23 Questions with Selena Gomez

Disney’s official fan club D23 sat down with Selena Gomez about a month ago to discuss her career, her band, and her upcoming projects…

I like that she picked Adventureland, even though it wasn’t one of the choices she was given. 🙂

Selena Gomez, one of Disney’s brightest stars, bursts onto the music scene again with her second album, A Year Without Rain.

While most teenagers are still just contemplating a college major, Selena Gomez has already established a career as a triple-threat entertainer. Not only does the Disney Channel star play Alex Russo on the Emmy® Award-winning Wizards of Waverly Place, but she also designs her own uniquely Selena “Dream Out Loud” clothing line and is a talented singer, songwriter and musician. And when she’s not creating new music in the recording studio, the songstress can be found on the road with her band Selena Gomez & the Scene, rocking sold-out audiences all over the world. If you’re thinking this girl can do everything, it’s because she can! Her last album was an international hit and the single “Naturally” made it onto Top 20 lists in multiple countries. As Hollywood Records gets ready to release her forthcoming second 10-track album — A Year Without Rain — on September 21, D23 caught up with Selena to see what it’s like being a teen with so much star power.

What do you think is the secret to your success?
SG: I love everything that I’ve been asked to do. Disney Channel has allowed me to act and branch out into music, which is another passion of mine. And it’s so been so much fun designing mow own styles for the clothing line, too. Honestly, you have to just love what you do.

What are your fans like?
SG: There is no other way to describe Disney Channel fans and the fans of our show. They are so sweet and so passionate and they just keep giving you the drive to keep doing what you are doing.

What were your influences for the new album?
SG: I wanted to keep it fun and playful, which was like my first record, but my first record had a little bit more rock. I really wanted this one to have a little more of a techno-pop vibe.

Is the title of the album about anything in particular?
SG: The album is titled A Year Without Rain and I chose that because one of the songs on the record. I think it’s a very beautiful song and its one of the first songs I put on the record. And that was kind of what set fire to all my other songs.

What do you think makes the song so special?
SG: I like the way the melody, the lyrics and the powerfulness of that song reflect on all my other songs. That was the base of where I started. It’s the kind of song that everyone can relate to and I think everyone has that one person that they can relate to in their life.

With a band, would you say some of the pressure taken off you?
SG: I think that’s why I wanted a band. Not because I wanted the pressure taken off of me, per se, but because I wanted the support more than anything. I wanted to be able to have people that I feel comfortable and happy with and have them to hang out with. It’s nice to have them on stage, especially when you are touring. It can get really lonely. I got to pick out my band, and these four guys that I picked out are sweet. I can be myself around them. I think I just really wanted that family factor in my music.

How did you come up with the name for your band?
SG: It’s actually a funny story. A lot of people were making fun of me going into the music world. Actors can be singers and it’s a typical cliché, so they were saying was, “Oh she’s so wanting to be ‘scene.'” That’s sort of the style — girls who wear funky clothes and want to have their own individual style — and I thought that was awesome. And I thought that was cool, and I guessed if you can’t beat them, join them. And so I named the band Selena Gomez & the Scene.

What’s the best thing about having a band?
SG: They make me smile.

What’s it like backstage?
SG: Sometimes I get really tense and can freak out about things. One time we were backstage and my keyboardist Dane’s computer crashed with all of his music on it before we went onstage. I was freaking out asking, “What are we going to do?” and having my band there, brought me back to a nice peaceful place. I’m a perfectionist so they level me and they balance me.

We know you have a great voice. Do you also play instruments?
SG: I love playing piano and guitar. And my guitarist (Ethan Roberts) is kind of like my guitar teacher. He basically gives me lessons and he will come over to my house and we will play songs, and my songs, and he teaches me how.

Will you be playing anytime soon?
SG: We are working on two songs that I am going to play live. I’m actually kind of nervous.

So you’re going to play live?
SG: After we wrap Wizards of Waverly Place we are going to start a tour. I’ve been doing weekend shows while we are still in production.

Who in the music industry right now impresses you the most?
SG: Katy Perry was a huge influence musically and Cheryl Cole, who is a UK artist. I liked their style and how they did it and in a way I used them for inspiration.

Are there any roles coming up that you are looking forward to?
SG: As for now, I am just focusing on the music and Wizards. I don’t know of any upcoming projects that are for sure yet.

How do you juggle being in a band, starring in a hit television show and constantly filming movies?
SG: Sometimes it’s a lot. I stop myself and ask why am I doing all this? Is it really necessary? But then I would be miserable. I love every single thing that I do. It just keeps me very happy. I can rest in my 30s.

Why do you think Wizards of Waverly Place is so successful?
SG: Our goal is to make families laugh, but more importantly we love bringing families together. There’s not a better feeling in the world than having kids say that they love your show, but parents saying that, too, and that they watch it with their kids. What kid doesn’t wish to rewind time or be invisible? We bring kids imaginations alive.

I heard you got your start on Barnie. How did you transition from that to Disney Channel?
SG: They shot Barnie in Texas, which is where I lived. It was an incredible experience and then after that it was three or four years until Disney Channel did auditions. I did a bunch of commercials in between. I was really fortunate to be 12 and have Disney Channel fly me out to Los Angeles for an audition.

What was it like getting together with the rest of the Disney Channel stars for the Disney Friends for Change shoot?
SG: Disney Channel is such a machine and they have all these great talented people — Jonas Brothers, Miley and Demi — and they get together and use their voice and ask kids to help and get their families involved. Being a part of it is really powerful and inspirational.

What are your favorite Disney songs?
SG: I love listening to the Alice in Wonderland soundtrack. The melody is so relaxing. And I jam to the High School Musical soundtrack, too.

Fantasyland or Frontierland?
SG: Adventureland! I like the rides and I like something that’s more thrilling.

Do you have Mouse ears?
SG: Yes, I have black ones, pink ones and gold sequin ones.

What was your first Disney memory?
SG: The Lion King. I remember watching that and I wanted a baby lion so bad. My mom got me the stuffed animal and I slept with him on my pillow almost every night.

After winning an Emmy on Wizards, how was connecting with your fans at the D23 Expo last year?
SG: That was so much fun. We still talk about that day. It’s just cameras and us in the studio. We have a live audience but we never get to see and talk to our fans. We were able to get to see kids and adults and fans and teenagers. It was really awesome to spend time with them. They asked specific questions about the show and it was really fun to talk about it. And at the same, time it was really fun to be able to celebrate our Emmy with everyone. It was a really good time. We want to come back in 2011!

By D23’s Billy Stanek