NEW YORK (AP) 鈥 Never say never! Justin Bieber surprised fans Friday by releasing 鈥淪wag,鈥 his seventh studio album, hours after he teased it on billboards and social media posts.
It is his first album since 2021鈥檚 鈥淛ustice鈥 and his first since becoming a father last year.
鈥淚nspired by his devotion as a husband and father, this new era of music has fueled a deeper perspective and more reflective sound, resulting in some of his most personal music yet,鈥 Def Jam Recordings said of the 21-track album.
Billboards depicting Bieber were found by fans Thursday in Reykjavik, Iceland, and Los Angeles. The singer also shared images of billboards account along with a tracklist that included song names like 鈥淎ll I Can Take,鈥 鈥淲alking Away,鈥 鈥淒adz Love鈥 and 鈥淔orgiveness.鈥
Recommendations for an intimate new album
There's a lot to love across the 21-tracks of the intimate 鈥淪wag.鈥 Here are a few choice cuts.
1. 鈥淒aises鈥 鈥 The second track on the album may very well be its strongest; an exemplar in Bieber's slow-burn brand of alternative R&B-pop, now anchored with lo-fi guitar. Here, his sweet voice is pronounced 鈥 exactly what his most dedicated fans want to hear.
2. 鈥淒evotion鈥 ft. Dijon 鈥 Dijon is a rising R&B voice; some fans might be familiar with his 2021 debut album 鈥淎bsolutely鈥 or his contribution to from earlier this year. He makes for a standout collaboration on 鈥淪wag,鈥 a sweet song about deepening affection.
3. 鈥淕o Baby鈥 - Bieber married the model (nee Baldwin) in 2018; she's long been source material for his most loving tracks. 鈥淕o Baby鈥 is a standout for that reason. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 my baby, she鈥檚 iconic," he opens the track, "iPhone case, lip gloss on it,鈥 referencing her Rhode skincare and beauty brand, which sold to Elf Beauty
4. 鈥淲alking Away鈥 - Marriage isn't easy; that's clear on 鈥淲alking Away,鈥 a slightly-more-uptempo track where Bieber makes his dedication evident. It's the perfect song for dancing in the kitchen with your partner.
5. 鈥淎ll I Can Take鈥 - The throwback opener 鈥淎ll I Can Take鈥 has a vintage groove 鈥 echoes of Beiber's early work, now matured to reflect his current adult reality. He sounds as sweet as ever in the pre-chorus, his declaration of 鈥淥oh, baby, don鈥檛 it feel good? Baby, don鈥檛 it feel nice? / Ooh, baby, don鈥檛 it feel good? You don鈥檛 have to think twice.鈥
Bieber before 鈥淪wag鈥
the two-time Grammy Award winning singer and 好色tv pop idol who revolutionized teen pop and social media fame, is best known for his silky R&B pop lyric tenor, demonstrated on the diamond-selling 鈥淏aby,鈥 鈥淪orry,鈥 and 鈥淪tay鈥 with the Kid Laroi. At the beginning of his career, and as a tween, Bieber began working with Usher and the .
In 2023, Bieber 鈥 all six of his albums, including hits like 鈥淪orry鈥 and 鈥淏aby鈥 鈥 to Hipgnosis, a U.K-based music investment company. The deal鈥檚 financial details were not disclosed, but Billboard Magazine that the sale was worth an estimated $200 million.
In August 2024, Justin and announced the Jack Blues Bieber.
