Justin Bieber didn’t just re-enact a solo version of 50 Shades of Grey for the August issue of Interview magazine, he also shared some intriguing details about his upcoming album with former roaster, Martha Stewart .
“It’s just very personal,” the Biebs explained after Stewart asked if his new material will be romantic. He continued, “People will be able to really get into where my heart is. It’s about my journey in life, stuff that I’ve been through. Maybe I can teach a lesson, certain things that are inspiring.”
To recap: earlier this year, the 21-year-old revealed Rick Rubin and Kanye West are co-producing his album. Then, “Where Are Ü Now” — Bieber’s collaborative single with Jack Ü’s Skrillex and Diplo — began to gain traction after the EDM duo dropped their album in February.
The day after closing Miami’s Ultra Music Festival back in March, the trio hit up local radio stations to promote the track and revealed plans to work on the singer’s album.
To Power 96, Justin dished , “Yeah, I think me and these guys are going to collaborate on my next album and do something really special. Really world-changing.”
Since then, Justin and Skrillex spent almost a week together in an Los Angeles recording studio in May. Further dates with Sonny More and Diplo followed, marked by social media pics .
Fast forward to Martha Stewart’s chat with the Biebs, it sounds as if Jack Ü’s involvement on the singer’s new album will be bigger than the trio first imagined.
On his studio team, the heartthrob revealed, “I’m working a lot with Skrillex and Diplo and this guy named Poo Bear, who’s an incredible writer. Explaining, Justin added, “We’ve just been getting our groove.”
The singer continued, “You kind of go through a period where you’re in there and nothing comes and nothing comes, and then, finally, it’s like bang-bang-bang — you get them all in a row. I’m at a place where I’m really happy and I’m ready to share my music.”
Although Bieber reaffirmed that real instruments are used on the album and that he plays drums and guitar on some of it, he revealed that it will push the envelope sonically.
“Skrillex is on a really new wave,” he teased, “and has found a way to take my vocals and mix them, and play with them, and pitch it up to make it higher with these cool effects that sound really futuristic. We have a really good chemistry.”
Alas, the singer didn’t share an album release date, but his reasons should make the wait worthwhile.
“I just want it to be perfect, so we’re taking our time with it,” Bieber told Stewart. He added, “We’ve gone in with a bunch of different people. I’m just trying to get the best sound and have it be consistent and make sense with what I’m going through in my life right now.”
“Where Are Ü Now” was officially certified platinum in the U.S. last week, after shifting over one million units. The single has generated over 150 million streams on Spotify and is now at No. 9 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Singles chart .
Jack Ü first platinum record — congrats my brothers @justinbieber and @Skrillex = squad for life pic.twitter.com/wgZSYeaNSB
— diplo (@diplo) July 15, 2015
While Justin Bieber fans wait for their boy to drop new fire, he’s kept them sated with his since deleted — but not forgotten — nude viral photo , and the stunning Steven Klein-shot photo shoot that accompanied his Interview cover story.
[Images via Steven Klein / Interview magazine]