Shawn Mendes took a break fromSaturday Night Live rehearsals on Thursday to chat with Zane Lowe on Apple Musics Beats 1s Best of the Week show. The two talked Mendes new song, If I Cant Have You, as well as his newfound experience with acting.
I think Im in a skit, I have no idea what it is but I just got a wig fitted, Mendes said on his SNL rehearsals, for the upcoming episode hosted by Adam Sandler. [Acting] is the biggest you-have-to-own it thing. As Im starting to realize I can own this singing thing I think Ill fall into acting and stuff more, 100%.
Mendes also revealed that If I Cant Have You was originally written for Dua Lipa. I was back in the studio with Teddy Geiger and Nate [Mercreau] and I was playing it on piano and I was like oh my god this would be really cool for Dua Lipa. It was on guitar and I turned it to piano it was right after One Kiss came out. In the voice note Im speaking like Im gonna send to Dua Im like, Okay, Dua, I have this song I have just a chorus we can finish it if you want.' Later, while playing the song again, Mendes realized he wanted to perform the song himself.
You can watch Mendes and Lowe discussSNL on FaceTime here, and listen to the full interview here.