Alex Van Halen / Selena Gomez

Summary

Fresh Air Podcast Summary
Episode: Alex Van Halen / Selena Gomez
Host: Tonya Moseley
Release Date: January 2, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of Fresh Air, host Tonya Moseley delves into two compelling interviews from 2024, featuring rock legend Alex Van Halen and multifaceted artist Selena Gomez. The discussions explore Alex’s journey with the iconic band Van Halen and his memoir Brothers, as well as Selena’s experiences in her latest film and television projects, highlighting her evolution as an actress and musician.

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Interview with Alex Van Halen

Background and Early Years
Alex Van Halen opens the conversation by reflecting on his early life and the formation of Van Halen. Growing up with a Dutch jazz musician father, Alex and his brother Eddie were immersed in music from a young age.

Formation of Van Halen
“At the first thing we wanted to do was put a band together. We started with the Broken Combs, playing sax and piano,” Alex shares (02:30). This initial experience laid the foundation for what would become one of rock’s most influential bands.

Influences and Musical Evolution
Alex discusses the impact of the British Invasion on their musical direction, particularly citing The Beatles and less-known groups like the Dave Clark Five as major inspirations (03:04). He emphasizes how these influences shaped Van Halen's distinctive sound.

Alex's Transition to Drums
Originally a guitarist, Alex explains how he transitioned to drums, highlighting Eddie’s unparalleled guitar skills. “When Ed played the guitar, he made it sing. I wanted drums because Dave Clark Five was my idol” (04:13).

Van Halen's Performance Style
The conversation shifts to Van Halen’s high-energy performances and theatrical elements. Alex recounts the band's decision to incorporate fire into their act, symbolizing the transient nature of life and adding an element of danger (10:15). He vividly describes an incident where his arm caught fire during a performance (11:44).

Band Dynamics and Challenges
Alex provides insight into the band's dynamics, particularly the role of David Lee Roth as the charismatic frontman. He quotes, “We needed someone to get us off our ass because we knew we had to do it” (09:08), illustrating the necessity of Roth’s showmanship in complementing the brothers' musical talents.

The "Beat It" Incident and Band Fracture
A pivotal moment discussed is Eddie Van Halen's collaboration on Michael Jackson's "Beat It," which Alex believes marked the beginning of the band’s internal tensions. “Ed violated our model of exclusivity with Led Zeppelin, and it started a cascade of bad vibes” (17:07).

Memoir Brothers and Legacy
Alex talks about his memoir, Brothers, portraying his and Eddie’s life and the legacy of Van Halen. He reflects on Eddie’s genius and the difficulty in defining the band’s genre, rejecting the heavy metal label despite widespread association (14:55).

Conclusion of Van Halen’s Journey
Ending the segment, Alex touches on the disbandment of Van Halen following Eddie’s passing in 2020 and the enduring impact they left on the rock music landscape. “Van Halen was on the cusp of something really, really big” (17:48).

Notable Quote:

“When Ed played the guitar, he made it sing, and that was his way of communicating or finding peace with himself on the earth.” – Alex Van Halen (06:22)

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Interview with Selena Gomez

Overview of Projects
Selena Gomez discusses her roles in the Netflix Spanish-language film Amelia Perez and the Hulu comedy series Only Murders in the Building, both of which garnered multiple Golden Globe nominations (25:15).

Themes in Amelia Perez
The film centers on Emilia Perez, a woman seeking freedom from her life as a drug cartel leader. Selena elaborates on the themes of transformation and liberation, relating them to her personal growth (25:40). She describes the song "Mi Camino" as a "liberation song" that resonates deeply with her own journey (27:23).

Early Acting Experiences
Reflecting on her beginnings, Selena recounts auditioning for Barney & Friends at age seven and how those early roles ignited her passion for acting (30:21). She emphasizes the influence of her family, particularly her mother, in fostering her love for the arts (29:25).

Working with Co-stars in Only Murders in the Building
Selena highlights the supportive and collaborative environment created by her co-stars, Steve Martin and Martin Short. She shares how their mentorship and genuine kindness made the working experience feel like home (34:14). Her admiration for their professionalism and humor contributes to the show's success.

Personal Reflections on Fame and Disney
Discussing her time with Disney, Selena expresses a nuanced perspective. While grateful for the platform Disney provided, she acknowledges the challenges of being a child actor and the lack of personal privacy (41:20). She emphasizes the importance of her family’s protective role during her early years in the spotlight (47:58).

Navigating Dual Careers in Acting and Music
Selena clarifies her relationship with music, stating that it remains an integral part of her soul despite being labeled as a hobby that "got out of control" (32:02). She credits her diverse musical influences, ranging from Frank Sinatra to Dolly Parton, for her versatile artistry.

Impact of Only Murders in the Building
The series not only showcases Selena’s acting prowess but also reinforces her ability to build meaningful relationships on set. Her interactions with established legends like Steve Martin and Martin Short have enriched her professional and personal growth (36:09).

