# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Justin Bieber was a big influence on me growing up. He was the first CD Album I owned as a child and first celebrity crush. His music growing up always made me happy, and now as an adult his music still makes me happy. It is even better now as I am able to hear and understand the lyrics better. We also got to see him grow and face the challengers of being a child star. He has worked so hard to get where he has and to have so much influence in the music industry is amazing. Watching him grow and how he's handled these hardships inspires me and influences the music and artists I support today.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Justin Bieber talks about multiple artists that have influenced his music and career. In an interview with ‘Vanity Fair’, he said one of them was Michael Jackson. (2011. January 4). Justin Bieber on His Musical Inspirations, His Fans, and Trying to Be a Regular Kid’ Robinson reports that Bieber considers the “best” to be the Beatles, Michael Jackson, and Tupac. “Music is music, and I’m definitely influenced by Michael Jackson and Boyz II Men and people who were black artists—that’s what I like. But I like their voices and I like how they entertain—it’s not about what colour they are. (Paragraph 1, page 1). This makes Michael Jackson one of the first and main influences on the development of his music.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
One of the artists that influenced Justin Biebers music and the type of music he created was Boyz II Men. In a ‘Vanity Fair. (2011. January 4). Justin Bieber on His Musical Inspirations, His Fans, and Trying to Be a Regular Kid,’ he said that black musicians were a big influence on him and his music. Music is music, and I’m definitely influenced by Michael Jackson and Boyz II Men and people who were black artists—that’s what I like. But I like their voices, and I like how they entertain—it’s not about what colour they are. (Paragraph 1, page 1). 

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Avril Lavigne had a big influence throughout my childhood, as she was regularly played in our car and home. Her and Pink were the first memorable artists of my childhood, opening the gates to my music today. Her rebellious look and pop rock music always made me feel like I could do anything growing up. Lavigne's influence on me now is her lyrics and the ability to headbang to her songs. With some slower rock songs that can get me to tap into my feelings, her music can either help me through those sadder periods or lift my spirits at a time of need. She is another artist we got to watch and grow into the Pop Rock star she became in the 2000's and still is. Lavigne's music has been able to open my perspective on other music and genres.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
In a LadyGunn article it talks about Avril Lavigne’s’ past and present in her music career. Zhang. J. (2024. July 11). ‘HOW AVRIL LAVIGNE SHAPED THE POP-PUNK SCENE AND INSPIRED A GENERATION’ states, “Avril’s current work includes a lot of collaboration with other artists, like Travis Barker of rock band Blink-182, a band young Avril loved. “Getting his input on my music and collaborating helped me tap into a whole new side of myself. We became friends so when we worked together, it never felt like work,” says Avril.” (Paragraph 9, Page 1). This statement indicates that they have influenced the music she is producing currently and possibly in the past..

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
In an interview Avril talks about multiple influence including Shania Twain. With iHeart Radio Nattress. K. (2022. March 10), ‘Avril Lavigne Reveals The Surprising Way Shania Twain Helped Her Career’ Avril states that Avril had met Shania when she was 14 after winning a music contest. Avril said, “She gave me an opportunity to get up on stage as a young kid, and that definitely helped me in my career. Like her songwriting, writing from a woman’s perspective about things we go through.” (paragraph 2, page 1) In this interview Lavigne states how Twain helped her grow in confidence and become an influence on her music and career.  

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
In an iHeart Radio interview Avril Lavigne talks about many of her influences such as Shania Twain and Alanis Morissette. Nattress. K. (2022. March 10). ‘Avril Lavigne Reveals The Surprising Way Shania Twain Helped Her Career.’ Avril said "I’d say an early influence, someone I’m inspired by, is Alanis Morissette," Lavigne revealed. "What I thought was really cool about her is that she didn’t hold back, lyrically. She was just angry, and had so much angst, and she just fu**ing put it right out there. She didn’t care. Looking back, I feel like she was huge and helped me realize that you don’t have to be prim and proper, or perfect, or say all the right things. If you’re f**king over it, or an angsty teenager, just get it out. Say it like it is." (Paragraph 3, Page 1). This is where Lavigne got most of her inspiration towards her own song writing and career. 

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
One of Justin Bieber's influences/inspirations for songwriting was his ex-girlfriend, Salena Gomez. Bieber states this in a questionnaire with ‘Billboard (2015, November 6).  Justin Bieber plays Fishing for Answers’ "She is the inspiration for a lot of my songs." (time stamp 2:01). In a radio interview  with ‘102.7 KIISFM. (2023, March 3), 7 years ago, Justin Bieber said a lot of his music inspiration comes from Selena Gomez.’ Bieber is asked "Is there a song in the works for a response to “A Heart Wants What It Wants" by Gomez. Bieber's response is "I think a lot of my inspiration comes from her." Throughout their relationship they both wrote a lot of songs for each other, and about each other. They were each other’s inspiration. 