Eighteen year old breakout singer, songwriter Shawn Mendes exhibits his raw vocal talent in his new album “Illuminate.”

Although Mendes is largely known for his 2015 hit “Stitches,” he validates his unique artistic abilities in every song on “Illuminate,” released Sept. 23.

Mendes shows artistic and emotional maturity from his first album, “Handwritten,” by displaying a variety of different sounds and themes throughout the album. In his new album, Mendes stays true to his simplistic acoustic style in songs such as “Three Empty Words” and “Honest” and relies on electric guitar and elaborate drum ballads to produce hits “Mercy” and “Treat You Better.” He also introduces a new R&B sound in songs “Don’t be a Fool” and romantic ballad “Lights On.”

As a young artist, Mendes writes about the rollercoaster of young love, which resonates with many high school students. He also sings about struggles of life on the road in songs such as “Hold On.” The artist tries a new style by including a spoken word feature in his song “Understand.” Mendes takes risks out of this normal lyrical style by featuring more mature topics as in song “Bad Reputation.”

Mendes includes an acoustic piano version of single “Mercy” at the end of the album. This song is exclusive on the Deluxe album on iTunes and highlights Mendes’ strong vocal skills. The song opens with a short humming riff which embodies his smooth voice. He then shows his strength and vocal range in the chorus.

The artist’s style provides a fresh and raw sound which many current artists lack. He features his talent and allows his voice to drive each song. Mendes’ album is available on iTunes for $12.99 and on Spotify for free.

“Illuminate” by Shawn Mendes 4.5/5