The new lad on the music block is Shawn Peter Raul Mendes better known as Shawn Mendes who one day discovered Vine (Vine is a short-form video sharing service), a far cry to the immensely popular YouTube, wherein on Vine the service lets users record and edit up to six-second-long looping video clips. 16 year old Mendes used this mode and started making short snippets of songs he wrote and composed, until one fine day, he found himself amidst a massive fan following and record label looking for new talent.

What began in 2013 has today ended in 2015 with his debut album Handwritten. Many label the Canadian as coming close to the sound of Brit lad Ed Sheeran, but how good he really is for all to see on his debut work, which, on the very first listen seemed pretty impressive.

Mendes’ voice is effortless, the tunes are catchy, directed to the love struck teenager with songs like the opener Life of the Party, Never be alone, I don’t even know your name, Kids in Love and other such tracks. Shawn is seen more as a singer – songwriter rather than a pop star, a serious performer who hits the notes right when he talks about love and heartbreak. His music is stripped-down with least instrumentation and basic guitar riffs, the strength of his tenor vocal range the main attraction here.

Our standout track is definitely Never Be Alone a song Mendes co-wrote. The song has a neat whistley riff running through, an out and out stripped back guitar piece with Shawn's voice taking centre stage, not mashed up in loads of fancy production. This sure is the next single even though Shawn put out Life of the Party, a slow dance anthem out first. Mendes keeps the lyrics simple “We don’t have to be ordinary / Make your best mistakes”. On Stitches, he uses a folksy style to get his message across. The song talks about being an open wound and the solution to heal it. On I Don’t Know Your Name, he stresses on the line. It seems this is a very personal, emotional and amazing piece that Mendes has probably experienced and now shares with the world. On Aftertaste, he moans over what has happened in the past when he says “I’m the smell on your sheets, you will regret it / when you left me there, I’ll leave you with the memory and the aftertaste.... Turns out that no one can replace me, I’m permanent you can’t erase me, I’ll have you remember me, and one more kiss is what it takes…” Though the track is catchy with a lovable chorus and the hook’s all romantic, it’s the lyrics that tell a beautiful story.

Mendes also gives us an up-tempo piece in the massive Something Big, where he hangs around with his friends. The album’s last track on a playlist of 12, titled This is what it takes, moves the stings of your heart, once again the lyrics making you teary eyed.

It's a promising teen's first album, and it will satisfy the ­longings of the keepers of girl fans in particular. These songs are headed for his 13 year olds and above. His ballads and bluesy electric guitar notes are the high points that make Mendes’ album a good listen.

Lyrics included.

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira