Canadian crooner Shawn Mendes has followed the path of countrymen Justin Bieber and Drake, parlaying a rabid online fan base into a major label record deal—and a spot on our list.
Mendes’ break came courtesy of Vine, where he gained millions of followers singing six-second covers of pop songs. Fellow 30 Under 30 2016 honoree Andrew Gertler recognized his talent, became his manager and got him a deal with Island Records. Gertler runs management company AG Artists, serving multiple major label and indie acts, but it was his discovery of Mendes that changed everything.
This year Mendes released his first studio album, Handwritten, and it went to No. 1 on the charts in the U.S., Canada and Norway thanks in part to hit single “Stitches.” He spent the summer opening for Taylor Swift in preparation of a headlining tour of his own. When did he realize he could have a career as a musician? “Maybe yesterday,” he says. “Seriously, I’m 17 … the way I keep myself sane is by thinking of it as fun.”
Together, Mendes and Gertler answered 18 questions about their beginnings--and what makes them tick.
Date Of Birth
Mendes: 08/08/98
Gertler: 11/08/88
Twitter Handle
Mendes: @shawnmendes
Gertler: @andrewgertler
College Attended/Degrees Earned
Mendes: N/A
Gertler: University of Vermont, BA in Marketing
Residence (city, state/country)
Mendes: Pickering, ON
Hometown
Mendes: Pickering, ON
12 Questions With Shawn Mendes and Andrew Gertler
Are you a first-generation American?
Mendes: No (Canadian)
Gertler: No
Are you married?
Mendes: No
Gertler: No
How many children do you have, if any?
Mendes: None
Gertler: None
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Mendes: Early bird
Gertler: Night owl
How much student debt do you have?
Mendes: Zero
Gertler: Zero
Who's your dream mentor?
Mendes: John Mayer
Gertler: David Geffen
What gadget can you not live without?
Mendes: Cell phone
Gertler: Cell Phone
Who's your single biggest influence?
Mendes: Ed Sheeran
Gertler: My father
What's your go-to app?
Mendes: Twitter
Gertler: Twitter
How do you define success?
Mendes: Doing what you love for a living.
Gertler: Success is in the eyes of the beholder... My simple definition is that success is whatever makes me and those around me happy. I find myself satisfied when I'm able to help the artists that I work with achieve their goals.
What's the best concert you've ever been to?
Mendes: Taylor Swift - 1989 Tour
Gertler: Taylor Swift - 1989 Tour
If you could listen to only one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Mendes: Continuum by John Mayer
Gertler: Bon Iver by Bon Iver. It's one of the most simple & relaxing albums to listen to, that I can always play on repeat, and never get sick of.
For more about the business of music, check out my Jay Z biography, Empire State of Mind, and my other book, Michael Jackson, Inc. You can also follow me on Twitter, Facebook and by subscribing to my quarterly newsletter.
