-Austin Mahone opening for Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran at BC Place Stadium, June 29.
Two-years ago Texas pop star Austin Mahone had a feeling he was doing something right with his music when a couple of his fans noticed him wandering around the mall.
I was at the mall in my hometown of San Antonio and people started recognizing me, he says. It was a little strange because I wasnt expecting it to happen.
Fast forward to 2013 and Mahone, 17, has performed across North America, signed a major record deal and has millions of fans worldwide.
Saturday night Mahone will be opening for Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran at BC Place as part of the Red Tour. He says being able to tour with Swift and Sheeran has been a valuable experience.
Theyre incredible, Mahone says. Taylor and Ed are so nice to me. They treat me so nice and theyre really humble.
Being able to open for Taylor Swift is a huge step for me and it has been an honour, he adds.
Earlier this month Mahone released his latest single What About Love to iTunes. The track will be part of his debut album, which is slated for release later this year.
Its got that EDM feel and its going to be really good and I cant wait to put it out, he says.
According to Mahone his new album, which has yet to be named, will have a sound similar to that of the Backstreet Boys.
The music that they put out is catchy and everybody loved it. So I kind of want to bring some of that back.
So far 2013 has been a busy year for the 17-year-old. Mahone was a presenter at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas, and performed at the MuchMusic Video Awards in Toronto. He recently eclipsed 3 million followers on Twitter.
The Taylor Swift tour is not the first time the San Antonio native has performed in Canada. The one thing he remembers about previous trips north of the border is Tim Hortons.
I love their donuts, he says.
Mahones musical journey began in June of 2010 when he started posting YouTube videos of himself covering songs in his bedroom.
I started to learn to play the guitar and the piano, he says. Once I started playing those instruments I fell in love with it.
As Mahones fan base grew, he spent hours each day interacting with fans over Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Skype. Eventually his popularity got to the point where he had to drop out of high school and become home schooled.
I love my fans and the support I get, he says.
Even though Mahone has experienced a wealth of success in such a short time, there were times early on his YouTube video logging days where he doubted himself.
When I was in school and on YouTube people would always say youre never going to make it and why are you doing this? and I sort of thought maybe theyre right. Why am I doing this? he says. But then I just keep doing it and following my dreams and here I am.
Mahones hard work and relentless use of social media paid off last year when he signed with Chase/Universal Records.
I felt I got somewhere, he says. Ive made it a long way but there is still so much work to be done and I still have long ways to go. I am just excited for the ride.
Mahone has been working with Grammy-award winning producer RedOne. The Moroccan producer has collaborated with a long list of established artists including Justin Bieber, One Direction, Usher, Marc Anthony, Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, Sean Kingston and the Backstreet Boys.
Hes so talented. Hes done a lot of big records and I am really honoured to be working with him, he says. Hell teach me how to write songs and be creative.
Mahone is influenced by a wide range of artists such as Ne-Yo, Michael Jackson, Boyz II Men, Drake and Justin Timberlake. He hopes to someday have a career as successful as Timberlakes.
I really want to have a successful career like him because he started out in a boy band and hes still doing music today and hes very successful. Hes one of the biggest artists in the world today.
Mahones debut single 11:11 was released in February of 2012 and charted as high as 11 on Billboards Heatseekers songs chart. In December he put out another track, Say Youre Just a Friend, featuring Flo Rida.
According to the teen, he is often inspired to write music based on things that have happened to him in the past. He says he often gets inspired to write by simply sitting on his balcony.
I am very superstitious, Mahone says. I always pray before shows with my group and if I ever see a black cat crossing the road I always go the other way.
The teen heartthrob has received plenty of comparisons to Justin Bieber, and has even been called Baby Bieber. While he appreciates the comparisons Mahone says he has his own unique style.
Its cool but I tell people that I am different and that I am my own person and my own artist. It all comes down to me being myself. Im Austin and I am my own person and my direction of music is going separately.
Mahones advice to young artists thinking of making a career in music is simple.
Keep working hard no matter what, he says. Always follow your dreams no matter what people say and always keep a good group of friends around you.
