In his latest interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1, Justin Timberlake revealed that his new single ‘Selfish’ draws inspiration from John Lennon, as he explained how Lennon’s vulnerability influenced his new music.
This revelation coincided with the announcement of Timberlake’s upcoming album ‘Everything I Thought It Was,’ set for release on March 15. This marks the singer’s first new music since his 2018 album ‘Man Of The Woods.’
Unpacking ‘Selfish’ And Its Lennon Connection
Timberlake recalled an impromptu performance at a small jazz night in Los Angeles, hosted by his friend and music director Adam Blackstone. He continued:
“And he invited me to come down, and he said, ‘Hey, man.’ He was like, ‘You want to come up and sing something?’ And I randomly threw out, ‘Oh, yeah, let’s do Donny Hathaway’s cover of ‘Jealous Guy’ by Lennon.’ And by the way, if you’re a Gen-Zer right now, you have no idea who I’m talking about!”
Exploring Vulnerability And Simplicity In Music
Talking about the concept of vulnerability in male expression, the musician went on to say:
“So we were talking about the song itself and just breaking down the idea that you just don’t hear that from men often, that they would express an emotion that makes them vulnerable. And then growing up the way I grew up, you’re taught not to do that.”
He described ‘Selfish’ as an honest song, explaining:
“But I don’t know, it just felt like a really honest song. The lyrics just started to come out, honestly. And when I listened to the whole album, I felt like it’s probably, of all the songs on the album, production-wise, probably the most straightforward, and I don’t want to say simple because it’s complex within its simplicity to me.”
The Creative Process Behind The New Album And Upcoming Shows
Justin also opened up about the creation of ‘Everything I Thought It Was.’ He revealed that the process involved writing 100 songs, from which he selected 18 for the album. Expressing excitement and confidence, Timberlake regarded this album as his best work to date.
Furthermore, Timberlake announced his first series of live shows in the US in five years. The tour begins at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena on April 29 and will include stops in major cities before concluding in Lexington, Kentucky, on July 9. UK and European tour dates are to be announced later.
You can listen to ‘Selfish’ below.
