When Selena Gomez released her highly anticipated album, Rare, in January 2020, it quickly captured fans' attention with its introspective lyrics and evolved sound. Known for her collaborations with top artists, such as DJ Snake and Charlie Puth, fans naturally wondered if there were any unreleased collaborations that didn’t make the album’s final cut. Here, we explore the rumors, potential artists, and the creative process behind Rare that might explain why some tracks were ultimately left out.
During the album's creation, Selena Gomez reportedly worked with various artists and producers in the industry. Although Rare itself contains only one high-profile feature with Kid Cudi on the track "A Sweeter Place," Gomez's initial recording sessions involved collaborations with other big names that may have been shelved for creative reasons. Some artists speculated to have worked with Gomez for Rare include:
Julia Michaels: As one of Gomez’s close friends and songwriting collaborators, Michaels has co-written many hits with her. While Michaels contributed significantly to Rare, it’s believed they may have worked on additional tracks together that didn’t make the final cut.
Justin Tranter: Another frequent collaborator of Gomez, Tranter co-wrote several tracks on Rare. However, Tranter and Gomez might have explored other songs that ended up not fitting the album’s aesthetic or message.
Benny Blanco: Known for his work on Revival, Blanco is a frequent collaborator across the pop industry. Though he wasn’t directly credited on Rare, it’s speculated that early demos were recorded with his involvement.
According to music insiders, Selena Gomez had a much larger pool of songs before narrowing it down to the final tracklist. Like most artists, she likely recorded numerous demos, some of which may never see the light of day. While titles or lyrics of unreleased tracks have not been confirmed, fans have speculated about a few potential themes based on hints dropped by Gomez during interviews around Rare’s release.
Exploring Vulnerability and Self-Reflection: Gomez has often spoken about wanting to be transparent in her music. Some insiders believe she may have recorded additional songs that leaned even more deeply into her personal experiences but opted to keep the album cohesive with fewer tracks.
Rejected Dance Tracks: Given her previous pop hits, it wouldn’t be surprising if she experimented with a few upbeat songs. But as Rare has a more introspective, subdued pop sound, these upbeat tracks may have been left behind to maintain the album’s unique tone.
While collaborating is a significant part of Gomez’s music-making process, there are several reasons why tracks with potential collaborators might not have made it onto Rare:
Creative Direction: Selena expressed in interviews that Rare represented a new chapter of her life. She may have felt that fewer collaborations would allow her personal journey to shine more clearly.
Album Cohesion: With Rare, Gomez curated a specific theme centered on self-love, empowerment, and personal growth. Too many features might have shifted the focus from her journey to her collaborators.
Production and Timing: Music often goes through phases where certain songs are developed or put aside. Some tracks might not have felt aligned with Rare by the time the album was in its final stages.
Since Rare was such a pivotal release, fans remain hopeful that some unreleased material from this era could make its way into future projects, deluxe editions, or even on social media platforms. In fact, Gomez has recently hinted at working on new music, and it’s possible that a few of these collaborations might get a second life in her future albums.
With Gomez’s impressive career continuing to evolve, these unreleased collaborations and demo tracks could be a treasure trove waiting to be unveiled.
Selena Gomez’s Rare era was defined by growth, self-love, and transparency. While fans may never know all the collaborations that didn’t make it to the final album, these unrecorded or unreleased songs remain a source of fascination. As we look forward to what she releases next, the possibility of these collaborations finding a place in future work keeps fans excited for what’s yet to come.
