The pop superstar on why Canada is a songwriter’s paradise, playing before Jack White, and why he hasn’t given up on Kanye yet
‘I’M STILL REALLY YOUNG in terms of being a musician,” says Shawn Mendes, 19. How young is he? Mendes speaks of Justin Bieber as one of his earliest musical heroes and talks about Kings of Leon like they’re a classic-rock band. But the pop heartthrob – who broke through five years ago on the defunct social media app Vine – has released three major-label albums, scoring radio hits like “Stitches” and “Treat You Better.” His new single “In My Blood” is his rockingest song yet, and has already racked up 120 million streams on Spotify. The success means that Mendes no longer feels like just a social media star: “I was stuck as a Viner in people’s minds for a long time,” he says. “I feel like I’ve finally broken free from that.”
You’re playing at Governors Ball shortly before Jack White and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Does the thought of playing to a field of rock fans intimidate you?
Totally. I don’t know if any of Jack White’s fans are gonna know who I am, but the thing about festivals is it’s the moment to not be a name but to be a musician and an artist. I’m just gonna get onstage and do what I do because that’s all I can do. Then maybe one day I’ll be in Jack White’s position, and that’s the dream.
You just played for Queen Elizabeth II at her 92nd birthday. Did you meet her?
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