At this point, performing on a national stage is second nature to Adam Lambert, who shot to fame 17 years ago during the eighth season of “American Idol” in 2009. Just six months later, Lambert went on to release his hit album “For Your Entertainment,” which included the Billboard Top 10 hit “Whataya Want from Me.”
“I have a better sense of what my voice can do,” Lambert says, reflecting on his career, which has since led to numerous milestones like his second album, “Trespassing,” hitting No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart, touring with Queen and, in 2024, making his Broadway debut in “Cabaret.”
Recently, Lambert released his sixth studio album, “Adam,” which he describes as a “brutalist” record filled with deep but relatable emotions, creating a “maze of possibilities.” From rock anthems to power ballads, the album is a journey through various styles, with each song feeling like a distinct scene, all coming together to create a musical voyage.
While preparing to perform a second song backstage at the “Today” show, here’s what Lambert had to say about his career and his new album.
One thing I noticed about “Adam” is that it almost feels like a story. The first song, “Rat City,” is like the opening to a musical where you’re setting the scene.
Yeah, “Rat City” feels like it’s a song that sets the stage and the tone. I’m giving you a place. As a whole, the album is pretty universal stuff, like relationship ups and downs, highs and lows. But it’s all set in a strange, dystopian, sort of post-apocalyptic background. I wanted it to have a dark underbelly, which I thought was important to set up as the environment, because it reflects a lot of what we’re going through right now.
There’s a lot of anxiety and a lot of stress over the way the world is being run, and governments and AI and all that shit. So I wanted to acknowledge that and make sure it was very clear sonically and emotionally that this was the setting.
It seems like everyone is feeling that sense of dystopia. We had this decade in the 2010s where progress was being made and doors were being opened. But now it seems like everything is going backwards.
Yeah, it’s strange. I think we did so much amazing work, even from when I started in the industry back in 2009. Just from that point to 2019 was wild. But in this new decade, it definitely seems like we’ve slipped back. There are some clear and dangerous challenges that we’re all looking at. But I do feel somewhat hopeful that at some point we’re gonna get out of it, and hopefully on the other side there’s going to be a renaissance of sorts. I think the biggest thing is getting involved and making sure we’re getting active in making the changes that need to happen.
But I also think a lot of propaganda and media manipulation are to blame for a lot of the takeaways we have about what’s going on. From what I see, I feel like there’s actually a lot more people on the right side than the wrong side. I think there’s illusions being created to make us feel like there’s a big group of evil people…but I don’t know how many there actually are. It may be less than we realize.
It’s interesting hearing that from you because your career has put you in a unique spot to see different groups of people that many queer artists probably don’t. You’re huge with straight moms — my mom being one of them — and touring with Queen probably has you interacting with a lot more Gen X and baby boomers than other gay musicians. Do you think that’s what has you hopeful?
Yeah, I had a bit of a rude awakening right after “American Idol.” I had been in a bubble in L.A., amongst theater people, club kids and creatives, so I was very comfortable with myself and my sexuality. Then suddenly, I was put on a national stage, and I quickly saw that there is homophobia and hatred. I hadn’t experienced too much of it until that moment.
What did you do as an artist to combat that?
I think it’s all about making good art and making stuff that connects with the public. I think that’s a big first step. If it’s honest, about real life stuff and has real emotional relevance, then you can start connecting with people. And if you’re connecting with them and they’re connecting with each other over that music, that’s how you start to shift consciousness.
I also think that just existing as a queer artist and being out there in public is an act of defiance and activism itself. Like, yeah, I’m a gay man and proud of it, but that doesn’t mean my music is only for gay people. Music is universal. Emotions aren’t exclusive to one identity or group, they’re experienced by everybody.
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This brings up something me and my mom were talking about last night. You famously performed as Judas in “Jesus Christ Superstar” alongside Cynthia Erivo. My mom, who’s hardcore Catholic, thought you were amazing and saw it as a radical protest, whereas I hate religion and feel like if anyone ever asked me to be in a religious musical I’d probably say, “Fuck no.”
[Laughs.] That’s probably one of the reasons I was drawn to the role of Judas! I found a lot in common with him, oddly enough. He doesn’t go with the rest of the group. He’s the one who speaks up. He’s like the voice of reason. He’s anxious, worried and afraid. Those are all things I can identify with and have felt in my life, and that have gotten in my way and led me down the wrong path.
I’m not religious either, but honestly, it’s not a religious role. He’s the skeptic. Judas is literally fighting against his own sense of faith. He’s like, “I don’t think I believe this,” so I identified with him a lot.
I’m thinking about what a varied and wildly successful career you’ve had. Have you developed more courage or comfort to tackle things in your new album that you might not have had the confidence to in your earlier releases?
So there’s a ballad in the middle of the album, “Am I OK?,” which is super vulnerable. I had never been in a situation where I was writing about something while I was still in the midst of it. I was right in the middle of all those feelings when I wrote that song. Compared to the beginning of my career, I trust my instincts a lot more now. I have a better sense of what my voice can do, and this album goes in a lot of different directions, like dynamically, the textures and the approach. It can get soft and light, then heavy and hard. I was really able to play with all the colors and shades of my voice. Plus, from a songwriting standpoint, I’ve also been able to use what I’ve learned throughout the years.
I’ve also taken more of a leadership role than I ever have before. I’m releasing it independently on my own, so I’m funding it. I hired the team for all the jobs, so I feel a real sense of empowerment. That’s created a very open, free space for me because I don’t have to play politics with anyone and I’m not answering to anybody.
But also, this album has taught me when it’s best to step back and let someone else take the lead. I think that’s a big part of growing up, when you finally start recognizing where your strengths are and aren’t.
I feel like your voice is up there in the echelons of people with massively powerful voices. As you’ve grown more mature in your career, have you come to recognize just how insanely strong your voice is?
I always think I’m my own worst critic, and I can be incredibly hard on myself. I mean, I’m gay, that’s just part of our baggage. It’s integral to our experience! [Laughs.] Coming up in theater, I think I was always looking for validation from the audience, and that was something I got really addicted to. It’s like, “Oh, they’re clapping for me; they think I’m good enough.” Their reaction is always what told me if I was good or not. So there have definitely been moments throughout my career where I’ve had to learn to muster up that validation on my own. But without external validation, it’s harder and more abstract.
At the beginning, the imposter syndrome was a lot thicker for me. But over time, that’s changed. After being on tour with Queen and putting out great music, yeah, I think my reputation’s good. People often refer to me as “Oh, he can sing.” That’s a simple statement, but a powerful one. It’s great to know that people know who I am and know what I can do. I think that’s a great place to be.
What can fans expect next? Any big projects on the horizon?
I’ve actually been working on a musical on the side, so that’s something that’s in development. I’ve also been looking to get into some more acting roles in film and TV. Doing “Cabaret” on Broadway was a full-circle moment for me because it had been 17 years since I’d done a stage musical. It was nice to get back to that and be a theater person again. The acting bug really bit me again after that.
What’s the musical you’re working on?
It’s an original musical that I’m writing, so not about me and not a jukebox musical. It’s about a real-life person from New York in the ’70s who was a musician. I think that’s all I can reveal at this point!
