PEACHES

I've had a strange journey with Justin Bieber. When he first appeared back in 2009, a sweet-faced teen with a halo of perfectly coiffed hair and his style of bubble-gum soul, I can't say I ever listened to one of his early songs to completion. And as the Canadian-born singer became a international sensation, whipping legions of teenage girls in to a frenzy, I really didn't pay him much attention nor took him very seriously.

Like many teen idols before him, Bieber found great success yet struggled with his crushing fame. He suffered with depression and anxiety while having several run-ins with the law involving DUIs, vandalism and assault. Bieber managed to get it together, eventually settling down to get married and refocusing on his faith. And well aware that these idols of fickle teenage girls can have a short shelf-life, the performer wanted to evolve, searching for who he really wanted to be as an artist.

In 2015, Bieber unexpectedly teamed-up EDM musicians, Skrillex and Diplo with "Where Are Ü Now" earning him a worldwide club hit, newfound respect as a musician and a Grammy for Best Dance Recording in the process. This was also when I started to pay a little attention to Bieber. With his fourth studio album, "Purpose" released later in the year, I actually really liked the singles from the record, "What Do You Mean?", "Sorry" and "Love Yourself". Had I become a Belieber? Not quite but I no longer rush to turn off his music if it comes on the radio.

Bieber has just released his latest album, "Justice" which features more hits I enjoyed, "Holy", a song about faith and loyalty that features Chance the Rapper, the emotional ballad, "Lonely" where he become vulnerable, revealing his struggles with his fame at a young age and the pop anthem, "Anyone". But the song I'm really digging is the recent release, "Peaches", a slinky, r&b number with him trading verses with fellow Canadian, Daniel Caesar and Giveon. This lane is clearly where Bieber feels most at ease but he is trying on many hats on the album, creating wide ranging musical styles with some working better for him than others.