Shawn Mendes’s Musical Inspiration and Favorite Songs, Revealed

And what went into creating his new album, Illuminate.

September 22, 2016

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Shawn Mendes's new album, Illuminate, is nearly here — it comes out tomorrow! — but because Shawn knows that waiting is the woorrrrsstt, he's been dutifully teasing out bits and pieces of the project. From offering previews of new songs at his shows to releasing five songs early if you pre-order the album, he's given us every reason to get excited for the next chapter in his musical career.

But where did he find the inspiration for Illuminate and all of its songs? A wide range of sources, it turns out, as everyone from Nick Jonas to OneRepublic to Chance the Rapper has inspired Shawn's music. (There's a lot of John Mayer in there, too, because of course there would be.) He's sitting down with Beats 1 later tonight (at 11 p.m. EST/8 p.m. PST) to — among other things — celebrate his new album, talk about his songwriting process, and play some of the new songs. (You'll be able to listen to it here.) But again, because waiting is torture, Teen Vogue has a sneak preview of some of Shawn's best insights about his work. Now, if only we could fast-forward to when the album drops tonight at midnight...

1/9
His favorite song from Nick Jonas's new album? "Touch."
"I was super inspired by this song," Shawn says. "I thought it was so awesome because it was completely driven by this beastly guitar lick but it was also just a very vulnerable song. It really touched me that way. ... I mean, the song is called "Touch," I didn’t mean to do that but I hope you guys like it."
2/9
Those John Mayer vibes on "Ruin"? You're not imagining them.
Shawn says that track "in particular was probably the main song that inspired the entire album." He adds that there are "a lot of 'Gravity' vibes inside of my song called 'Ruin,'" and that he aims to "create music I could create friendships over. This song is something that made me and my friends a lot closer. I really love this one."

3/9
In fact, it's one of his favorite songs on the album.
Why? Shawn says it was the "first guitar solo I've ever recorded into a song myself. It was 3 a.m. after we tried writing three songs that didn’t really work. We started playing this simple guitar riff and I started singing the whole thing." They ended up writing the track "in about 10 minutes; that’s how organic and natural this song was and it truly feels like that when I listen to it and play it on stage."
4/9
But the John Mayer influence doesn't end there.
He's got more than a few stories about the musician's work influencing his own, including this story about his new track, "Don't Be a Fool": "I was deep into John Mayer’s Continuum, listening to 'I’m Gonna Find Another You.’” He was working on “Don’t Be a Fool” and "had that old school doo-woppy vibe” in the track. "My aunt was downstairs in the kitchen with my mom and she yelled up ‘what is that, what is that?' She made me sing it to her and play it three times and email her the demo. It’s her favorite."

5/9
But his favorite throwback song? Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me a River."
"This was definitely the song I listened to every single day on the drive to school from the age of 10-15," Shawn says. "I used to bug my mom playing this song in the car every single time. I know every lyric to this song. From day 1, Justin Timberlake has been a huge inspiration for me."
6/9
And the first song that ignited his love for guitar? That's Ed Sheeran track "Gimme Love."
"This is the first song that got me obsessed with guitar and truly singing with soul," he explains. "I remember watching Ed in the studio when he was doing a loop of it. I probably watched it on replay for 4 hours until my mom was like, 'you have to turn that off; I can’t hear it anymore.' It completely inspired me to pick up a guitar and teach myself every single thing and didn’t want to stop until I was as good as he was in that video."

7/9
He also cites OneRepublic as an inspiration.
"Ryan Tedder is just a beast," Shawn says, adding that the band inspired him to start writing music. "When ['Halo', which Tedder co-wrote with Beyoncé] came out, I listened to it for four or five months. From a songwriter’s point of view, this song could not have been done better. He crushed it out of the park." (We think Bey did, too.)
8/9
He also really loves Chance the Rapper. (Same, TBH.)
"It takes a certain type of rapper for me to really get into the album. When Chance's ‘Same Drugs’ came out, I totally freaked out. He was so, so good at just hitting a good concept." Shawn adds that "the way he put across all of his music... the whole vibe... I think he took the world and threw it for a loop and reminded us what music really is. I want to do that for my whole life. I really look up to this guy; hopefully I’ll get to meet him one day."

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And he's cluing you in on a little secret: There's more to "Mercy" than meets the eye.
Yes, it's about a heartbreak, and "asking for a girl to have mercy on your heart," but Shawn also says that the track is about "when people are so passionate about something in their career, you have to go through pain to get to the good part. Begging for mercy when you’re obsessed with what you’re doing for a living."

Ella Cerón is a writer, editor, talent liaison, consultant, social media strategist and author currently based in New York. She studied English and Literature at Fordham University on a full scholarship. Ella’s work has an emphasis on pop culture and lifestyle. She has been published in Teen Vogue, GQ and ... Read More

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