abcnews.go.com
07.04.2022 / 21:17
Shawn Mendes: Single ‘When You're Gone’ inspired by breakup
NEW YORK -- As Shawn Mendes prepares to embark on a massive global tour, the 23-year-old has released an emotional single reflecting his breakup with Camila Cabello.Mendes says “When You’re Gone” was about processing the loss in his life. (Cabello has her own album coming out Friday).Mendes believes he’s matured as an artist, especially with the time he had to himself during the pandemic.“As you get older you start to just feel like you want to keep pushing boundaries,” Mendes said.Recently, the Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum artist sat down with The Associated Press to discuss his upcoming tour, his Met Gala invitation and the new single.———AP: Tell me about getting your emotions out for “When You’re Gone”?Mendes: I think it’s really just like me processing a breakup, me processing losing somebody that was so much of my world and it's just me trying to be candid and real with people because, ultimately, the only way I’m ever going to connect with people is if I’m being real with myself.AP: So there was a lot of self-reflection you experienced?Mendes: I think I went through a period of freedom and then I went through a period of fear and then I came back around to find freedom again.