While Justin Bieber stays busy recording the long-awaited follow-up to his 2021 Justice album, his backing group, We the Band, dropped their debut single on Friday morning. The Earth, Wind & Fire-esque slow-burn R&B jam “One & Only” showcases the group’s smooth, soulful vocals and retro ’70s funk style. The slick accompanying performance video was directed by Zev York in collaboration with Nick DeMoura, who was the choreographer and creative director for JB’s 2023 Believe world tour.
The group, consisting of bassist/vocalist Harv, DJ Tay James, guitarist/vocalist Julian Michael, drummer Devin “Stixx” Taylor, and keyboardist Dr. O, backed up Bieber on his 2015 Purpose world tour as well as his 2022 Justice world tour, which prematurely ended in Sept. 2022 after the singer revealed that he was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome and suffering from partial facial paralysis.
According to a release announcing the song, Tay James met Bieber in 2009 after graduating from college, snagging a gig as the singer’s official DJ, followed by bassist Harv taking on the role of music director in Bieber’s live band, which he filled out with Taylor and Michael. In 2021, Harv co-wrote and co-produced Bieber’s Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit “Peaches.”
We The Band recently signed with the Avex Music Group, and the group is working to finish their as-yet-untitled debut album, which, according to a release announcing the signing, will include unnamed “special guest appearances.”
“This has been a dream of ours for many years now,” the group said in a statement. “To create our own music that represents who we are as musicians with the support of a global powerhouse like Avex is incredibly exciting for all of us. We can’t wait for our fans to hear what we’ve been working on.”
At press time, no additional information was available on Bieber’s next studio album, which the singer has been teasing for much of the past year via videos and pictures from the recording studio.
Check out the “One & Only” video below.
