Justin Bieber's SWAG | Engineering & Studio Design by Dana Nielsen
Justin Bieber’s long-awaited album, SWAG, is finally here and I am so incredibly thankful I got to be a part of the process. I spent many months recording pre-production and songwriting sessions with Justin in a private studio environment and at several additional locations throughout the U.S.
Listen to a few of the songs I worked on:
- Additional Engineer
- Engineer
- Additional Engineer
It all started with a phone call
Back in Fall 2024, I got a call from my good friend Eric:
“Justin is looking for an engineer to start on something new with him. He wants ‘the best of the best.’ Can you go meet him?”
One day later, I was tasked with designing one of the most elaborate studio setups I’ve ever built. Two rooms. Apollos. Pro Tools. Live PA. Drums, synths, guitars, grand piano, float mics… the works.
This wasn’t just a studio, it was an indoor-outdoor inspiration playground designed for maximum creativity. For months, I was there almost every day hanging with Justin and recording an unbelievable lineup of collaborators. There were Eddie Benjamin, Daniel Chetrit, Carter Lang (who I’d also worked with on SZA’s SOS)… and so many more superstar talents. 🤐
The Importance of Session Organization & Project Management
All in all, my assistant Frank Lookinland and I recorded hundreds of hours of jams and songwriting sessions. Additionally, we built several temporary writing studios around the U.S. as needed.
Logging everything in ClickUp was essential for tracking session collaborators, what instruments they played, what each song was called, and where it lives on the hard drives.
Because when an artist says, “Hey, remember that jam from a few months ago – the one with acoustic guitar and that cool snare drum part?” … You better know exactly where to find it.
Witnessing Greatness Never Gets Old
And Justin? Man, he’s not just talented — in fact, he’s undeniable.
Whether he’s firing off a vocal riff on his way out the door, or vibing deep with collaborators… through it all, the love, the creativity, the soul, it’s all real.
I saw it up close. Day after day.
Watching him move around the studio, layering instruments and vocals with ease, was inspiring. One moment it’s a sick beat on the drums, then a synth groove, then guitar, then a scratch vocal that already sounds like a chart-topper.
Honestly, to see a song take shape, seemingly out of thin air, is to witness real-life magic. And being trusted to capture that process – be it on film, tape, or hard drive – is a special honor that my team and I cherish and take very seriously. That’s why we prepare meticulously, work efficiently, adapt seamlessly, and do our best to operate invisibly.
We aim for zero friction between the artist and their creative process. And we are ALWAYS recording – capturing those spontaneous moments when inspiration strikes, even during downtime. That way, when someone suddenly asks, “Hey, can you record this?” the answer is always, “Yep, we’ve been rolling.”
Spontaneous Jams
“Dana, when you gonna bring your saxes?!”
Never wanting to overstep my role as engineer, I’m cautious to oblige an artist’s saxophone requests, assuming they’re just being polite.
But sometimes … they really mean it!
After repeated requests, I brought my horns to the studio – and kept them there – leading to some late-night jams I will remember forever. 
#unforgettable
If you're an artist, manager, producer or A&R, I'd love to learn about your project and how I can help!
