17 March: Selena talks about her new album ‘I Said I Love You First’ in interview with Rolling Stone

Selena talks about her new album with Benny Blanco – ‘I Said I Love You First’ in the new interview for Rolling Stone.

What did album mode feel like for you guys?
Gomez: I was, to be honest, very frustrated and kind of confused on where I wanted to go next musically. And we had been together for a while, and obviously I would confide in him. I couldn’t figure out my sound. It helps that he knows a little bit about music, and it kind of happened organically to where I felt like this process was unlike any other process I’d ever been through.

Selena, when you look back at who you were when you made Revival ten years ago, how do you marry those two versions of yourself?
Gomez: Revival was such a pivotal moment for me, and I’ll always be so proud of it. I think [in terms of’ headspace, I was very happy with how the album went, because I really felt very much in control of that and then the image of it all was really important too. But I think now, this sounds so silly, but I’m older, so I think the way I go about things is different. I don’t obsess over certain things to make it. I just tried so hard to be cool, you know? I just wanted to be viewed as cool. “Good for You,” having A$AP [Rocky] on it, I was so honored and it was such a highlight. This is another version, just being able to do this with someone I love, who happens to also be one of the most talented producers, and then doing it after building years of those relationships. I did “Good for You” ten years ago with Julia [Michaels] and Justin [Tranter], and they’re incredible. They’re on every album, but they’re on this album. This one felt like, okay, now I have a little bit more of a rein on what I’m doing, and I have the same people, but also him, and it makes it feel more mature.

How did your approach to emotional ballads change after having a career-defining moment with “Lose You to Love Me”?
Gomez: I think it’s safe to say my strength in music would be just storytelling and the way that I just feel comfortable in a lower register and a softer tone. That’s something that I know I can bring to the table, so I just tried to highlight that. And so did Benny, while he was composing everything and putting it together. It was like, “What would be nice and soothing for my voice, nothing that sounded like I was trying to be anything else?” That was really important to me. To do these vulnerable songs, it’s nice because I’m in a different place than I was.

Selena, you were recently nominated for a Golden Globe, and so were Ariana Grande and Miley Cyrus. How do you think about the role your music has played for the young women who grew up watching and listening to you?
Gomez: Music should be interpreted at any point. I go back and listen to some of my best friends’ music, like when I was 18, just to feel those feelings again. And that’s what I love about music. It’s a very powerful tool to use your voice to take you back to memories, to make new memories and create this space where people feel good. And I think more than ever, we need it. I’m so honored, to your point of all the other girls — you have no idea how proud I was to see that. It was really cool to see us going into this whole new world together.

The album title, I Said I Love You First, feels like a middle finger to the people who had so much to say about your relationship. Tell me why you chose to call it that.
Gomez: It’s just factual. It just is actually what went down, and it describes us. This whole project embodies his stories combined with my stories. They have meanings that are really just personal to both of us. So one song could actually mean two different things. And I think it was just really cute. I think it was probably your idea. But, yeah, guilty as charged. I said “I love you” first.

Full interview: www.rollingstone.com