Shawn Mendes, the talented teen heartthrob who launched his music career on social media, returned to the charts Thursday with a bang, dropping the new single “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back.”
The “Treat You Better” singer’s new song is an energetic, up-tempo tune that rocketed to the top of the iTunes charts in ten countries, including the U.S., within hours of its release. Electric guitar and a hint of a tropical house lilt give the otherwise simple song a strong shot at maintaining steam as the weather heats up, too. Known for rock-leaning earworms like “Stitches” and ballads like “Mercy,” Mendes finds a sweet spot here, perhaps taking a page out of Ed Sheeran‘s surefire rock-pop playbook as he toes the line between acoustic strummers and party-ready crowd-pleasers.
The popular teen star is currently gearing up to launch a tour to support his sophomore album Illuminate next week, and “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back” should inject some new energy into his fan base’s voracious appetite for the Mendes experience.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Where Trump 2.0 Will Differ From 1.0
- How Elon Musk Became a Kingmaker
- The Power—And Limits—of Peer Support
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope
- The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy
- FX’s Say Nothing Is the Must-Watch Political Thriller of 2024
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
Write to Raisa Bruner at raisa.bruner@time.com