In 2016, an 18-year-old Canadian singer released his second studio album without realising it would be the most successful of his career. With three major hits that have generated billions of streams and reached multi-platinum status, Shawn Mendes’ ‘Illuminate’ marked a huge turning point for the young artist.

The album itself introduced the singer’s mature side, exploring themes of love and vulnerability, showing fans new and old that he was no longer just a teenager. Released on 23rd September 2016, the album debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200 and reached No.3 in the UK charts. Ten years on, tracks such as ‘Treat You Better’ and ‘Mercy’ still remain his most recogniseable, emphasising the effect that the sophomore album had on his listeners.

At the centre of this album is a young artist who wrote twelve tracks whilst growing in front of millions. But what gave it a more personal feel were the motifs of heartbreak, emotional dependence and desire, things he is still trying to understand, and all feelings that he has found a way to heighten compared to his debut album ‘Handwritten’. Songs such as ‘Like This’ are flirty and certain, while ‘Three Empty Words’ focuses on the emptiness that follows when a relationship loses its meaning. Together, they show the contrast between the confidence of a rising popstar and the uncertainty of a teenager still finding his place in the industry - and the world.

The impact continued long after release, as well. ‘Treat You Better’ spent 38 weeks on the UK Single Chart, hitting No.6, and is - to this day - one of his top ranked tracks of his career. It is also clear that Mendes decided to follow the themes from this album into the majority of his later work. Although production-wise the tracks varied to follow the flow of pop music throughout the decade, the emotional honesty established on ‘Illuminate’ remained an important part of his identity as a songwriter. 

From covering songs on Vine, to having his debut album ‘Handwritten’ hit No.1, and now being one of the top 50 most-streamed artists of all time on Spotify, it is fair to say that this album solidified his talent and continued his journey to be one of the best. 

On the 25th September 2026, Mendes promised fans a new expanded edition of ‘Illuminate’, consisting of unreleased tracks alongside live recordings of ‘Treat You Better’ (New York), ‘Ruin’ (Boston) and ‘Mercy’ (Montreal).

Lily Howard

@lilytalksmedia

Image:‘Illuminate’ Official Album Cover