Beliebers have been waiting for Justin Bieber to return to his R&B roots — or as internet users call it, “light skin Bieber” — for years. The wait is finally over, with his latest release, Bieber fully embraces an R&B identity while adding a modern twist to his sound.

From the opening track, it’s clear this isn’t the same Bieber from Purpose or Justice. His vocal delivery is smooth but layered with echo distortion and production techniques that provide a twist on the golden age of 90s R&B. 

Tracks that automatically struck listeners’ attention were Daisies and Yukon as they entered the Billboards as soon as they were released. Daisies leaves us with an airy sound that keeps the listener grasping for hope as they listen. Yukon offers the parallel of Daisies. Yukon puts the listener in the car on a late night drive reflecting on where you’ve come from and how you ended up where you’re at. His chilling reflective approach to fame gives us the inside of the battles he faces everyday while we’re preying for a new track.

The tension between pleasing fans and pleasing yourself as an artist is at the core of this new era. Bieber has always been a shape-shifter, putting his own spin on the pop genre we met him in. But with this project, the stakes feel higher — his fans didn’t just want a new album, they wanted the return of a persona.

And while he delivers on the nostalgic “light skin Bieber” vibe, there’s a lingering sense that he’s holding something back. The R&B elements are there, but at times they feel like an echo of the past rather than a fully realized leap forward.

Bieber’s return to R&B is exciting, refreshing, and in many ways overdue. He’s proven he can reignite the energy of his earlier eras while experimenting with sonic textures that keep him relevant in today’s landscape. Yet, the project leaves listeners wondering — is this a teaser of what’s to come, or the full extent of his R&B revival?

For Beliebers, the answer may not matter. They finally have their “light skin Bieber” back, and in 2025, that feels like a cultural moment in itself.