“I think when I do things outside of music, I am always thinking of different things that are eventually one way or another going to come back to my music. I have to make sure it is all cohesive, as that's important to me as an artist and a person.”

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.