Adam Lambert

by Anistasia Safioleas / The Big Issue Austrailia / courtesy of INSP.ngo

When I ask Adam Lambert if he remembers his audition for American Idol, the one that started it all for him back in 2009, he laughs. “I remember my hair! But I haven’t seen the footage in a while,” he confesses, adjusting the oversized bejewelled sunglasses he’s wearing. (Elton John must be swooning somewhere.) “I was really nervous. There was so much riding on it. I was doing "Wicked" the musical in LA and I had to quit. If I didn’t make it through, what the fuck was I going to do? It’s a lesson in taking a risk.”

It’s now safe to say that risk paid off. The winner of that series was Kris Allen, with Lambert crowned runner-up. Unlike Allen, however, Lambert quickly found himself on a trajectory that has catapulted him onwards and upwards. There have been numerous solo albums – he became the first openly gay artist to have a number-one record – and world tours, as well as a string of TV appearances for shows such as Glee and Pretty Little Liars. But the key moment came in 2012 when he was asked to be Freddie Mercury’s replacement as the frontman of Queen.

“We’re really comfortable with each other. The only time I get nervous is when there’s something new, like performing one of my songs for the first time. But this music, now that we’ve been working together for eight years, it’s like in my body. I don’t have to think about it. And that takes care of the nerves.” Except for the one time they performed at the Oscars, which he describes as “nuts”.

Right now, Lambert is promoting the release of new album, Velvet, his fourth. By his own reckoning, he’s been working on it for too long and is “way invested” in it.

It’s been five long years since the release of his previous album, The Original High. Duties with Queen have kept him busy. And at one point, Lambert hit the pause button on his solo career.

“I had to make a bunch of business changes and that slowed down the process. I changed labels, changed management twice… A lot of that was prompted by feeling disillusioned by the industry.” According to Lambert, it just wasn’t fun anymore.

“If there’s no joy, there’s something wrong. Yes, some music and some material is sad, but it’s coming from a place of passion. If you’re not connected to your passion – whatever emotion it’s taking on in that moment – then you’re not doing your job well. And I was a little burned-out. I’d been travelling and working really hard and I felt like I had gotten sucked into the business side of things: numbers, streaming, competition with other artists, pleasing all the different people that run the label… I lost touch with my integrity. I had to make some changes.”

Velvet is a return to the Adam Lambert before mega-stardom with Queen beckoned. He is back in the driver’s seat, the music a truer reflection of his world, friends and relationships. “It feels…it feels like me,” he announces wide-eyed.

Surprisingly, the new album found its shape once Lambert stopped listening to Top 40 music. Instead, Velvet has its foundations in the music he grew up with – the stuff his parents played around the house when he was young and living in San Diego.

“Sly and the Family Stone, David Bowie, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Prince, Al Green and Chaka Khan…” he reels off quickly. “And I started listening to more alternative stuff, like Tame Impala and Leisure from New Zealand, who I’m obsessed with. There’s a band from the States called Sports who are really cool.”

It soon becomes obvious how determined he is about making his own music, away from Queen.

Adam Lambert

courtesy photo

“Deep down I need to have my creative outlet. I need to be able to create my own art. The Queen experience is unbelievable – it’s a performer’s dream. I love it. But it satisfies something slightly different than writing my own music. Queen feels very safe because it’s tried and true and people love it. But with Velvet, it’s unknown. It’s like, let me try this and let me put myself out there.”

It’s important to remember how different things were when Lambert first appeared at that audition for American Idol. At the time, openly gay performers were a rarity. He has since been an integral part of that wave that has changed things for the better for the LGBTIQ+ community.

“That’s one of the exciting things about the last 10 years. The industry has shifted so much in terms of that. Ten years ago, they were still concerned. Is there an audience for this? Is it going to sell? Are we going to recoup our investment? They were terrified; they didn’t know how it would work. Then I did this performance on the American Music Awards that was a bit racy and it freaked everybody out. It is so different today.”

To capture this momentum, Lambert launched the Feel Something Foundation in late 2019. Its aim is to help the queer community, with a focus on homelessness, suicide prevention and mental health.

“The suicide rates [among LGBTIQ+ kids] are so high because there’s this ‘shame animal’ that happens, it’s a dark evil force. It’s whether your parents are ashamed of you or maybe it’s a religious thing that you’ve been brought up with. The minute you start normalizing it and getting it out in the open and letting it breathe and not making it a secret, it’s not that big of a deal.”

While a certain pandemic has put a hold on any touring for the time being, Lambert is happily holding up Velvet as his long-awaited return to form.

“I totally went against what was expected and people are telling me this is the best thing I’ve ever done,” he smiles, adjusting his mammoth sunglasses again. “I feel a sense of vindication, like I proved it to myself and to anybody wondering if I’m capable of doing this. I feel really good about it.”