Justin Bieber shows off a tough new look in his photo shoot for Interview magazine. Photo/Instagram
Justin Bieber has shown more than anyone asked for in a bizarre new bondage-themed photoshoot for Interview magazine.
In images reminiscent of 50 Shades of Grey, the Where Are Γ Now singer is pictured exposing his red Calvin Klein undies while wearing a black studded leather mask and red leather gloves.
To add to the surreal nature of the spread, Bieber is interviewed by celebrity homemaker Martha Stewart about his academic prowess - bragging of a 4.0 GPA at high school.
In other pictures from the shoot, he wears a disturbing rubber clown mask, licks a knife and shows off fresh 'cupping' bruises on his shirtless torso.
Cupping is a Chinese medical treatment popular with celebrities and sportspeople, including Gwyneth Paltrow and Sonny Bill Williams.
Heated glass cups are placed on the skin to create suction, which leave the distinctive round bruises seen on Bieber's body.
Reactions to the photos on Twitter ranged from disturbed to delighted, with many users particularly concerned about that creepy clown mask.
Bieber says he is developing a "futuristic" sound for "very personal" songs as he completes his long-awaited album.
The 21-year-old Canadian singer revealed that he is performing both drums and guitar on the album, on which he is collaborating with electronic producer Skrillex, legendary rap and rock producer Rick Rubin, and rap giant Kanye West.
"I'm at a place where I'm really happy and I'm ready to share my music," he told lifestyle mogul Stewart in Interview magazine.
"Skrillex is on a really new wave and has found a way to take my vocals and mix them and play with them and pitch it up to make it higher with these cool effects that sound really futuristic," he said.
Bieber - who has been known as much for his colorful life as his music since his last album Believe came out in 2012 - said that the album will be about "stuff that I've been through."
"It's just very personal. People will be able to really get into where my heart is," he said.Bieber, however, did not offer a timeline for the album's release.
"I'm really not worried about when it's finished, I just want it to be perfect, so we're taking our time with it," he said.
Bieber also told Stewart, who has developed a friendship with the young singer, that he is single.
When Stewart told him that "after this interview, every girl in America will want you," he replied unabashedly: "I think so, too. I'm a pretty lucky guy."
- With AFP
The Australian site cited a 'heightened threat level' as the issue.