As pop music continues to grow and change, there are always a few artists who manage to stand out for all the right reasons. The ultimate “boy next door” Shawn Mendes has achieved this.

His new single, “In My Blood” is currently the go to song about loneliness and lost love. With the release of his new music video for the song (see link below), he taps into the raw talent he obviously possess. Oftentimes pop stars are heavily altered to the point that their voice is barely recognizable, or the bass is so loud and overwhelming that one cannot even hear themselves think. However, Mendes eliminates these themes and instead puts his voice out in the open. With a great buildup, the intro and verse lead into a powerful chorus delivering the line “it isn’t in my blood”.

In the music video, the visuals are stunning. It is centered around Mendes lying on the ground, with seasons and nature changing around him. The simplistic video allows for the song to be heard, instead of drowned out or ignored. Mendes seems to be tapping into a more artistic side of his character. With the cover art of the album looking more like an indie album than a traditional pop album with the artist’s face plastered on the front.

Some of the lyrics in the song are surprisingly dark for the previously upbeat teen. One of the first verses, Mendes sings, “Just have a drink and you’ll feel better” implying that alcohol will solve your problems. Obviously he doesn’t actually believe this and it is used to make a point, but the fact that he is using adult themes such as this one for an audience is an interesting move, and it may be an effort to gain a larger variety of listeners. This is not the first time he has grappled with adult topics however. In his song “Treat You Better” he highlights the domestic abuse epidemic in the world and highlights it in the music video. These slight transitions into adult topics is an indicator of an attempt to move forward artistically and mature as an artist. After all, he is barely an adult and has a long way to go in the industry. It will be amazing to see how he grows and changes as an artist as the years go by.

Personally, I am a huge fan of the single. It resonated with me on many different levels and I found myself listening to it on repeat for hours. The raw emotion from Mendes’ vocals is very evident, and it draws listeners and fans alike in every time. I cannot wait to see what else this young artist has in store for us.