“Where Are Ü Now,” the captivating hit that has taken over the airwaves and dance floors, might have seemed like an unexpected collaboration between Justin Bieber and the electronic duo, Skrillex and Diplo. The New York Times delved deep into the creation of this chart-topping smash, uncovering the remarkable journey that turned Justin’s ballad into a sensational hit.
The story commenced during Fashion Week when Diplo had an audacious idea: to invite Justin to contribute to his Jack Ü project alongside Skrillex, as an unexpected twist that would intrigue the music world. Soon after, Justin shared his version of “Where Are Ü Now,” a soulful and slow-paced a cappella ballad.
Diplo recalled, “The song was a really slow ballad, never had any drums even. We took a lot of his vocals and did a lot of different things to it; we added natural harmonies because we didn’t have anything from him, so we created our own harmonies.”
Remarkably, Justin didn’t physically enter the studio during the production process; in fact, he wasn’t even aware that the song was being worked on. Initially skeptical about the collaboration with Diplo and Skrillex, he was astonished when he heard the transformed version, exclaiming, “Oh my God, this is blowing my mind.”
The success of “Where Are Ü Now” has been nothing short of extraordinary. It’s a top contender for the Best Song of the Summer at the MTV Video Music Awards, boasting a staggering 236 million streams on Spotify, and peaking at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. So, what is the secret behind the song’s allure?
It’s a delicate interplay of the right beat and the perfect voice, paired with a distinct “dolphin sound” that set the track apart. Skrillex and Diplo ingeniously extracted Justin’s vocals as he sang “I need you the most” and transformed it into a captivating dolphin-like melody. Skrillex explained, “It was finding that one little thing which was the dolphin singing, the dolphin sound. It’s pitched way up, distorted, bounced, rebounded again, so it sounds worse almost.”
For Justin, the success of “Where Are Ü Now” has opened up new horizons and introduced him to a diverse audience. As he gears up for the release of his upcoming single, “What Do You Mean” on Friday, he expressed his newfound enthusiasm for performing, saying, “Here we are dancing, everyone’s jumping, giving me a reaction I would never get, especially for that crowd. I think last tour, I loved the songs, but at certain times I was almost going through the motions, and I just want to love every part of it.”
“Where Are Ü Now” stands as a testament to the power of unexpected collaborations and the creative genius of Skrillex, Diplo, and Justin Bieber. Their combined efforts have resulted in a hit that continues to captivate audiences worldwide, leaving an indelible mark on the music industry.
