More mature Mendes rolls into Bluesfest

Shawn Mendes is slowly letting the world capture a glimpse of his soul.

While the Pickering, Ont.-raised singer has gained millions of fans singing about crushes and breakups, his new album — which Bluesfest goers hear some of live Saturday — carries fresh revelations.

Mendes grapples with anxiety, a couple of feisty relationships and rejects a world that seemingly wants to foster more hate.

It’s deep stuff to write about at 19. With his self-titled third album, Mendes is seemingly growing into a maturity that acknowledges the responsibilities he and his generation are expected to shoulder.

Here are five standout songs:

IN MY BLOOD

Mendes opens with a song about crippling anxiety and the struggle to overcome emotional detachment. He sings about turning to alcohol and women, but finds neither is the cure. The lyrics are based on his experience after being slammed with an unexpected bout of depression last year, he has said in recent interviews.

“Sometimes, I feel like giving up, but I just can’t,” he sings. “It isn’t in my blood.”

PARTICULAR TASTE

Watch out Justin Timberlake, because Mendes is cornering the market on falsettos with sexy basslines. On this funky booty-shaker he recalls an experience with a woman who clearly knows what she likes.

“She’ll take your name and number, and she’ll hit erase and walk away,” he purrs. “But she’s so specific when she’s at my place.”

QUEEN

With this song, it appears whatever love once existed with this unnamed woman has soured.

“It’s hard to believe you don’t remember me at all,” Mendes sings. “Making beautiful look ugly. You ain’t the ruler of no country. Who made you the queen?”

YOUTH

Sharing almost equal vocal time with R&B singer Khalid helps this Mendes song carry a powerful message of unity in troubled times. The concept formed following the Manchester concert bombing and terror attack on London Bridge.

“Pain, but I won’t let it turn into hate. No, I won’t let it change me,” the two sing together. “Never losing sight of the one I keep inside.”

BECAUSEIHADYOU

This ballad of a broken heart proves the singer isn’t planning to go rogue on his fans.

“You’re with somebody I can’t be,” he sings. “But I can tell that you’re happy. It’s time for me to finally meet somebody new, take her to all the places that I took us to.”