Notable Quotes:

“When I do make mistakes, I don't feel like I should or necessarily need to be punished for them. It’s something that I need to grow and learn from.” – Selena Gomez (27:52)

“These are gentlemen that want nothing from me but to have a great experience at work and create bonds with everybody on set.” – Selena Gomez (37:20)

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Conclusion

This episode of Fresh Air offers an intimate look into the lives of two prominent figures in the entertainment industry. Alex Van Halen reflects on the legacy of Van Halen and his brother Eddie, providing deep insights into the band’s dynamics and his personal journey. Selena Gomez shares her experiences navigating the challenges of early fame, her artistic evolution, and the meaningful relationships she has cultivated in her current projects. Both interviews highlight themes of transformation, resilience, and the enduring impact of music and acting on personal identity.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

1. Alex Van Halen

   • “The first thing we wanted to do was put a band together... It was a good lesson for us as well.” (02:30)
   • “When Ed played the guitar, he made it sing... I want drums.” (04:13)
   • “We needed someone to get us off our ass because we knew we had to do it.” (09:08)
   • “Van Halen was on the cusp of something really, really big.” (17:48)
   • “When Bub played the guitar, he made it sing, and that was his way of communicating or finding peace with himself on the earth.” (06:22)

2. Selena Gomez

   • “This could have been my song... it's so well said, and it feels very true to who I am.” (27:23)
   • “These are gentlemen that want nothing from me but to have a great experience at work and create bonds with everybody on set.” (37:20)
   • “When I do make mistakes, I don't feel like I should or necessarily need to be punished for them.” (27:52)
   • “They made me feel incredibly included. If they wanted to change a joke, they would always incorporate me into the conversation.” (37:20)

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Timestamps Reference

• 02:30
• 03:04
• 04:13
• 06:22
• 09:08
• 10:15
• 11:44
• 14:55
• 17:07
• 17:48
• 25:15
• 25:40
• 27:23
• 29:25
• 30:21
• 32:02
• 34:14
• 36:09
• 37:20
• 41:20
• 47:58

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key themes and insights from the interviews with Alex Van Halen and Selena Gomez, providing listeners with an in-depth understanding of their discussions without needing to listen to the full episode.

Transcript

[Tonya Moseley]

Okay. So does this sound like you you love NPR's podcasts, you wish you could get more of all your favorite shows, and you want to support NPR's mission to create a more informed public. If all that sounds appealing, then it is time to sign up for the NPR Bundle. Learn more at plus.NPR.org this is FRESH AIR. I'm Tonya Moseley. Today we continue our series featuring interviews from 2024, this time with Selena Gomez and Alex Van Halen, along with his late brother Eddie. Alex is a founding member of the rock band Van Halen. Known for their extravagant high energy performances. Van Halen is credited with being one of the most influential rock bands of all.

[Alex Van Halen]

And nothing gets me down, you got it tough. I seen the toughest around and I know, baby, just how you feel. You got to roll up with a bunches that get the one trio.

[Tonya Moseley]

In a memoir published this year called Brothers, Alex charts both he and Eddie's life and music career from their arrival to the United States from the Netherlands as kids to the influence of their father, who was a Dutch jazz musician, and the formation of the rock band in 1974. After meeting vocalist David Lee Roth and bassist Michael Anthony, But Mostly Brothers is a love letter to the music they created and to Eddie, who has been called for decades one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Van Halen disbanded after eddie died in 2020, but throughout their run, Van Halen produced 12 studio albums, four compilation albums, two live records and 56 singles. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame in 2007. Alex Van Halen, welcome to FRESH AIR.

[Alex Van Halen]

Thank you for having me.

[Tonya Moseley]

Alex, music was in your blood because your dad was a jazz musician. So you were watching him while you guys were also performing yourselves. What was your earliest recollection of doing gigs?

[Alex Van Halen]

The first thing we wanted to do was put a band together. And I think the first band we did put together was a band called the Broken Combs, which was I played sax and Ed played piano, had two other guys in there and we managed to play for the school, school functions. And it was a good lesson for us as well.

[Tonya Moseley]

You knew what kind of music that you wanted to play as soon as you experienced rock, you experienced you guys like so many teenagers during that time period. It was the British Invasion. It was the Beatles.

[Alex Van Halen]

Yep.

[Tonya Moseley]

Also a lesser known group called the Dave Clark 5.

[Alex Van Halen]

Bingo. I'm glad you mentioned that. Those guys, they were really what we thought was the epitome of that kind of music at the time.

[Tonya Moseley]

What was it about Them that blew your mind.

[Alex Van Halen]

They had a grungy sound that the saxophone provided. And because I think maybe somewhere in our psyche because our dad played saxophone, it was deeper in our, you know, DNA. But, you know, it's a good thing we didn't bet on anything and that we weren't financial advisors because you would have bet on the wrong horse. But. But yeah, so. So when the Beatles come came the. The talent and the music that came up was unmatched. I mean, there were a lot of bands around, a lot of. From Herman's Hurwitz to the Seeds, you name. I can't even name them all, but the Beatles clearly were a notch above all that and that appealed to us.

[Tonya Moseley]

I'm really interested though, in how you and Eddie came to your instruments. Because at first the guitar was your instrument, right. How did it become Eddie's?

