Selena Gomez Music: Singer Says 'I'm Not 16 Anymore,' Highlights What She Does Best

Selena Gomez Attends UNICEF Event
Selena Gomez at the UNICEF Snowflake Ball in New York City, New York on November 2012. |

Selena Gomez is pretty excited to release her second solo studio album called "Revival" on October 9, which includes the singles "Good For You" and "Same Old Love" since the album will mark her transition from a teeny bopper to a young woman.

"I was really fighting for this transition," Selena told Flaremagazine about her new album. "Ultimately, I'm not 16 anymore. I'm a young woman, and I'm growing up and trying to do it in a way I feel comfortable with."

The transition is not just personal, since the album marks a graduation in her career as well. "Revival" will be her first album after she ended her contract with the Disney-owned Hollywood Records and Interscope, which guided her career for the past seven years. Plus, Selena executive produced her new album too.

"That was a big deal, because they were partnering with me as opposed to trying to mold me or shape me into something," she said.

Selena knows that her singing chops aren't at par with some of the best singers out there, so she prefers to concentrate on her own strengths as a performer.

"I'm not the best singer - like, I know I'm not Céline Dion," she said. "Ever since I was 16, I've had this lower register, what I thought was a very manly voice, and I was insecure about that. But once I started acting more, I realized it was an asset, and I didn't want to force myself to aim for the highest note possible. My strength is translating emotion, because I'm such a feeler."

It has been difficult for Selena being "such a feeler" because the media always had a field day when she experiences ups and downs in her life, particularly with regards to her broken relationship with Justin Bieber. But Selena has matured significantly over the years, and so she's used her sensitive side to improve her craft.

"I've lived my life in the public eye, and I've had to figure out how to do that," she said. "Ultimately, I am 23 and figuring out my life. I feel confident, I feel empowered, I feel in control."

The journey she's had being under the limelight is something she wants to share with her fans. She wants to be looked up to not just for her looks or music, but also for her personality.

"Now that I do have this influence, I don't want to just be a name," Selena said. "I want people to really be inspired, to believe they can do whatever they want."