There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back

Shawn Mendes shifted his sonic direction with "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back," trading the acoustic intimacy of his debut for a guitar-heavy pop rock sound. Released on April 20, 2017, as the lead single from the reissue of Illuminate, the track arrived just months after he had established himself as a teen heartthrob. The song was co-written by Mendes alongside Teddy Geiger and Andrew Maury, who also handled production duties to blend infectious melodies with a rebellious attitude.

Lyrically, the track explores a toxic yet magnetic relationship where the protagonist accepts a partner who damages his reputation. Mendes later revealed that the song stemmed from a specific mystery girl he dated, describing the connection as manipulative but impossible to resist. This personal angle gave the high-energy anthem a grounded emotional core that resonated with listeners worldwide.

The music video directed by Colin Tilley captured the song's carefree vibe through scenes set in a gym and at a beach house. Mendes performed the track energetically across various venues, including a standout live rendition at the American Music Awards in November 2017. By September 2026, the song reached Diamond certification in the United States, marking his first Diamond smash released while still a teenager. [edit]