In the wake of dropping his self-titled album earlier this year, Shawn Mendes has rolled through with an EP of remixes to cap off the year. As it happens, one of the tracks features two of the game's talented young vocalists, Khalid and Jessie Reyez. Together, they exchange couplets, blending their voices over finger-picked acoustic guitars. Mendes himself is not to be shortchanged, making his presence felt throughout, while still allowing his collaborators ample room to shine.
In truth, the tag-in arrangement allows little room for any one artist to shine. Rather, "Youth" shines when all three parties coalesce, though the timbre of each respective voice is distinct enough to please their respective fanbases. To be fair, we've been missing Khalid throughout 2018, so hearing his, even in a limited capacity, remains a pleasant surprise; we can only hope a full-fledged return is imminent. Of course, it goes without saying that Reyez shines, with her instantly-recognizable voice filling the void that Nelly Furtado left behind years ago. Check this one out now.
Quotable Lyrics
It's hard to sleep at night, knowing what's outside
Feeling hopeless, I need focus
You have died inside, and your soul's not worth the price
Don't you lose it, for this foolishness, no
You hit me with words I never heard come out your mouth
To be honest, I don't want it, no