[Alex Van Halen]

I was a very. I was taught very strict and very by the book. You know, you learn to read, you learn the chords, you listen to the classical music and all that. But I had no connection with the instrument. I just wasn't. I hate to use the old expression, I just wasn't feeling it right. So. And there's this story about Ed doing papers and that I became better than him is not quite how it happened. But the fact was when Ed played, he made that instrument sing and was unbelievable. Unbelievable. I'm going, Ed, you're playing guitar. I want drums. Besides, Dave Clark 5 was my idol and he was the drummer. So. But again, on a serious note, when Ed played the guitar, he made it sing.

[Tonya Moseley]

I want us to play a little bit of. Of Eddie on his guitar. 1986 Peak Van Halen this is live in New Haven. The crowd is electric and we see your brother in all of his glory at the top of his powers as a guitarist. He gets up there and I think it's like a 12 minute guitar solo called Eruption. Let's play a little bit of it. That was the late Eddie Van Halen playing a solo.

[Alex Van Halen]

The one and only. The one and only.

[Tonya Moseley]

That entire performance, Alex is mesmerizing. I mean, Eddie looks like he's having the time of his life.

[Alex Van Halen]

That's because he is. He played guitar from the moment he woke up to the moment he went to sleep. And it was just his way of either communicating or finding peace with himself on the earth. I don't know. And I'm certainly not going to stop him while he's getting better and better every day. The problem with Ed was he could play anything. So the most difficult Thing for him was to find his own voice, and he spent a lot of time doing it. Then when he finally found it, that was it.

[Tonya Moseley]

Big smile, Alex. You wrote about David Lee Roth, the lead singer. You said this. The bottom line is that Dave desperately wanted to be an artist, but something was always missing. He could never really feel the music. He didn't get the part where you need to resonate with something deeper, something like eternal force of the universe. That was, like, a very powerful thing to say about your lead man, because his showmanship also seemed to provide something that you and your brother needed, and that was this frontman. Because people weren't going to shows just to see instrumentalists play during that time period. So first off, you and your brother met David Lee Roth very young. I mean, you all basically started the group together. It was David who came up with the name Van Halen.

[Alex Van Halen]

It was. Yeah, you know, I was probably overthinking it, but I thought he was trying to curry a favor with us, and I figured. So the first thing I did was I fought it. And now you can't name the Van Van Halen. But eventually it took. And of course, Gene Simmons said, you can't use that name. It sounds like a shirt company, like Van Heusen.

[Tonya Moseley]

Well, Gene Simmons from King, he's famously credited with discovering you guys. I mean, and to put this time period in perspective, this was right as MTV was starting. This was right as the visual part of it was coming into play for us where expectation was there. So I can imagine that was part of the conflict, too. Right.

[Alex Van Halen]

You know, if you watch the bands and see how they progress, even Led Zeppelin was using explosions. Okay. So when the guys are the highest form of the food chain, when they do it, it's okay. It's now become part of the language of rock and roll. And why fight it? Okay. Bring on the flashpots.

[Tonya Moseley]

Yeah. Well, I get the sense that before David Lee Roth joined you guys, that you and Eddie would have been fine doing sets and T shirts and jeans because you were about the music and he was about the show.

[Alex Van Halen]

Right.

[Tonya Moseley]

And what were some of the things that David would push you guys to do to be showrunners?

[Alex Van Halen]

It wasn't so much pushing us. It was more we needed something. We needed someone to get us off our ass because we knew we had to do it. But we're waiting for the last minute possible to have to do it. Because to dress up for a gig, I mean, that's. Now you're back to playing with suits on or whatever that that was how I saw it. Rock and roll is supposed to be about freedom, about you just show up and play, right? But when you're in the thick of it, when you're on Sunset Boulevard and you're walking down Hollywood Boulevard, you're walking down anywhere in Hollywood at that time, there is a whole rainbow of colors and styles. And there was a band called Zolar X and they dressed as space guys. I mean, it was mind bending. Their image was so overpowering. Why would you even want to listen to the music? Who cares? That was my read on it. Now, because we were all very opinionated. We fought it out until somebody came up with the right solution. And that's basically the process.

[Tonya Moseley]

How did you get the idea to set your drums on fire as part of your act?

[Alex Van Halen]

There were a number of people at that time who tried different versions of it. I've always been fascinated by fire because for me, fire represents the temporariness. Is that a word? The only the moment counts. I mean, the flame is there and poof, it's gone. So is life, right? So to me, that represented that. And there was an element of danger because we did it on such an amateur level that any given night, when we did it, if my drum tech, Greg, an old buddy of mine, if he put too much stuff on it, it would leak. And there were several times when.

[Tonya Moseley]

What do you mean by stuff like gas?

[Alex Van Halen]

Oh, yeah. Lighter fluid. Yeah, lighter fluid, yeah. My favorite memory of all of that was we kind of gotten it down to a science. And as we're doing it during the performance, the lighter fluid starts to come down my arm. And then I look over and I notice my arm's on fire. So I'm thinking that that can't be good, right? So I look at Greg, who's, you know, suppose in theory, he's there with a fire extinguisher so he can. So I look at him and he's looking at me, and he gives me the thumbs up. Looks great, man. I'll never forget that as long as I live. Greg, I love you, but, man, put that damn fire.

