“HERE IT IS!!! My album is officially out in the universe,” Selena Gomez tweeted overnight. “Thank you for the souls that worked on this with me. Now it’s yours. Hope you like it.”
Before the pop star dropped Rare, her third studio album, she opened up to some lucky fans at an iHeartRadio Album Release Party in Los Angeles on Thursday night.
“I’ve obviously gone through some stuff,” Gomez told host JoJo Wright while reflecting on the time between albums. “This is what’s kind of gotten me through the past few years.
“I’ve kept the recording of the songs from two years ago, three years ago, [and] I’m really glad … I gained so much confidence and understanding of who I am.”
Gomez admitted that while she’s in a much better place, she doesn’t hide confronting depression and anxiety on the album.
“I’m happy and a little confused still, but so happy I went through that,” she reflected.
Gomez concluded the intimate sit-down by again thanking her fans for their support.
“I wanted to say thank you so much to all of you just for staying with me through all of this,” she shared, holding back tears. “I wouldn’t have been able to survive most of the past few years if it hadn’t been for you. … You mean the world to me.”
On Why She Named the Album Rare
“Because ‘Rare’ is the song that I wish I could actually say personally to every single person. I think there’s so much going on … it’s just so much pressure and everybody thinks they have to look exactly the same and the truth is you don’t … and I felt that way … and this song is the opposite of that.”
On Revival Versus Rare
“That’s like saying what were you like from 20 to 25 — there’s so much that happens. … I feel like it’s not better, but a piece of work that I think is better. And you can tell I’ve evolved so that’s good.”
The Story Behind “Fun”
“I work with Julia Michaels and Justin Tranter all the time — they’re my people — and Julia and I tend to be super emotional and when we write … we’re a bit gut-wrenching. It’s just in our nature. ... And my label and a few other people were like, ‘We should do something fun.’ … And Julia was like, ‘Let’s just name the song ‘Fun.’’ The whole objective of the song was me being free spirited and excited to flirt again and get back in there.”
The Story Behind “People You Know”
“One of my friends … she’s an amazing songwriter … and she had played it for me … and I kind of heard it and I was like, ‘That’s cool.’ … And when I heard the words, it actually was so spot on. Whether it’s friendships or relationships … it's such a matter-of-fact: people can go from people you know to people you don’t.”
On Her Recording Process and Studio Sessions
“It’s very intimate. I like colours so I tend to sometimes have colours in the room and I’m not sure why, but it makes me feel inspired. The most I’ll have in a session for me is four [people] and I don’t like usually more than that. … It’s very mellow; there’s usually a lot of food and tea and blankets and place for my dog to sit. I’ve cried multiple times in the studio.”
The Meaning Of “Dance Again”
“The purpose and the meaning of this song is that you can be vulnerable, you can have all these feelings, … but now I’m ready to let loose and it’s so cheesy, but I’ve gone my step back … and it feels good.”
On the Most Empowering Song on the Album
“I think my song ‘Vulnerable’ because I’ve always been one to say that vulnerability is strength — it’s not something that makes you weak. … I love this song and love how it feels.”
On “Ring”
“Ring is sassy. I don’t know if I can say the real meaning behind it … The point of it is it’s a confidence. … It’s all about feeling good about myself and being able to kind of be intimidating to guys and my voice sounds very different on this record as well.”
On Collaborating With 6lack, and the Meaning Behind “Crowded Room”
“I had recorded ‘Crowded Room’ a few years ago and knew I always wanted someone to be on it and I wanted a male to be on because the song [is about] ‘even if we’re in a crowded room, it’s only me and you.’ … I didn’t want [anyone else than 6lack] so it was like, ‘Can you?’ And then it happened so it was [like], ‘Thank you.’ And he sounds unbelievable … I’m very, very grateful for 6lack. I think this is a very sweet song. … I have this couple friend and they’re married and they’re so great together. ... One of the cutest things that they do is they have to go to a lot of social gatherings, and every now and then -- they made a deal -- that if you made eye contact from across the room, [you lift up the No. 1 finger], and it means you’re my No. 1.”
On “Vulnerable”
“[It] started talking about faith and ... the hardest thing in the world is to forgive someone. … There comes a point where forgiveness is necessary, but also something you need to release and this song is called ‘Vulnerable’ because no matter how much someone puts me down, I’m still gonna be me.”
On “Let Me Get Me”
“[It’s about] am I going to stay in a place where I’m stuck? Or am I just not going to do that anymore to myself and keep going?”
On “Sweeter Place” Reflecting Depression and Anxiety
“I feel like I’m saying a lot of different emotions … [but] I had to learn so much of it to not be afraid of it. … [Like], you’re allowed to feel them and then let them go. I think all I want with this record is for people to make it their own. The words mean so much and I just want people to turn these messages into something great and to feel good because it’s really hard to listen to what’s going on in the world. … I wanted to be a voice for people that may have experienced the feelings I have had.”
On “Kind of Crazy”
“[I wrote the song] three years ago and the style of it is something I’d never really done before. … It’s a song saying, ‘I get it. We have our thing. I never understand, but sometimes you’re just kind of crazy.’ … I think everyone has that in their relationship and if not, tell me your secret.”
On “Cut You Off”
“[‘Cut You Off’ is] another one that’s kind of like brushing it off and it’s explaining there’s so many places I could go, so many things I could do, not being held down by something.”
On “Sweeter Place,” and Working With Kid Cudi
“It means so much to me because I have one of my favourite artists on this song. … And when I was in the studio, sometimes I get burnt out, and I just said, ‘Let’s just do something weird.’ And I mean this in a compliment, like, something weird Cudi does. … So I was extremely honoured to have worked with him and we sent the song and he called me and said …’What do you feel like I could contribute?’ And I said ‘I would love for you to take the song and produce it.’ And that’s kind of scary … so I just trusted it and he was in Italy at the time and then we went into the studio for two days … and I watched him in awe … and we had the greatest time.”
Original article by Sierra Marquina at iHeartRadio