Sophia Michaels
Singer-songwriter Selena Gomez has finally released her new album, titled Rare. It was in the works for many years, and now, she’s opening up about the process to get here.
As Gomez’s fans know, she has dealt with an array of health issues in addition to the usual trials of stardom (including the media’s focus on her on-again, off-again relationship with Justin Bieber). Here’s how the artist got to where she is now, and how her new album came to be.
Selena Gomez rose to fame at a young age
As many know, Gomez got her start on TV. She appeared on the children’s program Barney & Friends alongside future Princess Protection Program co-star Demi Lovato. Both made the leap to the Disney Channel around the same time, and Gomez starred in the show Wizards of Waverly Place while making music for Disney’s Hollywood Records.
Over the years, Gomez has continued to make music but has placed a bit more focus on her acting career. She starred in films such as Spring Breakers and The Dead Don’t Die. Gomez has also started working behind-the-scenes, executive producing 13 Reasons Why and Living Undocumented. But she never abandoned her music — it just took her some time.
Her latest album was a long time coming
“Honestly, this album was kind of a nightmare to deal with,” Gomez told Spotify. “But in the best way possible. I thought that I was so ready — like, two years ago I thought I was ready. I had collected all of these sessions…beautiful sessions — and don’t even remember half of them. Because it evolved each year.”
She continued, “And then something would happen to me and it would be very drastic so that it would take me somewhere else. And then, all of a sudden, I found this healing and I saw something bigger than I thought that I was. I think that also added the whole end of the album.” As you can see, it was a long process, but a necessary one.
Where the idea for ‘Rare’ came from
Gomez says that the name of the album “was so important” to her. ” The moment I heard it I said, ‘That’s the name of my album,’” she said. “I just felt like that was me, if that makes sense. Obviously, I’ve had a lot of self-esteem issues in the past. I still struggle with confidence. And you know, it’s going to be something that I’m always going to be working on.”
The artist says that the “special word” also has to do with her feelings about her fans and anyone who listens to her music. “If there’s anything I can do for women — and men — it would be to tell them that they’re valued and that they’re rare. And that they’re important. That’s what it means to me,” Gomez said. In other words, she deeply cares about her listeners. What an inspiring message!
Written by: CheatSheet
