Following the cancelation of his world tour in 2022, Shawn Mendes lost his sense of purpose .
OnTuesday (8.13) the superstar singer/songwriter returned to the stage for an intimate show at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane and took the opportunity to address his fragile state of mind following his decision to end his world tour for the sake of his mental health, after seven shows two years back.
In his own words Mendes Shawn said “I got back to LA and I was like, ‘I have no idea who I am and what to do with myself’. “I was not really singing, I was not really playing guitar.”
Catapulted to international fame as a teenager with hits like ‘Stitches,’ the now 26-year old talked about the loneliness and anxiety that comes with being in the spotlight, adding:
“The thing that was so terrifying for me was this sensation of being alone… in a situation where it was all on my shoulders.” “It gets heavy when it’s all on your shoulders (but) these days I’m starting to realize there’s a lot of people I can fall back on.”
Scheduled for an October 18 LP release that draws on his experience from the past two years, the London show was one of a series of ‘For My Friends and Family Only’ concerts to showcase the artist’s new album ‘Shawn.’
In a heartfelt message posted on Instagram, Shawn wrote: “Music really can be medicine. 2 years ago I felt like I had absolutely no idea who I was. A year ago I couldn’t step into a studio without falling into complete panic. So to be here right now with 12 beautiful finished songs feels like such a gift. (sic)”
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Author: Saul Goode
Photo: Josiah VanDien