Shawn Mendes, the new album and his sexuality: «I'm trying to be brave»
"I want to live authentically," the singer-songwriter said during Monday night's concert in Denver. 15 days after the release of his new album "Shawn," the Canadian singer opened up to the public about the most intimate and private part of his life.
On November 15th Shawn Mendes will release his long-awaited new album "Shawn" , a 12-track project 4 years after his last album "Wonder" . Between intimate ballads and pop sounds, the Canadian singer explores the theme of authenticity, opening a window into his life and addressing sensitive topics, such as his sexuality. The singer, who began his career at just 15 years old, chose to openly share his reflections with the public during his recent For Friends and Family Tour , also touching on how his sexuality has influenced his artistic and personal path.
Shawn Mendes explained that the song "The Mountain" in particular will explore his own feelings and tells the difficulties he experienced in reconciling his identity with external expectations. During the concert at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver, Colorado, he explained: «The truth is that I have not had the opportunity to discover myself in the way I would have liked. I always felt under observation and, since I was very young - Shawn Mendes started posting videos on YouTube at 15 and immediately had incredible success -, there was speculation about my sexuality. Which I think is something wonderfully complex, difficult to label» .
Shawn Mendes has emphasized how speaking out about his love life has been a key step in breaking down barriers that separated him from his fans: "I want to be more connected to everyone and live my truth. Even though it scares me, I'm trying to be brave and allow myself to be a human being who feels." Peer pressure, as the singer has stated, has often interfered with his personal journey, and Mendes has confessed that he felt pressured to date in the past to silence rumors about his sexual orientation.
Mendes has addressed these issues several times over the years, including in a 2020 interview with The Guardian , where he said that rumors about his sexuality were “hurtful and offensive” to him, especially because of the impact such speculation could have on people who don’t have the same support he does. Mendes now acknowledges that, with this new album, he’s finally embracing a version of himself that’s both vulnerable and authentic.
