouse Studio in Rhinebeck, NY; Bear Creek Studio in Washington State; Darkhorse Recordings in Nashville; and Electric Lady in New York City.
The album was written & co-produced by Mendes, alongside collaborators Scott Harris, Mike Sabath (Raye’s “My 21st Century Blues”), Nate Mercereau (Andre 3000 “New Blue Sun”), and Eddie Benjamin, with additional songs co-written by GRAMMY award winning writer Amy Allen and Ethan Gruska (Bon Iver and Phoebe Bridgers). The record also features instrumentation from the Punch Brothers’ Chris Thile.
Shawn Mendes Performing “Shawn” the Album Live
August 8th – Woodstock, NY – Bearsville Theater
August 13th – London, UK – Theatre Royal Drury Lane
October 14th – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
October 18th – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount
October 22nd – Los Angeles, CA – The Ford
October 24 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre
About Shawn Mendes:
GRAMMY-nominated & multi-platinum singer/songwriter Shawn Mendes was born in Toronto, ON and has released 4 acclaimed studio albums, with his 5th studio album Shawn due out in the Fall of 2024. His most recent album Wonder debuted as #1 on the Billboard 200 Chart and in multiple worldwide markets, marking Shawn’s fourth straight #1 album. In 2019 Shawn was nominated for a GRAMMY for “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance” for “Señorita,” his hit single with Camila Cabello.
In 2018 he released his self-titled platinum album, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 Chart as well as multiple worldwide markets. The album became one of the top best-selling album debuts of 2018 and made Shawn the third youngest solo artist to ever have three consecutive #1 albums. Shawn was also nominated in two categories for the 61st annual GRAMMY® Awards for his tracks from the album, including “Song of the Year” for “In My Blood” and “Best Pop Vocal Album” for SHAWN MENDES. The same year Shawn debuted his 3x platinum single, “If I Can’t Have You,” at #1 on iTunes and #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. With “Señorita” at #1 and “If I Can’t Have You” at #2, Shawn is the first male solo artist ever to simultaneously hold the #1 and #2 place on the Top 40 chart. On his last world tour, he sold out his first ever stadium show in minutes at Rogers Centre in his hometown of Toronto.
In April 2017, Shawn released his 6x platinum hit “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back.” The track scored Shawn his second #1 single at Top 40 radio and on Billboard’s Pop Songs chart, joining his 8x platinum single “Stitches.” Shawn has over 62 billion global streams and 13 billion video views. He topped Billboard’s “21 Under 21” in 2017 and 2018 and has been featured on Forbes “30 Under 30,” Spotify’s “25 Under 25,” and Time Magazine’s “Time 100 Most Influential”. In 2018, ROI Influencer Media recognized Shawn as the #1 Most Influential Artist and #1 Most Influential Teen across all social media platforms.
In 2019 Shawn launched The Shawn Mendes Foundation, which seeks to inspire Shawn’s audience, the youth generation of today—to learn about those causes that they are passionate about and help empower them to use the voice they have to bring change to the world by taking action & giving back. As part of its ongoing mission, the Foundation provides resources and support to amplify the voices, messages, and platforms of young leaders driving positive change.
