Shawn Mendes' Journey From YouTube Covers To Global Stardom

hawn Mendes is a name that needs no introduction – he's an international sensation known for hits like "Stitches", "In My Blood", and "Treat You Better". But what many may not know is that he started his journey to success by posting cover videos on YouTube and Vine.

This blog post'll look deeper into Shawn Mendes' early journey and how he went from a regular teenager to a global superstar.

"People ask me, 'What will you do in five years?' The thing is, I don't care! It's what I'm doing today that matters."

It all started in 2012 when 13-year-old Shawn Mendes taught himself how to play the guitar by watching YouTube tutorial videos. Just a year later, he began posting cover videos on YouTube.

He quickly gained popularity after he posted a cover of Justin Bieber's "As Long as You Love Me" on the Vine social video app. The video garnered 10,000 likes and as many followers in just one day, marking the beginning of Mendes' rise to fame.

"I think the world is becoming a place where younger and younger people can do great things, and I just hope I can inspire other young people to do the same."

By August 2014, he was the third most-followed musician on Vine. Then, artist manager Andrew Gertler discovered Mendes online and brought him to Island Records in January 2014.

In April, he won Ryan Seacrest's "Best Cover Song" contest with "Say Something" by A Great Big World and officially signed on to Island in May 2014.

But Mendes' journey to success was challenging. In a recent interview, he revealed that he wanted to be an actor when he was younger and had even auditioned for Disney.

However, he needed help with the nerves of remembering lines. Only when he started watching YouTube videos and singing did he find his true passion.

"If you're positive and excited and enthusiastic about what you're doing, it's going to happen, and it's going to happen big time."

Mendes' success did not come overnight – it resulted from hard work, dedication, and a genuine love for music. His debut album, "Handwritten", was released in 2015 and featured hit singles like "Life of the Party" and "Something Big".

He followed it up with "Illuminate" in 2016 and "Shawn Mendes" in 2018, which topped charts worldwide.

Today, Mendes is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and has won countless awards for his music, including People's Choice Awards, MTV Europe Music Awards, and Billboard Music Awards.

He continues to push himself creatively with each project – his latest album, "Wonder", saw him experimenting with new sounds and incorporating personal experiences into his music.

Shawn Mendes' early journey serves as a true inspiration for aspiring musicians and creatives. His passion, dedication, and hard work led him from posting covers on YouTube to becoming one of the biggest stars of our time.

Despite facing challenges, Mendes never gave up on his dream and continued to push himself creatively. Today, he's proof that anything is possible with talent, perseverance, and a genuine love for what you do.