Shawn Mendes is as honest as ever with his latest album Shawn

It’s been three weeks since Shawn Mendes released his brand new album. Shawn. After listening non-stop for the past few days, we believe Shawn is entering an era that could change his career forever. Why? On the album, Mendes shows his truest self by telling the world his story and what he’s been through over the past few years. Honesty in the music industry is a challenge for all artists. The risk of being vulnerable in front of the world should always be celebrated. That’s why we at The Honey Pop believe that after years of being in the spotlight, Shawn Mendes is making a comeback as a musician who isn’t afraid to show the good, the bad, and the terrible.

Let’s talk more about the album! This time Shawn experimented with a new genre, leaving aside the usual pop. Folk and alternative rock are the main genres Mendes uses in this project, so we can see him experimenting. This decade saw a rebirth of folk music, with artists like Taylor Swift and Noah Kahan making this genre something that every audience would love to hear and enjoy. The key to folk is the comfort of the acoustics and how organic they feel. In Shawn, Mendes immerses himself in this genre and makes it his own by staying authentic and breaking new ground. On the album he shows us through the instruments the emotions that he cannot express with words.

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The main character of the album are the lyrics. It’s like reading Shawn’s diary or going through his brain. In the recording, he talks about various topics such as heartbreak, loss, grief and fear and how he fights these every day of his life. In 2018, we had the opportunity to hear about Shawn’s battle with anxiety with “In My Blood,” and now Mendes is giving us a new perspective on his journey with songs like “Why Why Why.” As a songwriter, Shawn never ceases to amaze us as he always finds a way to convey his feelings and we almost believe that he and we are close friends. That’s one of the beauties of music: conveying universal feelings by telling your own story.

Songs that stole our hearts

We loved the whole album! However, some songs deserve the crown because they are outstanding and wonderful!

“Heart of Gold”

For us this is the best song on the album. In it, Shawn talks about a friend who sadly passed away. Mendes reflects on his grief and remembers his friend and how wonderful he was. The instrumentals are reminiscent of “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac, giving the song a nostalgic feel that fits perfectly with the song’s theme. In “Heart Of Gold,” Mendes steps out of his comfort zone and takes his songwriting skills to a new level.

“Why, why, why?”

This is the type of song Shawn would release: a happy rhythm with sad lyrics… we love it! As we said, in this song Shawn reflects on his fears and what he’s been through over the last few years and wonders why it all happened to him. In addition, the folk rhythms are the main protagonists of the song, making “Why Why Why” a song that shows us how Mendes dissolves in the genre and manages to do so flawlessly. Don’t forget that this song was a single and gave us a glimpse into the album and the themes the singer would address.

“Isn’t that enough?”

In this song, folk takes over. “Isn’t that Enough” feels organic. The acoustics of the guitar and the harmonies remind us of singing around a campfire. In theory the song is pretty simple; However, we believe it was the perfect addition to the album. For example, in “Why Why Why,” Shawn talks about his journey with anxiety, making this song feel honest and raw. As a slow song, it is also reminiscent of a lullaby one would hear after a long day. The whistles at the end of the songs are the perfect ending to the song.

‘Difficult’

Do you know that feeling when you keep all your feelings to yourself? Well, in this song, Shawn talks about exactly that and how hard he feels because of all the things he’s been through. In the lyrics he also talks about how hard it is to open up and get help. However, it is the only way to get better. The best part of the song is how the rhythm builds up to the chorus, which is powerful and ecstatic. “Heavy” is the catharsis of the album!

“No one knows.”‘

In this final song we encounter a pop ballad led by an acoustic guitar. Shawn performed this song for the first time at the VMAs this year, giving us a taste of what the studio version of the song would be like. The song is about thinking that you have everything in your life because you love someone. The thing is, what if you feel an emptiness inside? This feeling brings with it a lot that needs to be dealt with, but in the end no one knows the reason for it. The song has folk influences, but for us the blues is the sonic addition to the album that no one expected.

Shawn Mendes’ new album, ShAwn, is an emotional ride. The album is full of deep and meaningful lyrics that allow us to get closer to Shawn as an artist. The album is something refreshing and even a new beginning for Shawn’s career. We know for sure that it is difficult to take risks as an artist. However, Mendes took up the challenge and gave us one of the best albums of 2024!

You can hear Shawn Here!

What is your favorite song from Shawn Mendes’ new album? Shawn? Be sure to let us know by tweeting us @thehoneypop or visit us on Facebook and Instagram!

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