Justin Bieber Covers the Next Issue of 'i-D' Magazine

i-D takes you behind the scenes of its photoshoot for its upcoming cover story, Justin Bieber. In the short clip, the artist talks about growing up in the spotlight and how he continues to progress as an artist. Already making headlines this past month with the debut of his radio-ready track written with friend and collaborator Skrillex, and the accompanying video that has garnered well over 28 million views on YouTube in under two weeks, Bieber is promised a busy year ahead. You can read an excerpt from the feature below, and head over to i-D now to read the full interview.

If he is to stand up to an adult market, the point at which Bieber crosses from man to role model has to be renegotiated. He understands that if he wants to play with the big boys he needs to own his behaviour, to make himself accountable. “The reality is that people are human and people mess up and people go through trials and tribulations. It made me, myself, be more human to people.” A biological coincidence helped smooth the transition musically, as his singing voice dropped a pleasing register. An incredibly smart business operator, he is never one to miss a potential demographic spike. “I think it’s more relatable now. When I had that young voice it was hard for people to connect. Dudes can listen to it now and say, ‘Yeah, I like that new Bieber song’.”

Justin has been selected as a point of interest and symbolic figurehead for the new era’s fashion kids, decked in Vêtements and Hood By Air. This isn’t some kitschy committee process of winking pop irony. He is a sincere musician, who looks great, cutting a silhouette this season that fits comfortably within the health goth endemic. He has that skilfully young styling disposition that can turn wearing a charcoal hoodie, denims and hi-tops into looking like he’s adorned in multiple separate Rick Owens pieces. Where one ends and another begins, who knows?