Justin Timberlake reveals he’s got a new sound, thanks to fatherhood.
“I wouldn’t say [my new material] is the antithesis of [The 20/20 Experience], but it does sound more singular,” Timberlake said in a recent interview with Variety. “If 20/20 sounded like it literally surrounds your entire head, this stuff feels more like it just punches you between the eyes.”
As you may recall, earlier this year, the 35-year-old released “Can’t Stop the Feeling!,” an infectiously catchy track off the animated family film Trolls’ soundtrack, in which he both stars and serves as the executive music producer.
Already a far cry from the heavy, heartfelt tracks Timberlake dropped with his 20/20 and FutureSex/LoveSounds albums, the upbeat track was just a teaser of what’s to come, the new father revealed
“That song came together the way it did because I’d had a son at that point,” said Timberlake, who welcomed his 18-month-old son, Silas, with wife Jessica Biel in April 2015. “It’s the sort of thing where you realize, ‘Man, there’s nothing wrong with putting some good vibes in the world.'”
As for when fans can expect the singer’s next album, Timberlake said he’s not in any rush. “I think everyone I’m working with right now knows that I’m notorious for being like, ‘Yeah, let’s work. I have no idea when I’ll put it out, though,'” he explained. “I’ll put it out when it’s done — when it feels right.”
In the meantime, fans can rest assured they’ll still get their fix. As previously reported, the “Suit & Tie” singer is currently collaborating with Pharrell Williams. In fact, the pair has already pumped out a number of new songs. “Songwise, I think we’ve got a good solid six that are like, ‘Whoa, what was that? Play that again,'” the “Happy” singer explained to Variety earlier this week.
“The Voice” coach went on to share that Timberlake’s new music has been far more personal. “I would pay Justin a huge compliment to say he’s just discovering who he is now,” he said. Meanwhile, Timberlake added that his lackadaisical attitude towards the release of his next project is “an effect of just enjoying my life more.”
He said, “For a long time I lived my life for a lot of other people, or for the idea that those other people had an idea of me. And whatever — there’s a guy who’s gonna wake up tomorrow and transfer an organ from one body to another and save someone’s life, so what are we even doing?”
For Timberlake, his life changed when he got married and became a father, and he said it’s “important to discover that there’s work you can do where you get more time with your family.”
