Shawn Mendes has unveiled a new song from his upcoming album Shawn live at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards on Wednesday (September 11) at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.

Mendes and his band performed the new song on a huge candle-lined rug on a smoky stage, giving the entire performance a casual living room vibe. The song, titled “Nobody Knows,” began in a slow folk-rock style before gradually building in intensity and reaching an emphatic, impressive climax. Towards the end of the song, Mendes turned away from his adoring fans and faced his drummer, strumming wildly on his acoustic guitar and smiling broadly as his electric lead guitarist belted out a solo beside him. The chemistry between Mendes and his band on stage is palpable, and when his drummer turned to the camera at the end with a joyful look on his face, it was hard not to be convinced.

Mendes’ VMA debut, “Nobody Knows,” suggests that the singer-songwriter’s musicianship and songwriting are evolving and maturing (perhaps he’s been listening to some Leonard Cohen lately?), without losing any of the youthful exuberance that originally helped him break through as a guitarist.

Before Mendes’ VMAs performance, rumors swirled that Mendes would be performing at an awards show that also featured not one but two of his ex-girlfriends—Camila Cabello (with whom he topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 2019 with the duet “Señorita”) and Sabrina Carpenter. But his vocally and instrumentally impressive performance easily dispelled the rumors and put the spotlight back on his music and performing arts—at least for a while.

Mendes’ fifth album, Shawnwill be released on October 18. His last studio album, 2020’s Wondertopped the Billboard 200.