After a four-year hiatus, singer-songwriter Selena Gomez has returned to the scene with her new solo album “Rare,” a breath of fresh air after the many personal battles that consumed her life and public image in years past. The pop record is fun, fierce and free, expressing Gomez’s detachment from past struggles and desire to speak her truth.

The album opens with the title track “Rare,” a laid-back piece with a steady groove that’s sure to hook any listener. The opener sets a confident and unapologetic tone, conveying how Gomez feels as though she’s one in a million and is ready to embrace her future. From there, the album dabbles in a variety of styles and messages. There’s the fiery, electronic “Dance Again” that shows Gomez’s relief after a painful recovery. Further down the queue, there’s “Lose You to Love Me,” an emotional ballad in which Gomez sings about closing a bittersweet chapter of her life. Wrapping the album up neatly is “A Sweeter Place,” where the once heartbroken singer declares, hopefully, that she’ll search for a brighter future.

The album speaks from Gomez’s soul, especially following a rocky era in which the singer suffered from anxiety, depression, chronic illness and publicized breakups.

“I think it’s the most personal album she’s ever written, especially after all her breakups. Being able to finally move on from that past is a big breakthrough for her,” Gracie Harrison (12) said.

Truly, “Rare” marks a milestone in both Gomez’s personal and professional life, demonstrating with grace how she found strength in vulnerability.