After only performing for the first seven scheduled dates off his Wonder: The World Tour that kicked off in May of last year, Shawn Mendes postponed and eventually canceled the remaining dates in order to take some time away from the limelight to “ground” himself and “come back stronger.”
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Since announcing that news in June, Shawn has done just that, going to therapy, and doing the work. Now, ready to slowly step back in to the spotlight, he along with Scarlett Johansson, is the new brand ambassador of David Yurman’s Nature’s Artistry campaign. To celebrate the collections release, Shawn sat down with Robb Report to talk new music, mental health and more.
“I’m bringing in some honest energy,” Shawn admitted about his new outlook. “Last year was a tough year for me, and I spent a lot of time doing a lot of really good things for myself: taking some time to rest and heal, doing some great therapy and just kind of grounding myself again.”
Shawn also shared that he’s “been feeling really inspired lately, feeling like I’m ready to start making some music.” Noting that “sometimes we just need to know when it’s time to take a breath and hibernate for a minute so we can come out feeling stronger. I feel really grateful with how accepting and loving everybody has been. I really think it’s a testament to the way that culture is starting to interact with mental health.”
When discussing the different modalities of therapy, and sharing what works best for him, Shawn expressed the how important its been for him to honor “whatever my pace is and doing the things that feel natural and safe.”
“Each person goes through something different. For me, it’s been a mixture of a few different things, but the best therapy I’ve done is called compassionate inquiry with an amazing therapist. It’s tough and not everybody can afford therapy, but there are great platforms that offer it at a discount. My dream would be for everyone to work with a great therapist once a week. That would be a dream.”
As for where Shawn is at when it comes to that new music he’s excited about making, he revealed, “I’m slowly kind of easing into it.” And in true honest energy revealed, “I have some apprehension because I’m nervous. I haven’t been in there for a while. I have a high standard and I just want to make sure I give myself some space. It takes a minute. You have to build up the confidence, you have to build up the inspiration and then you have to go in there every day. I’m at the point now where I’m about to start doing the things; all the building, all the foundation has been set, and now I’m almost ready to start going into the studio.”
Audacy's I’m Listening initiative aims to encourage those who are dealing with mental health issues to understand they are not alone. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety, know that someone is always there. Additionally, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 988. Find a full list of additional resources here.