Justin Timberlake season is upon us.

Throughout his hometown efficiency at Memphis, Tenn.’s Orpheum Theater on January 19, the pop star gave followers what they’ve been ready for: the debut of his new single “Egocentric,” reportedly off his anticipated sixth album, in addition to a disco-inflected snippet of one other music from the mission.

Simply an hour earlier than the doorways opened on the Orpheum, Timberlake uploaded a 30-second snippet of “Egocentric” to TikTok and Instagram, signaling that the music’s arrival could also be imminent. And halfway by his first-ever efficiency on the venue, he joined his Tennessee Youngsters band to debut the music in full: “If I get jealous, I can’t assist it / I need each little bit of you, guess I’m egocentric,” he sings.

Attendees obtained only a small style of one other album reduce the place he sings, “All I want is my second” atop a disco-inflected instrumental, a notable vibe shift from the extra laidback really feel of “Egocentric.”

What a wild trip it’s been for Timberlake devotees currently. After followers speculated over the previous few weeks that he was gearing up for a brand new period (i.e. Instagram wiped, profile pics up to date), the pop star introduced final week that he’d be performing for “One Night time Solely” in his native Memphis, Tenn. Tickets for the occasion had been exhausting to come back by. Timberlake’s staff reached out to TikTok customers who had lately posted about desirous to attend the gig, whereas a lottery allowed for others to grab some up.

And within the lead-up to the live performance, the rumor mill kicked into full gear. A couple of week into 2024, the NFL aired a TV spot that featured a snippet of a Timberlake music titled “Sanctified,” which some presumed to be a part of the singer’s curation cope with ESPN and the NFL. Then, a day earlier than his hometown present, he was introduced as a visitor on “The Tonight Present Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Jan. 25. Lower to the day of the Orpheum efficiency, and he was revealed because the musical visitor on the Jan. 27 episode.

Although Timberlake’s sixth album might very properly quickly be upon us, he hasn’t been completely absent from music as of late. He reunited along with his *NSYNC brethren for the only “Higher Place” off the soundtrack for “Trolls Band Collectively” late final yr, and polished off 2023 with a efficiency on the opening of the Fontainebleau Las Vegas in mid-December.

These in attendance on the Orpheum obtained a Timberlake set that wasn’t completely dissimilar to the one he lined up for Vegas. The usual inclusions had been there—”SexyBack” as an opener, “My Love,” “Go well with & Tie” into his refrain from his Jay-Z duet, “Holy Grail”—however he blended it up a bit with some selection cuts. He snuck in “Pusher Love Woman” into the set, and paid homage to his Memphis roots with a canopy of Al Inexperienced’s “Let’s Keep Collectively,” which he seemingly final carried out stay in the course of the Grammy Awards in 2009.

Through the efficiency, he additionally tipped his hat to his *NSYNC roots, shouting out fellow member Chris Kirkpatrick, who was in attendance along with his spouse. The DJ readily available performed mashups of songs from the *NSYNC oeuvre, like “Gone” with Tyla’s “Water” and “Girlfriend” with Jay-Z’s “I Simply Wanna Love You (Give It 2 Me).” He additionally slipped in a canopy of Invoice Withers’ “Pretty Day” into “Can’t Cease the Feeling,” and naturally led the group to a rendition of “Completely happy Birthday” for his mom.

As for the album? His frequent collaborator Timbaland instructed Selection final yr that the album had been accomplished, with a extra upbeat vibe to it than his final album, “Man of the Woods.” “It’s enjoyable Justin — it’s like ‘FutureSex /LoveSounds’ however nothing too heavy, simply supplying you with what you’d count on from us: not overthought, the lyrics are usually not so deep, it’s bob-your-head, dance-to-it music,” he mentioned. “Music is a younger sport, and it’s important to hold it enjoyable — enjoyable and younger. We’ve each seen quite a lot of life, however you may’t overthink it due to that, it’s important to deliver out the 13-year-old, 18-year-old once more, you realize? If not, you will get into the old-fogey stage actual fast. (Laughter) That’s simply the world we stay in.”