[Tonya Moseley]

Wait, did he. Do you have burns? What's going on?

[Alex Van Halen]

Yeah, we had, but it was very low ditch. You know, we just used lighter fluid and you put a match to it and poof, there it goes. It's very uncontrollable. You're taking a risk every night. But, you know, we were young, so it's okay. All right.

[Tonya Moseley]

I just. Did you end up having to get new drum sets every time? I mean, how did that work?

[Alex Van Halen]

No, actually, it wasn't until the end of the tour. I got slapped with, like, I don't know how much. All the microphones and the cords were fried. And nobody told me that when we were doing it. The drum set itself was that it was made out of stainless steel. Ludwig was very accommodating. They made a stainless steel jump cut for me. It wasn't the only one, but they gave it to me. But it really goes to show you how at that age you don't read the stuff. Doesn't really register in your brain. It turns out that the average male brain does not completely mature until the age of 27. I'm still waiting.

[Tonya Moseley]

Hot for Teacher was a song from your album 1984. It's one of Rolling Stone magazine's. It was on their list saying that this was the album that brought Van Halen's talent into focus. Let's play a little of Hot for Teacher.

[Alex Van Halen]

Wait a second, man.

[Tonya Moseley]

What do you think a teacher's gonna look like this year? That was Van Halen's Hot For Teacher from the album 1984. Also, humor is a big part of your act. I wanted to say that. I mean, I know you've been talking about it not being an act. It's who you are, but. Yes, yes. But this album overall was pioneering because there's a lot of synth, which was a new sound back then.

[Alex Van Halen]

Yes. And we were always looking for the next what's around the Corner? And we heard a lot of synthesizer music. It was all this progressive rock stuff, you know, whether it was Mahavishnu or Billy Cobham. And there were a number of people who used that sound quality, if you will.

[Tonya Moseley]

One of the things that you like to make the point of is that you all aren't heavy metal, even though you're put in that category.

[Alex Van Halen]

Yes. Because heavy metal, I love heavy metal. But because we had a lot of different influences, so we had to look for. Because people like labels. And it was very difficult to find a label that would define us. Not that we need a definition, but, you know, the irony of all of it was when rock and roll, which was originally rebellion, became structured and organized. What the hell is that?

[Tonya Moseley]

Right, right. I mean, did you. You watched Spinal Tap, right?

[Alex Van Halen]

Oh, yeah. Yeah. That wasn't funny at all. That was the way you were.

[Tonya Moseley]

Why wasn't it fun?

[Alex Van Halen]

Well, when Ed and I saw it and we said, man, that's what we experienced. That is really how things happen. It's mind bending. You know, the public doesn't really have any idea what goes on behind the scenes, and I'm certainly not gonna burst the bubble. But that movie, there were a lot of elements that were more true than they were parody. And of course, then they believed their own stuff and they went out and toured for the.

[Tonya Moseley]

You and Eddie, famously, for a long time, never recorded any music without each other. Until a request from Quincy Jones.

[Alex Van Halen]

Yes.

[Tonya Moseley]

For a little known song called Beat It. Let's list. That was a solo Eddie did on the iconic song Beat it by Michael Jackson and Alex. I think it was on the charts the same time as 1984. If I'm not. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Why do you think. Yeah, why do you think Eddie Winnon did that without consulting you guys?

[Alex Van Halen]

If I remember right, he did consult and we said, no, but that's. What are you gonna do? I'm not gonna make something. We really did not overthink anything. But I did want to kick his ass. You know why? Because our model was basically Led Zeppelin. The way that they structured their business, the way they structured how they played, who they played with. Led Zeppelin was Led Zeppelin. You couldn't get Jimmy Page anywhere else. You can only get him with Led Zeppelin. Come to the show. That's it. You don't get him with Michael Jackson. You don't get him with so and so. But Ed violated that, and it started a whole cascade of just bad, bad vibes.

[Tonya Moseley]

That's the beginning of the inn for you guys.

[Alex Van Halen]

Yes.

[Tonya Moseley]

As a unit.

[Alex Van Halen]

In all fairness, it really was not the single thing, because there were. Things were already starting to unravel. When we named the album 1984, it had nothing to do with the year. It had to do with George Orwell and the dystopia of what was going on. This band was so fractured. You know, we barely ever played together anymore. And unfortunately, MTV became the predominant way of conveying all this. And Dave, being the visual guy, naturally opted for more visual stuff. I don't blame him for any of it, but, you know, it's just too bad because we were on the cusp of something really, really big.

[Tonya Moseley]

Ed going and doing this song with Michael Jackson. If you guys had always said you wanted to be Led Zeppelin, what do you think it was that made him say, I want to do this Anyway?

[Alex Van Halen]

I don't know. There's some aspects of Ed's behavior are even. Even to me, a mystery.

[Tonya Moseley]

I just have to say to you, Alex, it also opened up another world to you guys. I mean, I'm a little black girl in Detroit. Hearing that little solo from Van Halen, and it introduced me to you.

