Shawn Mendes on How His Breakup Inspired 'When You're Gone' (Exclusive)

etonline.com:

Shawn Mendes is finding musical inspiration in his split from Camila Cabello. ET's Denny Directo spoke to the 23-year-old singer about his latest release, «When You're Gone,» four months after he and Cabello called it quits following two years together.«I think, in a lot of ways, it was just me kind of processing what it feels like to be on my own again, and processing what it feels like to learn how to cope and be there for myself,» Mendes explained. «The original song was really a sad ballad and it ended up turning into an upbeat tempo kind of song, so it's interesting… I think if you can surround a song in a sonic soundscape that makes people excited, it allows people to listen more.»As his fans listen to «When You're Gone,» which is out now, Mendes hopes that they find comfort in the words he sings.«Sharing music and sharing vulnerable lyrics has always been important to me, because potentially there's someone who's going through the exact same thing,» he noted. «I think that it's kind of creating a world where somebody can feel related to and less alone.»While Mendes isn't necessarily feeling how he did when he wrote the song, he likes that this track, and others he pens, are «kind of a stamp in time.»«When you write them, that's kind of exactly how you were feeling in that moment, on that day, but they exist forever.

I think that's the beautiful part about them,» he said. «But, for me, it's something that is always being worked through, before and after the song.»Since he wrote «When You're Gone,» Mendes says he's realized that «maybe I was putting too much pressure on one person to provide every support that I needed.»«I have a lot of great people around me.