Ready, Set, Scream: One-on-One Time with Justin Bieber!
December 2009
Three months ago, hardly anyone had heard of the 15-year-old Canadian tween pop sensation named Justin Bieber. Amazingly, just a few days ago, the mania surrounding him caused police to shut down an autograph signing at a New York mall attended by some 3,000 fans for safety concerns. Sorry, Jonas Brothers, your time is up.
Discovered on YouTube, Bieber quickly became R&B star Usher's protégé, signing to Island Records just last year. On November 17th, his first album, "My World," featuring hit singles "One Time" and "One Less Lonely Girl," debuted in the top 10 on U.S. charts, and scored the #1 album spot in his native Canada.
Even more incredible, his official website proclaims that he is the first solo artist in Billboard Hot 100 history to send four songs from a debut album into the Top 40 prior to the albums
release. Recently, he has popped up all over television including appearances on The Today Show, Good Morning America,
The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and Chelsea Lately, and toured with Taylor Swift in England.
The humble, good-natured, and undeniably charismatic Bieber spoke with WaldenPonders mere weeks before the real mayhem exploded.
What has been the biggest change in your life since?
Being able to just travel so much has been a blessing. I hadnt' really gotten the chance to travel that much as a child, so this has just been great.
Your biography describes you as a self-taught musician. What inspired your interest in music at such a young age?
At two years old, I was playing the drums. I didn't really have any inspiration. I just always had it in me.
What can you tell me about the process of creating your album?
Wow, it's been great. I got to work with a lot of good producers, and I got to write a lot of my album, so it's been awesome. I have written songs about past relationships. Basically, I've just learned from other people, learn the structure of songs they write and what they write about. I get a lot of my influence from Ne-Yo.
How did you react when you received "The Call" from your future manager?
I was like, "Really? This is amazing!" It was gonna be an amazing experience, and I was like, "Mom, lets just do it." So, I was all for it.
What's your response to all of the screaming fans everywhere you go?
I really, to be honest, like it. It seems like weird that I would like it, but it's so much fun. I get a kick out of all my fans. They're so awesome. Right now, I really don't get sick of it. I might in the future, but I really can't see myself. I love my fans. I wouldn't be in this position without my fans, so they don't bother me. They re-energize me.
What has been your impression of celebrity so far?
A lot of celebrities are just people like you and me and everyone. I've learned that I used to think of celebrities as like they're higher up, but really, they're not.
How do you balance this new career and school?
School is really important to me. I do school on the road. I've got a tutor that travels with me. She also goes on Skype, and we do it over the Internet sometimes. We keep school in the mix.
Do you have any idea if youd like to go to college or what you'd study?
I definitely plan to go to college, [but] I'm really not focusing on that right now.
What goals do you have for your career?
Maybe winning a Grammy - that'd be cool! For the rest of my career, maybe putting out a movie, something.
Are there any plans for a tour?
We don't have any set dates but definitely plans to tour soon.
And lastly, every girl wants to know: are you single?
I'm single and ready to mingle! (Laughs)
Links: Official Site | Facebook | Twitter
Discovered on YouTube, Bieber quickly became R&B star Usher's protégé, signing to Island Records just last year. On November 17th, his first album, "My World," featuring hit singles "One Time" and "One Less Lonely Girl," debuted in the top 10 on U.S. charts, and scored the #1 album spot in his native Canada.
Even more incredible, his official website proclaims that he is the first solo artist in Billboard Hot 100 history to send four songs from a debut album into the Top 40 prior to the albums
release. Recently, he has popped up all over television including appearances on The Today Show, Good Morning America,
The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and Chelsea Lately, and toured with Taylor Swift in England.
The humble, good-natured, and undeniably charismatic Bieber spoke with WaldenPonders mere weeks before the real mayhem exploded.
What has been the biggest change in your life since?
Being able to just travel so much has been a blessing. I hadnt' really gotten the chance to travel that much as a child, so this has just been great.
Your biography describes you as a self-taught musician. What inspired your interest in music at such a young age?
At two years old, I was playing the drums. I didn't really have any inspiration. I just always had it in me.
What can you tell me about the process of creating your album?
Wow, it's been great. I got to work with a lot of good producers, and I got to write a lot of my album, so it's been awesome. I have written songs about past relationships. Basically, I've just learned from other people, learn the structure of songs they write and what they write about. I get a lot of my influence from Ne-Yo.
How did you react when you received "The Call" from your future manager?
I was like, "Really? This is amazing!" It was gonna be an amazing experience, and I was like, "Mom, lets just do it." So, I was all for it.
What's your response to all of the screaming fans everywhere you go?
I really, to be honest, like it. It seems like weird that I would like it, but it's so much fun. I get a kick out of all my fans. They're so awesome. Right now, I really don't get sick of it. I might in the future, but I really can't see myself. I love my fans. I wouldn't be in this position without my fans, so they don't bother me. They re-energize me.
What has been your impression of celebrity so far?
A lot of celebrities are just people like you and me and everyone. I've learned that I used to think of celebrities as like they're higher up, but really, they're not.
How do you balance this new career and school?
School is really important to me. I do school on the road. I've got a tutor that travels with me. She also goes on Skype, and we do it over the Internet sometimes. We keep school in the mix.
Do you have any idea if youd like to go to college or what you'd study?
I definitely plan to go to college, [but] I'm really not focusing on that right now.
What goals do you have for your career?
Maybe winning a Grammy - that'd be cool! For the rest of my career, maybe putting out a movie, something.
Are there any plans for a tour?
We don't have any set dates but definitely plans to tour soon.
And lastly, every girl wants to know: are you single?
I'm single and ready to mingle! (Laughs)
Links: Official Site | Facebook | Twitter
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