Let’s get one thing out of the way first: Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello are NOT dating. They’ve said it before (albeit somewhat unconvincingly), and they’ll probably have to say it again, because that’s the price you must pay when you’re two young pop stars who collaborate together.

The latest insistence of their non-coupledom comes via Shawn, who covers Seventeen’s June/July issue. And though he expressly told the mag that he and Camila aren’t an item, he did offer up some amazing praise about his Fifth Harmony friend.

“She’s phenomenal. I love her. And she’s so talented,” the 17-year-old said. “She’s one of the sweetest girls I’ve ever met and super, super-smart. We aren’t dating, but musically she just blows my mind.”

Sadly, with Fifth Harmony’s sophomore album releasing next week and Shawn hard at work on his own new LP, it looks like their collab may have just been a one-off project. Luckily, Shawn fans still have plenty to be excited about, because his new music sounds like it’ll be well worth the wait.

“It’s a mix of pop and like a John Mayer-and-Ed Sheeran acoustic feel all in one,” Shawn told Seventeen. “I have songs about growing up, about ex-relationships -- ex-relationship, I should say,” he said. “I haven’t had relationships. A couple of songs about relationships with girls since fame.”

And is Camila one of those aforementioned girls? Say it with me now: "Nope, because they're just friends!!!"