Mendes releases a “Wonder”-ful album to end the year

Shawn Mendes released his fourth album this month just on time to enjoy it during the holiday season.

Shawn Mendes Official

Shawn Mendes released his fourth album this month just on time to enjoy it during the holiday season.

Valery Barrera

Coming off of a very successful self-titled tour, singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes felt the pressure to release an equally successful fourth album. 

“Wonder” was released on Dec. 4 with 14 new songs and a special collaboration with fellow Candian pop star Justin Bieber. The collaborative track, “Monster,” was released Nov. 20 following the title track. 

The first track titled “Intro” presents the 22-year-old’s vision of a place he hoped others could escape to, singing the lyrics “…give yourself a chance to get lost in wonderland.”

Branching out of his classic guitar roots, Mendes incorporates many new sounds inspired by Fankie Valli, The Beatles and a few others.

Each song reveals a different aspect of who Mendes is as a person. The vulnerability within his words and the extravagant sounds are what make this album stand out from his previous ones. 

“A lot of people know my art but a lot of people don’t know the process,” Mendes said in a radio interview on the Zach Sang show. “The process for me… is with a lot of anxiety, fear, stress and a lot of heartache.”

Through the lyrics in his songs, he expresses self-doubt and a plea for love that drove him to write an album others can relate to.

The constant reminder of having to produce a perfect album pushed Mendes to break free from the expectations he and society put on him. 

“It did something extraordinary for me,” Mendes said. “It freed me from a demon that was constantly in control of my art, my music and heart. By the end of the album… I felt like a new person.”