Shawn Mendes has found himself through therapy and music

Shawn Mendes has finally stopped feeling like he's "stepping into a role".

The 26-year-old musician has reflected on how therapy and working on his new stripped-back album 'Shawn' has helped him reconnect with himself.

Speaking to John Mayer for Interview magazine: "I think within finding yourself, there’s humour. There’s not taking myself so seriously.

"I don’t feel like I’m waking up every day and stepping into the role of Shawn. I feel like I’m just waking up as him."

He's surprised his upcoming record has given him so much before he's even unveiled it to the world.

He added: "Dude, I never thought that the most stripped-back art I’ve made would return the most to me.

"It’s already given me more than any of my albums by so much, and I haven’t even shown anyone... My mom doesn’t say these things, but when I played her 'Isn’t That Enough', she was like, 'Oh, you found yourself.' "

John asked if he figures "another parcel of yourself out", will he "keep that forever", but Shawn was philosophical about the idea.

He pondered: "I’m always here to let parts die, but subconsciously I hold onto some parts."

He elaborated: "Because of therapy and the experience of being burned and frozen, I’m not as extreme anymore."