[Alex Van Halen]

That was the argument that a couple other people make. But I tell you, I don't buy. My suggestion would have been put Michael on our record, okay? Then you got something. And people will say, are you out of your mind? Well, you can have guest people on your records. But am I angry? Of course not. You know, that's just posturing. That's what you do to your brother and your bandmates. You know, nobody fights better than friends.

[Tonya Moseley]

Alex Van Halen, this was such a pleasure. Thank you so much.

[Alex Van Halen]

It was my pleasure.

[Tonya Moseley]

My interview with Alex Van Halen was recorded in October when he published his memoir, Brothers. Alex and his late brother Eddie were founding members of the rock band Van Halen. After a short break, we'll hear my conversation with actor, singer and entrepreneur Selena Gomez, who stars in the Netflix Spanish language film Amelia Perez and the Hulu comedy series Only Murders in the Building, which have both received multiple Golden Globe nominations. I'm Tonya Moseley, and this is FRESH air.

[Alex Van Halen]

I live my life like this through tomorrow and all I've got I had to be out on me, I beg on my road. Yes, I'm living at a place that kills the devil.

[Tonya Moseley]

I tell you all about. Hey, it's Tonya Mosley. It's almost the end of the year, and this is the season when we here at NPR come to you as a nonprofit news organization and ask for your support. Maybe you're already an NPR supporter, and if so, thank you so much. But if you've never given to public media before or not in a while, please consider it now, because supporting public radio is a great way to show what matters to you. You want to stay informed about what's going on in your community and around the world. You want to know where to turn for information you can trust and to hear perspectives that challenge your opinions. And believe me, I get it. Sometimes you want to tune out from the news and just hear about the beautiful things in life, like artists, musicians and actors who bring us joy, whose work can also challenge us. NPR gives you that space to experience all of it. The FRESH AIR team is like a cultural machine. We love spending our time following investigative journalists who are covering important issues, reading the latest books, watching the latest movies and documentaries, and listening to music that spans across time to bring you conversations with everyone from Selena Gomez and Bridget Everett to music legends like Jon Bon Jovi and Michael McDonald. Together, we can do even more in 2025. The easiest way to support FRESH AIR and NPR network stations across the country is to sign up for npr. It's a reoccurring donation that gets you special perks for more than 25 NPR podcasts, including sponsor free listening bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and even exclusive and discounted items from the NPR Shop and the NPR Wine Club. It only takes a few minutes to sign up and you can do it right now. @plus.NPR.org Here at FRESH AIR, you'll hear exclusive weekly bonus episodes that dig deep into our storied archive of interviews, giving you unprecedented access to all 40 plus years of our show wherever you listen to podcasts. Thank you again for being a critical part of our public media community. Join [e-mail] this is FRESH AIR. I'm Tanya Mosley. The Netflix Spanish language musical film Amelia Perez centers on a drug cartel leader who decides to undergo gender affirmation surgery and start a new life with a new identity as Emilia Perez. My guest, Selena Gomez, stars as Jesse Del Monte, the wife who is forced to start a new life of her own after her husband disappears. The film is almost entirely in Spanish and in preparation for the role, Gomez had to brush up on her Spanish after losing fluency as a kid once she started acting. Emilia Perez leads in the Golden Globe film categories with 10 total nominations, including best motion picture, musical or comedy and best supporting actress in a Motion picture for Gomez. Gomez got her start in acting at 10 years old when she was on the television series Barney and Friends. She went on to star in several Disney shows before her breakout role in the series the Wizards of Waverly Place. Since 2021, she has starred alongside Steve Martin and Martin Short as true crime enthusiasts turned podcasters and crime solvers in the Hulu comedy series Only Murders in the Building. The series is currently nominated for three Golden Globe Awards, including best actress in a musical or comedy TV series for Gomez. Gomez is also a two time Grammy nominated musician. She's had 16 consecutive top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, the longest active run of any artist. My interview with Selena Gomez was recorded in November. Selena Gomez, welcome to FRESH air.

[Selena Gomez]

Thank you. That was such a lovely introduction.

[Tonya Moseley]

Let's talk a little bit about the themes in the movie. She's looking for freedom because she's married to this very brutal drug kingpin and so all the things that go along with that life. She has two children by him. It's not explicitly said, but it seems as if maybe she got married when she was very young to him.

[Selena Gomez]

That's correct.

[Tonya Moseley]

There's a transformation with your husband from male to female. But there's also a transformation of this character. She's like a dormant volcano of a wife. And I want to play a clip. And this clip I'm about to play, it's several years after her husband has had the transition. She thinks he's dead. She goes back to Mexico, and she connects with a man who really is the love of her life. And in this scene, the two of you, this man, you and this man, you all are in a club and you're singing the song Mi Camino. Let's listen. That's my guest, Selena Gomez singing the song Mikamino in the musical film Amelia Perez. Okay, Selena, this is a liberation song.

[Selena Gomez]

It is. It's so beautiful. I'm so proud of it.

