Justin Bieber has shed his shirt once again for the April 2015 cover of Men’s Health, displaying an enviably well-toned torso and reflecting on a turbulent year. In a candid and wide-ranging interview, the “Baby” singer is refreshingly honest and reflective, admitting that his global fame, achieved at the age of just 13, has exacted a toll.

“This has really been a big year for me, as far as figuring stuff out,” says the singer. “This is almost like a full 180 from how I was. Yesterday — a year from yesterday — I was in jail.”

The young star has endured an almost-constant stream of criticism and bad press in the last couple of years, along with multiple arrests, an order to pay restitution to a former neighbor after egging his house, and a spat with fellow celebrity Orlando Bloom. Bieber appears to be making concrete attempts to rebuild his tarnished image, sharing an apology video on Facebook and confessing that he’s done a lot of things he’s “not proud of” on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.

“I had to grow up so quick,” says Bieber. “And it was almost like I grew up for the public but I didn’t necessarily grow up. There were things I had to do, as far as the way I had to make relationships, and conversation, but as far as actually growing up, there were a lot of things I missed out on.”

Even though the pop prince is still struggling with his maturity, he insists that he never intends to lose his “sense of purity.”

“There’s a part of me that I don’t ever want to grow up,” he says. “I want to always remain…to have that sense of purity inside of me where I don’t…I don’t want to lose that sense of purity.”

In addition, Bieber already has plans for his next tattoo, sharing its personal meaning to him.

“I want ‘LL’ tatted right here,” he says, pointing to his chest. “When you’re Low, Lift. Because we often want to keep our heads down. But we should lift our heads.”

Bieber’s Men’s Health issue goes on sale March 10.