In celebration of the lovely superstar co-hosting the MMVA’s on June 19th, we thought we’d scrunge up our old interview with Selena Gomez from the November 2009 issue! The star chatted about her then debut album and how she delt with people who don’t like her…
Where did the name The Scene come from?
A lot of people who don’t really like me kind of made fun of my music and made fun of me, saying, “Oh, she’s trying to be scene,” which is a type of style. So, if I can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.So I’ve used that and made it my name.
With so many people doing the solo thing, why did you decide to make this about you and The Scene?
I love having a family. Like on my show, I have a cast that feels like a family, people I can lean on… so I wanted to take that kind of vibe of having a family, put it into music, and that’s what I feel like my band did.
How would you describe the sound of your album?
It’s fun, it’s empowering and that’s basically what I wanted to make sure my record was going to be about. I wanted to make music that was specifically for my fans and for kids my age… stuff that parents can tolerate, because they listen to it as well.
What’s the inspiration behind your music?
I just feel they’re songs that make me happy. I just wanted to make music that reflects that. I mean, I love listening to Kelly Clarkson and Katy Perry. Their songs just really make me happy and inspire me.
This record was made over a few years. How did your album evolve during that time?
“Falling Down” and “Stop and Erase” were the first two that I recorded. That is kind of what set my sound off, and eventually, it just kind of transitioned into, you know, I want a track that kind of sounds like very old-school Avril Lavigne… and so it definitely, completely inspired me.
Do you have a favourite song from this album?
Either “I Won’t Apologize” or “Naturally.” “I Won’t Apologize”, because it’s the one I wrote and then “Naturally”, because it’s kind of a fun dance song.
Is there a song that you like performing the most?
Yes! The one I like to perform the most is “Crush”. I have no idea what happens, but when that song starts playing, I just get really happy.
What other artists would you love to work with?
Jason Mraz, because I just think he’s extremely talented musically, vocally and lyrically. I would absolutely love that.
What are the chances that we’ll see another album from you and The Scene?
Hopefully, it can slowly transition into just The Scene’s, so yes, more of just [them] would be wonderful.
Thank you, Selena Gomez!