Shawn Mendes returns with new album after four-year hiatus

Shawn Mendes announced the release of a new album four years after his last record. Fans of the singer are touched and excited, but some are also displeased with the tracklist.

Shawn Mendes revealed his new studio album after a four-year hiatus. The "Shawn" record will be released on October 18, 2024. Contrary to expectations, this information has caused not only great excitement among fans but also some irritation. This is due to the track list on the musician's social media on July 31.

The news that the 25-year-old singer has returned to the studio to record a whole album for the first time since 2020 has sparked many positive emotions among fans, which they express loudly on social media. However, they quickly noticed a problem with the album. The 12 tracks announced by Mendes are concise.

Three tracks do not exceed two minutes, and only one lasts more than three minutes. The total duration of the album is less than half an hour—from start to finish, it is 27 minutes—and the artist's fans are not thrilled about it. One commenter on X wrote: "With all due respect, is this an album or 12 interludes?" In music, interludes are short, most often instrumental breaks.

One excited Mendes fan inadvertently captured the essence of the mystery of increasingly shorter musical tracks in popular music. She wrote, "I'm ready! I have 12 new songs to listen to on repeat." In the digital music era, when both chart positions and a part of the artists' earnings are tied to the number of plays of individual tracks, it is more profitable to release shorter numbers that fans will play repeatedly.

Shawn Mendes shared a personal message on X explaining the long gap since his last album. The singer 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."

Mendes thanked his family and friends who helped him overcome difficulties. He also addressed fans directly: "And to you guys who have been so unbelievably supportive and patient and loving thank you from the bottom of my heart. I really hope you love this album, I do. I really really do. I hope it makes you feel warm and close to the earth like it does for me."