As long as she loved him. Like his ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber told Ryan Seacrest this week that his new music is inspired by their messy on-and-off-again relationship.
"I think a lot of my inspiration comes from [Selena]," the world-famous pop star, 21, noted, adding that his follow-up to 2013's Journals will detail their romance. "It was a long relationship that created heartbreak and created happiness and a lot of different emotions that I wanted to write about. There’s a lot of that on this album."
Gomez, 22, and Bieber started dating in 2010, and ended their relationship in January 2013. Still, their split was a long, drawn-out process. To explain her high-profile romance and messy breakup, Gomez released an emotional single last fall titled "The Heart Wants What It Wants."
Bieber told Seacrest he has no plans to record or release a direct response. Instead, he's been working arduously alongside Kanye West to create new music for his countless fans.
"I’ve been in the studio with him for the past month or so," Bieber revealed. "He just pushes you. He definitely wants it to be my way and my direction and he doesn’t want to steal what I want. That’s why artists like to go to him, because he pulls something out of you that other people don’t." Along with Kim Kardashian's husband, Bieber is also working with revered Def Jam co-founder Rick Rubin.
In fact, Bieber is revamping his image and delivering the best to fans — starting with the removal of bad influences in his life. "My circle of closeness definitely has changed for the better," said Bieber, whose pals include Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, and others.
"You are who you surround yourself with. When people are bringing in garbage and negativity, you start picking up that energy. Now I’m surrounded by a lot of people who are pouring into my life, refueling my engine. When I get empty they’re there to just be like, ‘No, I’m going to encourage you to be better and to push on.’ I think that’s what you have to be surrounded with, especially in this industry."
The singer reasoned that it's all by trial and error. "There was no way of me preparing for this [life]," the "Baby" crooner said of his meteoric rise to fame at age 12. "I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. Now looking back at some of the interviews, I look at it and I’m disappointed because I didn’t see myself in that way. I didn’t know I was being arrogant. Because when you are being cocky, you are the only one that doesn’t know you look like a jerk. So I wouldn’t really change anything because I grew and now I’m looking at it and I can see it. Sometimes I have to learn the hard way."
As for his love life? "I’m single right now," he said. "And I do enjoy it."
