We are so excited to have Selena Gomez on this special #AudacyCheckIn to talk about her brand new album with benny blanco, ‘I Said I Love You First.’
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00:00Some of your recording gives me anxiety because I see pictures you post and it's like this makeshift weird studio.
00:07Is it hard to get into the zone that way? Like, what are we doing?
00:12You know, I thought it might be, but it just felt easier.
00:17Yeah.
00:22We are at the Odyssey Soundspace at the Hard Rock Hotel, New York.
00:26This is your check-in with Selena Gomez.
00:28Hello.
00:29Congratulations on all the things.
00:32The album is wonderful.
00:34Thank you so much.
00:35I'm so happy you did this, that you're still doing it.
00:38When you completed the first song for the project,
00:41did you know immediately that it was going to be an album, a whole album?
00:46Not necessarily.
00:47You know, I was in the studio for maybe five or six years
00:52and I could not figure out what my sound, if you will, was.
00:58I just didn't, I was frustrated.
01:01I didn't know. I felt stuck.
01:02And then Benny had this idea of, you know, maybe doing something together.
01:07So we actually started with Younger and Hotter.
01:11And that song was just really special and so beautiful.
01:14And Phineas, obviously, is a genius.
01:18And I was like, we could do more.
01:22And that's when it all happened.
01:24And it was the quickest album I've ever put together.
01:27That's good, good.
01:27So it was you.
01:28I had in my head that Benny, like, duped you into it.
01:30Like, he was like, oh, maybe let's record one more, two, you know, three more.
01:34Oh, we have a whole album.
01:35Yeah, well, he does trick me.
01:37I do a lot of TikToks that I would never do.
01:39But yeah.
01:40Yeah.
01:40So was there a song that Benny loved, he had his heart set on,
01:47that you were kind of skeptical about putting on the project?
01:50No, you know, the greatest thing was Benny understood.
01:54If I wasn't really comfortable, not comfortable necessarily.
01:58If I just didn't care for it, it wasn't even a second thought.
02:03He was like, great, that's not what fits for you.
02:05That's not going to work then.
02:07But in general, some of the music, I would try to kind of make my own interpretation.
02:14And it was really fun.
02:16And plus, being able to talk to him and write is so, it's just so easy.
02:22The best stuff comes out that way.
02:24Yeah, I think so.
02:25You have Gracie on this album.
02:29Love her.
02:29I imagine Taylor was the link up for you two initially?
02:33Actually, Benny has known her for, I think since she was 18 or so.
02:42What?
02:43Yeah, because he had worked with her on her first song ever.
02:47Okay.
02:48And it was, so he was the connection.
02:51And it was his idea because I love Gracie.
02:56My little sister's name is Gracie.
02:58So I always tell her that and my sister loves her.
03:00But he was like, what about Gracie?
03:04And I was like, do you think she'd do it?
03:05Because, you know, she's young and doing her own thing.
03:08And she heard it, wanted to do it.
03:11It was perfect.
03:13And it looks like you two, I mean, got on just so well.
03:17The crazy part is she's in the middle of a tour.
03:21And she was in LA for one day.
03:25And we were like, well, there's no way we're going to shoot a music video.
03:30Let's just be like cozy and make a video and call it the video.
03:36So she's so laid back and lovely.
03:39It was fun.
03:40I know you made Benny a true Taylor Swift fan,
03:45like, you know, introduced him to the whole.
03:48Properly.
03:49Yes, yes.
03:50So I was wondering, has he done the same for you with any artists?
03:54It doesn't have to be a new artist,
03:56but maybe even somebody legendary that you just weren't up on to that degree.
04:00I would say 60% of the music he plays me is I've never heard.
04:08And I'm so impressed with his his taste.
04:12Yeah.
04:12Because it's from different genres, different eras.
04:16Like he really loves music.
04:19And I get so happy when he's so passionate about it.
04:23So a lot of hip hop, you know, earlier stuff.
04:29And I sound so cheesy right now, but he he does.
04:34I don't know most of it.
04:36And he's he's super eclectic.
04:37I feel like it comes across in his production as well.
04:40Just all the different stuff he listens to.
04:43It's really something great.
04:45He makes a really good playlist.
04:47Some of your recording gives me anxiety because I see pictures you post
04:51and it's like this makeshift weird studio in your bedroom or the bathroom.
04:57And you have like a blanket over you.
04:59And is it hard to get into the zone that way?
05:03Like, what are we doing?
05:05You know, I thought it might be, but it just felt easier.
05:10Yeah.
05:10I felt more comfortable.
05:12So if I wanted to sing louder, I could.
05:17I don't know if I wanted to go downstairs and get a little snack.
05:20You know, I could go.
05:22It was just it was nice.
05:23Have you ever been in the middle of like your best take ever and
05:26Benny's in the kitchen and drops a pan or something?
05:30Yes.
05:30Or he'll come in and just be like, really quick, babe.
05:34Just wanted to say, if you do that second verse really quick, just do this.
05:38And I'll be like, thank you.
05:39And then he'll go.
05:41What do you feel like eating later?
05:42Because I'm going to cook something like right now.
05:44And I'm like, we'll figure it out.
05:46He's like, Bart, you good?
05:48Do you need anything?
05:48My engineer, you good?
05:50And I'm like, will you please just like, let me do I've been in a groove here.
05:55He's sweet.
05:57So do you go into an actual studio for a portion of it or not?
06:02I'm just doing it on a couch with a.
06:04Crazy.
06:06And it sounds amazing.
06:08That's awesome.
06:08Thank you so much.
06:10So before we wrap, just to switch gears a little bit, you know, we were talking about Only Murders
06:15and I love the show and you've gotten to work with some of the best of the best in the industry
06:21because of that show.
06:22So please tell me Meryl Streep has given you some kind of it doesn't even have to be acting
06:29advice.
06:30It could be life advice.
06:31I feel like that woman knows the secret to happiness, all the things I couldn't agree
06:36more.
06:37I think it's simply in the way she says something.
06:42She actually wrote me a full letter after the first season she had done with us.
06:49And it was all encouraging.
06:53And it was more so that she noticed the little things and the little things like,
07:00please and thank you and these tiny things.
07:03And it just is so thoughtful and beautiful.
07:06Like she is just a rare creature.
07:10She is incredible.
07:12For real.
07:12That's awesome.
07:13Well, we're excited about, you know, obviously the new music and Only Murders and all that.
07:18Congratulations.
07:19Thank you so much.
07:20I appreciate it.
07:21Enjoy that video.
07:22See more interviews, more performances and more of your favorite artists by subscribing
07:26and downloading the free Odyssey app.