“I always think, what type of 11th grader would I be if I was still at school? Or if I was home all the time, would I be at the gym 24/7? Would I be as good at guitar? I know I wouldn't be as mature as I am.”

Canadian singer, songwriter and musician

Shawn Mendes is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and musician. He first gained attention by posting song covers on YouTube and Vine, before signing with Island Records and releasing his self-titled debut EP in 2014. His early rise came through social media, where he built an audience with cover versions of popular songs. The facts here point to a career rooted in pop performance and songwriting, with his public profile established through online sharing and his first EP release.