NEED TO KNOW
A new Justin Bieber era is coming!
A source confirmed to PEOPLE that the pop megastar, 31, will drop JB7 — his first since 2021’s Justice — on Friday, July 11. The Hollywood Reporter was the first to report the news.
“It’s darker, more vulnerable and less polished,” the source said. “It’s in no way depressing though.”
They noted exclusively that “fans are in for a genre shift” and that the music is “much deeper.”
The source also added that becoming a new dad has “shaped the heart” of Bieber’s new project, as 10-month-old son Jack Blues — whom he shares with wife Hailey Baldwin Bieber — “is the most precious to him.”
Sources told THR that the pop megastar will release the record via Def Jam.
Joseph Okpako/WireImage
On Thursday, a billboard in Iceland featuring Bieber and the word “Swag” on it began going viral. TMZ reports Swag is the title of the new album, though the singer has yet to confirm or deny.
The same billboard appeared in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Shortly after the billboards appeared, Bieber also shared an Instagram Reel of a large screen in New York City, featuring what appears to be a track list. Song titles include “Daisies, “Dadz Love,” “Therapy Session” and “Zuma House.”
Reps for Bieber and Def Jam have yet to respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.
Earlier this week, Bieber shared photos of his son joining him in the music studio.
Jack was seen standing by a coffee table, alongside Bieber and his pals, two of whom were playing guitars. The “Baby” hitmaker smiled at his son as he took in his surroundings, which had been adorned with fairy lights. Bieber also captioned the post with a series of love heart emojis.
In May, a source confirmed to PEOPLE that Bieber was laying down new tracks at a recording studio in Iceland.
He stayed at the Eleven Deplar Farm hotel in Ólafsfjörður, Iceland, which features a detached studio where Bieber spent time recording his new music without distractions.
Justin Bieber/Instagram
In April, sources told The Hollywood Reporter that in recent months Bieber had been holding “jam sessions” at his Los Angeles house with DJ Tay James, musical director HARV, SZA collaborator Carter Lang and Australian artist Eddie Benjamin.
The LP will also reportedly include features from Gunna, Sexxy Red and Cash Cobain.
Bieber previously smoked along to Cash’s song “Attitude” on his Instagram Story. “It’s a great feeling to know one of the GOATs is Slizzy, for him to rock with little old me means a lot,” he told PEOPLE in March.
