The creative process of a Billboard No. 1

Justin Bieber has been heavy on my mind lately — how young he was when he got a taste of fame, his DUI, the company he kept around, his battle with depression, drug use, faith, his current state.

I’m worried about him — but that’s beyond the scope of today’s post.

Today isn’t about Justin. It’s about the creative process behind one of his hit singles —a song he didn’t even write — and the importance of leaving your ego outside your creative sanctuary.

You might not know this about me, but music is dear to my heart.

Most people fall in love with writing because of great novelists, essayists, and poets. For me, it was the great lyricists. It wasn’t Hemingway, Orwell, or Plath. It was Wayne, West, and Shakur who made me fall in love with the art of putting words together and telling stories.

Last week, I found a video documenting the creative process behind Justin Bieber’s hit single, Love Yourself, which essentially is a masterclass on the creative process taught by Ed Sheeran and Benny Blanco — two dudes who can manipulate and direct creative energy like goddamn air benders. I replayed it three times, and I’m not even a fan of Justin, Ed, or Benny.

What caught my eye was Ed’s openness to feedback, Benny’s musical intuition, and the fact they made the song in their pajamas, in the back of a bus, driving through Australia — a reminder that creativity thrives in unexpected spaces, especially when you’re willing to get out of your own way and leave your ego at the door.

This video is more than a behind-the-scenes of the making of a successful song. It’s a painting of what’s possible when you give yourself permission to make a mess, have fun, and, most importantly, be honest.

Enjoy!