Justin Bieber Says He’s ‘Nervous’ About New Album, Sincerely Sorry In ‘Hero’ Magazine
Justin Bieber really is sorry, he says once again in the latest issue of Hero magazine.
Earlier this month, a preview of the Brit magazine’s cover story with the reformed singer revealed that the 21-year-old opened up about feeling nerves about his new album, and more mature intentions going forward in his comeback year.
Coming off two years of negative, mostly gleeful headlines, the Biebs spent the first three months of 2015 apologizing for missteps. The first apology came via a smartphone-filmed confessional video, numerous appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and a brutal Comedy Central Roast last month.
Bieber continues those efforts to try and explain his peculiar and overly-scrutinized life to Hero, which hit newsstands in the U.K on April 27 (the U.S. on May 18.)
“I hope people felt the sincerity in my apologies,” he begins. “There are a lot of things that have happened in the last couple years that I’m not very proud of…I feel a responsibility to my fans and to the public who believe in me to make it right. I hope everyone believed it — because it was honest.”
Touching on the difficulties of growing up in the spotlight, the former teen star explains “It’s definitely hard having so many people judge you from a distance.”
“Sometimes you just want to explain yourself, but then that’s giving into gossip and it makes things worse. It’s a tough line to walk.”
While some critics dismissed his roast as PR, others thought Bieber acquitted himself well in the over four-hour takedown. Recalling the skewering, the Canadian tells Hero he asked for the roast to show he can laugh at himself.
“It was good fun,” he shares. “Everyone on the dais gets roasted on those things, so I was just grateful that everyone was willing to go through that alongside me.”
He admits, “I was nervous to watch it but it was really funny.”
We’re told Bieber likes a beer, Jack Daniels, and still admires Queen Bey. More crucially, he insists he has learned from his mistakes and that his new album — the follow up to his 2012 Believe record — will show that.
“The biggest difference is that I’m older,” the heartthrob reflects. “I was 17 when I recorded most of my last album and I’m 21 now. I’ve been through a lot in a public way, which gives me a much different perspective on things.”
“I am working with producers like Kanye [West] and Rick Rubin who have influenced me and the music I listen to in a big way,” Bieber added.
Elaborating, the “Where Are U Now” singer says, “The creative process this time around is more personal.”
“When I was younger, I would take other people’s experiences. Now I have my own to draw from, and it makes all the difference because it’s a release.”
Seemingly grateful that he can express himself creatively, Bieber enthuses, “It’s amazing because I’m able to really work out anything I am feeling in my music.”
He adds, “I’m nervous whenever I put out new work because it’s such a personal journey, but I try to remember music is meant to be enjoyed — so I try to roll with it.”
Speaking to USA Today last month, Bieber described his new album as a more “grown up” version of who he is.
“I just want to create the best piece of art that I can create,” he told Ryan Seacrest during an interview earlier this month. “Something that’s really near and dear to my heart.”
After admitting some of his new music is inspired by former girlfriend Selena Gomez, the Biebs said, “It was a long relationship that created heartbreak and created happiness and a lot of different emotions that I wanted to write about.”
Currently, Bieber’s crashing of a high school prom at the weekend is getting the rumor mill treatment. It is to be hoped this urge to stomp on anything and everything the singer does, will lessen as the conversation returns more and more to his music ahead of dropping his new album.
[Images via Hedi Slimane/Hero magazine]