[Tonya Moseley]

The words. I'm going to read a little bit of the words in English. If I fall into the ravine, it's my ravine if I double the pain, it's my pain if I send myself to the seventh heaven, it's my heaven if I lose my way, it's still mine I want to love myself. It's a liberation song. And to me, without, like, being too sappy about it, I feel like it sounds familiar to your life path. Do you see that?

[Selena Gomez]

Yeah, actually, I do. It was one of the most emotional songs that I got to record during the process of shooting this movie. And I remember just singing it and thinking to myself, this could have been my song. You know, this could have been a, you know, me song on an album I would put out personally, because it's so well said, and it feels very true to who I am, to where I am. I think that when I do make mistakes, I don't feel like I should or necessarily need to be punished for them. It's something that I feel like I need to grow and learn from. And I think that sometimes there's been moments in my career where people weren't allowing me to grow up. I weren't allowing me to make choices that, you know, wasn't exactly what they thought I should be doing.

[Tonya Moseley]

Acting, as you said, has always been your first love. We're gonna get into some things. Like, I can't believe Girl Interrupted is one of the first films you saw. Like, what?

[Selena Gomez]

Sorry, Mom.

[Tonya Moseley]

I know.

[Selena Gomez]

Sorry, Mom. Yeah, no, my mom was. You know, she was so just. I just remember feeling like she was the coolest person ever. She's still cool, but as a kid, I looked up to her so much.

[Tonya Moseley]

But she kind of. I mean, she was 16 when she had you, so she was a young Mom?

[Selena Gomez]

Oh, yeah.

[Tonya Moseley]

She was a young, cool mom, and.

[Selena Gomez]

We'Re like sisters in a way. And she loved. She. She loved everything about art. And. And I remember sometimes she would let me watch things, but she would do the old. Cover your, you know, ears and eyes, like, be careful. And so, yeah, she was young. Maybe I shouldn't have watched some of the things they did. However, I think I fell in love with it for the right reasons. It was a whole range of different styles, and we'd watch, you know, French films or we'd watch anything that kind of sparked something in my mom, and she would explain things to me, and I would always ask questions, and I was inquisitive about the work. And it wasn't just an experience for me. I wanted to know everything. And I think that's where it kind of stemmed from.

[Tonya Moseley]

Do you remember the first time you were on stage, your first performance?

[Selena Gomez]

Yeah. The funny thing is, is I wasn't in any school plays necessarily. I was seven when I auditioned for Barney, which is the big purple dinosaur, if people don't remember. But I was in line. It was 1400 kids, and it was in Texas. And I waited in line for a while, and I just thought, here's my chance. I could do something really cool.

[Tonya Moseley]

You thought that in the moment?

[Selena Gomez]

Yeah. I just thought, this is something I really want to do, and I hope I get it. And I went to three rounds of callbacks. They were very serious about Barney back in the day, and I got the part. And it would have to be the first time I stepped foot on the set of Barney. It was magical. Not to mention, I'm seven and they make it for kids, you know, they make it this beautiful experience. And the sets are gorgeous. I just got the bug immediately. I had school there as well. A bunch of kids I got to grow up with. At the same time, maybe Barney taught me how to clean and how to say I love you.

[Tonya Moseley]

Right, because you're taking in all the lessons that you all are teaching us, too.

[Selena Gomez]

Absolutely.

[Tonya Moseley]

Acting is your first love. Music is also what you are known for. Worldwide, huge fan base. You've called it a hobby that kind of got out of control.

[Selena Gomez]

Yeah. And I think I need to correct that, because I think whenever. Whenever I do interviews that are written, I think it's very challenging for me because it gets a little misunderstood. Music is going to forever be a part of my soul. I was named after a Tejano singer. My dad was a dj. My mom listened to Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Patsy Cline, you know, Dolly Parton, Bonnie Wright. Like, I grew up around music and every genre. So what I meant by that was it did kind of, you know, take over for a while. And it's not that I was upset or bothered by it. It was more so that I had missed and I was really craving something different. I just really missed being on a set and creating content that had nothing to do with me.

[Tonya Moseley]

We're listening to the interview I recorded with actor and singer Selena Gomez in November. She's nominated for two Golden Globe Awards for her performances in the Netflix musical film Amelia Perez and the Hulu comedy series Only Murders in the Building. More of our conversation after a break. This is FRESH air. This is FRESH air. Let's get back to my interview with actor and singer Selena Gomez. She's nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her role in the film Amelia Perez. The film is nominated for a total of 10 Golden Globes. The awards ceremony is on Sunday. Well, for those who don't watch it, only Murders in the Building. The Hulu series is centered on you, Martin Short and Steve Martin. You guys are a trio of residents in this really beautiful Upper west side apartment building called the Arconia, and you set out to investigate a string of murders in the building and start a true crime podcast to chronicle the investigation. Martin Short has said, like in all of the interviews, just how much fun you guys have on the set. He alludes it to being kind of exceptional in that way. What makes it fun?

[Selena Gomez]

Well, first off, Steve Martin and Martin Short are legends in their own right.

[Tonya Moseley]

Yes.

[Selena Gomez]

And it is very difficult to keep a straight face when you're talking to them about anything because they simply exude and radiate comedy.

[Tonya Moseley]

How do you do it? Because you're the straight man of the three.

