Tobias Jesso Jr. Bieber ‘Shine’ Goon Aftermath

Tobias Jesso Jr. on Gooning, Grief, and His Unexpected Return to the Spotlight

Tobias Jesso Jr. is back, and he’s ready to talk about everything. From the internet’s ⁤bizarre appropriation of his debut album’s title to⁢ the​ devastating heartbreak that fueled his new record, “Shine,” Jesso is as candid⁤ and charming ​as ever.

First things first: yes, he’s aware that “gooning” ​has taken on a whole new meaning in the Gen Z lexicon. As detailed in a recent Harper’s essay, the term – forever linked to Jesso thanks to his cult-favorite 2015 album “goon” – now‌ refers to‌ a specific, trance-like form of extended masturbation.

“Somebody put⁤ me up on it and said it was about masturbation?” Jesso, 40, ‍says with​ a laugh. “Well,I’ve never⁤ done ⁤ that. ‘Goon’ I​ got from ‘The Goonies’ – it’s just a‍ brilliant movie. But I ‌don’t care. If it sells more records,sure.”

Jesso’s nonchalant humor belies a deep well of artistic talent. ‍After the critical acclaim of “Goon,” which drew comparisons to the likes of Randy Newman, Harry Nilsson, and early Paul ⁤McCartney, he surprised many by stepping away from his solo career. Instead, he focused ⁣on songwriting for othre artists, becoming‍ a behind-the-scenes hitmaker for some of ​the biggest names in ⁣music.

His songwriting credits include hits for ‌Adele,Niall Horan,Harry Styles,and Dua lipa. In ⁣2023, he was crowned⁣ songwriter of the year at the ​Grammy Awards, and he’s ‍nominated‌ for the same prize again this year, recognized⁤ for his contributions to songs by Justin Bieber‌ (“Daisies”), Haim (“Relationships”), and Olivia‌ Dean (“Man I Need”).

But now, jesso is ‌back with “shine,” a deeply personal and unexpected follow-up to “Goon.” The‍ album,