noxzema sauteed: Justin Bieber's 'Boyfriend' Single Is 'Definitely Edgier'

Friday, March 23, 2012

Justin Bieber's 'Boyfriend' Single Is 'Definitely Edgier'

Producer/songwriter tells MTV News the 'sexier' track, which drops Monday, will 'definitely surprise people.'
By Jocelyn Vena

Justin Bieber
Photo: Getty Images

Justin Bieber is days away from dropping his lead Believe single, "Boyfriend," and its early buzz grew even louder on Wednesday when Bieber released the lyrics for the track. While fans will have to wait until Monday to hear the song, MTV News got a little bit of a tease from one of the guys who worked with the teen sensation on the track.

"This record is different in a very good way," "BF" co-producer and co-writer Mason Levy told MTV News. "Definitely edgier, it's more grown-up, it's more developed and it's sexier. It's just like really dope. It's gonna definitely surprise people. People aren't really expecting that they're going to like it."

Levy thinks pretty much everyone is destined to like it, thanks to a sound that reaches far beyond that of Bieber's tweeny pop days. "It's more of something that everyone can drive around and listen to it, whether they're guys or girls or older," he said.

Bieber has said he wanted to grow up with this album and the Mike Posner-produced song. His model was the post-'NSYNC Justin Timberlake. From the sound of it, he might have hit that nail on the head.

"It's more just the verses [that he raps on] and the rest he's singing," he said. "It's dope. It's hip-hop, but with great acoustic R&B, pop guitar with very hip-hop, clubby drums and really dope Justin Timberlake-y melodies."

The creation of the song was pretty organic, Levy said. "We got together and started messing around. It was one of those things where you didn't have to struggle too much. It just kind of happened," he said. "He always goes in and does melodies and he's involved in lyrics and everything."

"Boyfriend" will set the tone for the album, set for release later this year. "There's definitely lots of diversity on the album. There's really ballad-y stuff and there's more stuff like this. I would say ['Boyfriend'] is harder," Levy added. "He's very open to everything."

Are you excited to hear a "grown-up" Bieber on "Boyfriend"? Leave your comment below!

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