[Selena Gomez]

I know, but I mean, I just have to I gotta get through it. You know, once we do the table read and they'll chime in, it is challenging, but I think the best part of all my murders is the environment. And I think that's what Marty is referring to because these two actors who have been working longer than I've been alive are always on time, could not be more compassionate and kind to everyone. Class act, intelligence. Their humor is smart and wise. And they'll sit down and talk to our camera guy and ask how his daughter's doing. And it just, to me, was a very good place for me to start back into acting. It just was safe and it was so fun. And they made it feel like it was they just made it feel like it was home.

[Tonya Moseley]

I Want to play a clip from season one? So you all live in the same apartment, and you don't really know each other that well, but you're starting to come into this idea that something really fishy is happening here. Your character, Mabel, is joining the two others in Oliver's apartment, and Oliver is played by Martin Short, and Charles is played by Steve Martin. Let's listen.

[Alex Van Halen]

Oh, how did you get here?

[Selena Gomez]

It was open.

[Alex Van Halen]

I don't lock my door. Never have. That's insane. It's neighborly.

[Selena Gomez]

I mean, a murderer probably lives in the building, but I guess old white guys are only afraid of colon cancer and societal change. Sad.

[Alex Van Halen]

A murderer doesn't probably live in the building. A murderer definitely lives in the building. Lester checked all the security footage, and no one unknown to him came in or out during the hours around Tim's murder. Isn't that great for the podcast? So, Mabel, tell us, did you learn anything from the online world of Tim Kono?

[Selena Gomez]

He didn't post much in his online world. He seems to have had a really sad, quiet life.

[Alex Van Halen]

You checked all the websites?

[Selena Gomez]

Yep, all the websites.

[Alex Van Halen]

Well, we've exhausted the Internet.

[Tonya Moseley]

That's my guest, Selena Gomez with Martin Short and Steve Martin in the very popular Hulu series, Only Murders in the Building. Selena, there's such a tenderness to your relationships with those guys that seems like it's only grown over the seasons. I was watching. I think I saw you and Martin Short on a TV show recently, and you were showing him how to put on makeup from your rare beauty line, and it felt natural and connected, like you all are your friends.

[Selena Gomez]

Yes. And it's an absolute joy. They'll joke and laugh and say, oh, we didn't know what to expect when we met Selena, but I don't know. By the first week of us working together, they. They really took me under their wing. They didn't make me feel separate because I was younger. They made me feel incredibly included. If they would change a joke or want to try something different, they would always incorporate me into the conversation. And they respected me, and I felt safe. You know, these are gentlemen that want nothing from me but to have a great experience at work and create bonds with everybody on set. And they disarm people by their kindness. So, yeah, I've done interviews or I've been upset on days of, you know, working if I got bad news. And they're protective, they listen, they give great advice. That's something I'll cherish. It could have been totally different. It could have been, you know, hard to Connect. But they are genuinely wonderful people. And it's just been a huge blessing because I get emotional thinking about it because I really do love them and they care about me a lot.

[Tonya Moseley]

Meryl Streep starred in season three, and you mentioned how in awe you were those first days on the set. What did you learn working with her?

[Selena Gomez]

Class act. Absolute class act. I always tell this story about her because I think it just sums who she is up really well. She was on set, and because, of course, she's Meryl, we wanted to shoot her out so that she would have a shorter day out of respect for her and her schedule. So we would shoot her scenes, and then, you know, we could say, okay, you can go home, and someone would, you know, replace her and they would do the other actors. She refused. She said, no, I'm staying for all the actors. And it was probably 13 hours that she was on that set and the camera wasn't on her once. And she was thrilled to be there. She was so communion, like, communicative to everyone. She would walk around barefoot, humming music, listening to folk music. She. She doesn't take herself too seriously. You know, she's something. She read a comment about something that said that she was overrated and she laughed and she was, well, maybe they're right. You know, like, she just has a good sense of humor about the icon that she is, and she doesn't look at herself that way. And I like that.

[Tonya Moseley]

We're listening to the interview I recorded with actor Selena Gomez in November. She's currently nominated for two Golden Globe awards for her performances in the Spanish language musical film Amelia Perez and the comedy TV series Only Murders in the Building. More of our conversation after a break. This is FRESH air. This is FRESH air. Let's get back to my interview with actor and singer Selena Gomez. She stars in the Spanish language film Amelia Perez, which is nominated for 10 Golden Globe awards. Gomez is nominated for best supporting actress in a motion picture. You're 32 years old, right?

[Selena Gomez]

Yes.

[Tonya Moseley]

And you have so many firsts.

[Selena Gomez]

Mm.

[Tonya Moseley]

And your first not only I mentioned the Billboard 100, you also were one of the 10 highest paid children TV stars of all time.

[Selena Gomez]

Oh, dear. I don't even think I've read that.

[Tonya Moseley]

Oh, that one's not on your list of, like, your firsts, but your role on the Disney show Wizards of Waverly. I got the sense from your 2022 documentary My Mind and Me that you have kind of a complicated relationship with your Disney years that it made you feel like a product in what Ways did it feel like that?

