Verse Simmonds has an ability to write for the bad boys and gals of the game, including Justin Bieber. Regardless of the media’s latest blitz against the teenager, the Virgin Island pen gawd was excited to hit the lab with the Biebs. “I don’t get involved with artists and their personal lives,” he explained. “As an artist myself I understand how stressful it could be to be under the watchful eye of the media and fans. There wasn’t a bit of hesitation in working with him! He’s still Justin!”

We caught up with Verse to hear about how “Confident” came to be, his thoughts on Bieber’s new sound and what we can expect from him in the new year. –Alley Olivier

You’ve written and produced for a slew of heavy-hitters, and you recently crafted Justin Bieber’s “Confident.” What’s it’s like working with JB?
Verse Simmonds: It’s really dope having Justin Bieber record one of my records! It only fuels me and makes me a hell of a lot more confident, no pun intended, in my writing skills.  already knew I was the shit but that definitely stamped it. I’m very proud to have him as a part of my VVS Society, which is basically anyone I have written for, fans of my work and also the name of my new label.

How did you initially connect with JB?
I wrote this record a few months back. It was produced by Soundz, who actually has a relationship with JB. It’s kinda crazy cause Soundz and myself had been trying to get in the studio for some time. It had been years since we had actually worked together so it was long overdue. The track to “Confident” was actually the very first track Soundz pulled up when I got to the session, and I loved it so much I went right in the booth and started laying down. It came kinda effortlessly. That’s how you know when you have a hit on your hands; it’s not forced.

As a creative in this business, what are your thoughts on JB’s new sound? Seems like he’s picking up more elements of hip-hop and R&B these days.
I love it. I’m always for the fusion of urban and pop. When it’s done right, it’s explosive. And to me, he’s always been on that line of R&B, even as a new artist. He still had an R&B feel.

Switching gears a bit, you also penned Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj’s monster hit, “Love More.” Your creativity lends itself well to the bad boys of music, huh?
Yea, I guess I consider myself to be one of them so I can relate. Never really playing it safe. My music speaks to artists and people that aren’t afraid to say what they feel and push the lines of melody with lyrics that feel personal. It’s easy to say something raunchy, but when you can deliver it in a way that people don’t mind repeating it with you, that’s when you got something special. I also wrote Chris Brown’s record “Don’t Think They Know” featuring Aaliyah.

Now, catch me up for a second: What personal projects are you working on? Can we expect some new music soon?
It’s all about my new label VVS Society. I’m excited because the vision for my label is so big. I just put out a new EP called Circa 96′ and my new single “Sexy Body” is growing on radio as we speak. I also just put out a project with 2Chainz’s new artist Cap1 called “Champagne Poets,” which is a collaboration tape wit him and I, kinda like Jay Z and R Kelly’s Best of Both Worlds. I’m also in the middle of signing my first group to my label, along with launching my lifestyle website VVSsociety, so there’s so much going on right now.

Any update on The JuggaNauts and Sham?
Yes we are still hard at work as the JuggaNauts. We’ll be puttin’ out some new works in the near future!