[Selena Gomez]

I think during the period I was shooting the documentary, the context of what I felt was unfair is that I don't regret or dislike Disney. I think Disney gave me my platform, and I will forever owe them for that. Because I was able to do incredible things doesn't mean that I wasn't frustrated with other people. So my frustration has not necessarily ever been with Disney. It's just been with the idea that people would not take anything I was saying not seriously. If it was me talking about philanthropy, if it was me wanting to talk about something important, it was, do you like marshmallows? And, you know, so you. You were on Disney, and it's like they just. It just felt so crippling. And I, at that point, when I shot the documentary, hadn't moved on into doing other things, so I just was a little frustrated.

[Tonya Moseley]

I had a chance to talk with Tyler James Williams a few months ago, another child actor who has gone on to do great things. And like you, he says, like, he really couldn't imagine himself doing anything else in life. From a very young age, he knew that was what he wanted. But he also talked about some of the dark sides of being a child actor. And he survived because of his parents. He says he feels like, though this is an industry that is not really for children, that it either and spits them out. You have been able to have a successful career. And he finds, I just want to say, like he said, he thinks that anyone who has come out of it whole is a success, even if you're not in show business.

[Selena Gomez]

I thought that's very nice. Yeah.

[Tonya Moseley]

I want to know how you feel about that, because it seems that folks like Tyler have a complicated relationship with even the use of children in Hollywood.

[Selena Gomez]

Yeah, I mean, I think my perspective goes both ways. You know, I think that there is a point in your life where you have to just. You have to let yourself be a kid. And I think the dark sides that, you know, I would reflect on is the fact that I couldn't have a private life. I couldn't necessarily do things because I was held to a specific standard of like, you know, I'm a Disney kid and children look up to me, and all of that stuff was really difficult. I just. I don't want to necessarily. I guess I'm just trying to think about this because I know that there are incredible actors that have come out of this whole industry, but I think you can say that about anything sometimes. I guess what I'd say is I am actually Glad that my sister doesn't want to do that right now, at least. I just think it is pretty dangerous. You're around adults. People say things. People, you know, do things that maybe you just shouldn't be exposed to. And the moment I first started experiencing fame, it wasn't something that I thought was cool. It got really weird for me. It felt uncomfortable. I remember being 15 at the beach with my family, and it was one of the first times there were, like, five grown men taking photographs of me coming out of the water. And I was sitting there, and my stepdad got really upset because something seems extremely wrong with that underage. So it just. To me, that's the stuff that I don't think is right. And I just. It threw me off for a bit.

[Tonya Moseley]

But it sounds like your mother, your family, protected you.

[Selena Gomez]

They did. And here's the thing. My parents did the best with what they got. And they were 16 and 15, and they did their best. And it wasn't always perfect, but they, especially my mom and my stepdad, specifically made sure that they held up these boundaries that sometimes I'd get mad at, but they were necessary. For example, you're inviting kids to this beautiful premiere, and they're walking the carpet and experiencing all this attention, and that could be overwhelming. Then I have the after party, and that's when kids can come and all the adults start drinking, and all this stuff starts going on at a very young age. My mom said, you're there to walk the carpet for your job, but then you're going home. And I'd always say, well, they're gonna stay, and my other friend's gonna stay. And she said, you're not old enough. When you're old enough, you'll go to the parties and have all the fun, but right now, you're going home, and you can invite a friend over and just be. Watch a movie, you know? And I. I do have to say she was very good at that stuff. And. Sorry, I'll just add. And in rooms. My mom never let me go into any room without her.

[Tonya Moseley]

You mean like an audition room or a room to practice or a room for.

[Selena Gomez]

Room for, like, meetings, room for anything. Not necessarily auditions, but I did a lot on tape, so. But she was right by the door, you know, My mom was very protective of me in the best possible way. And though maybe it didn't make much sense to me then, I could not be more grateful now.

[Tonya Moseley]

Yeah. Selena Gomez, this has been such a pleasure to talk with you.

[Selena Gomez]

It's been so nice.

[Tonya Moseley]

My interview with Selena Gomez was recorded in November. She's nominated for two Golden Globe awards, for best supporting actress in the Spanish musical film Amelia Perez and for best actress in the TV series Only Murders in the Building. The Golden Globes are on Sunday, and the ceremony will be hosted by comic Nikki Glaser. She's known for her scathing jokes at celebrity roasts, including the roast of Tom Brady, which made headlines tomorrow. To end our series of our favorite interviews of 2024, we'll listen back to Terry's interview with Glaser. I hope you can join us. And if you'd like to catch up on interviews you missed this week, like our conversations with actors Mark Ruffalo and Sterling K. Brown, or the first part of our program Remembering Jimmy Carter, check out our podcast. You'll find lots of Fresh Air interviews. Our interviews and reviews are produced and edited by Phyllis Myers, Anne Marie Baldonado, Sam Brigger, Lorne Krenzel, Teresa Madden, Monique Nazareth, Thea Chaloner, Susan Yakundi and Anna Bauman. Our digital media producer is Molly CV Nesper with Terry Gross. I'm Tonya Moseley.