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Post by cassie on Apr 20, 2015 22:11:16 GMT -5
With the launch of Era 3, I anticipate there being lots of wonderful reviews. Let's archive them here. You can include the full text (in case the article disappears in the internet ether in the future) but please include the link to the original. Here's one to start us off: myhyperreality.com/2015/04/20/adam-lambert-returns-with-new-single-ghost-town-and-itll-blow-your-mind/Adam Lambert Returns with New Single “Ghost Town,” and It’ll Blow Your Mind! Steven S. Shaw / 30 mins ago After spending 2013 in a successful guest spot as Elliot “Starchild” on Glee‘s penultimate season, and 2014 touring the world as the frontman for the one of the world’s greatest rock bands, Queen, Adam Lambert is finally releasing new music. Lambert’s new single “Ghost Town,” produced by Max Martin and Shellback, the genius minds behind hits such as P!nk’s “Raise Your Glass,” Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space,” Britney Spears’ “I Wanna Go,” and Lamberts own “Whattaya Want From Me” and “If I Had You,” leads his third studio album, The Original High, expected to drop on June 16th. For diehard “Glamberts,” it’s the single they’ve been anxiously awaiting since the American Idol runner up dropped his sophomore effort Trespassing in 2012. For the rest of the world? “Ghost Town” should be the song to finally put Lambert on the map as an incredible musical force to be reckoned with. Yes, it’s that good. Don’t believe me? “Ghost Town” has already received much fanfare on Twitter: The song kicks off with a sparse guitar accompanied by Lambert’s dreamy vocals reminiscent of his cover of Tears for Fears’ “Mad World.” His lyrical prowess is not only on full display, it’s easy to see how much he’s grown as an artist since his debut as the fearless guyliner-wearing performer on American Idol. The first verse offers a crushing perspective of love in the time of Hollywood, and the result is chilling: “Died last night in my dreams / Walking the streets of some old ghost town / I tried to believe in God and James Dean / But Hollywood sold out / Saw all of the saints lock up the gates / I could not enter / Walked into the flames, called out your name, but there was no answer / And now I know my heart is a ghost town.” Plucking synths fill the spaces between the verse and chorus, while the whistles serve as a nostalgic reminder of the emptiness he’s singing about. The metaphor of a heart as a ghost town is particularly striking; the imagery of an empty town where people once lived is obvious, but it’s the way in which he leads up to the lyrical reveal in the chorus that truly resonates. It’s not just that his town, his heart, is empty, it’s that everyone in it is dead: God, James Dean, Elvis, his “disaffected friends,” even he himself is a ghost in his own heart. His heart is occupied by the undead, the vampires, the leeches, those who take without remorse. The electronic elements, reminiscent of Disclosure, MNEK, and Years & Years juxtapose the raw organic pluck of the guitar and the western whistles, but it’s Lambert’s vocals that truly elevate the song in a way no other singer, male or female, can do. When he belts the bridge, his voice is a lightning bolt that strikes the spine, sending electrical impulses through the body. It’s a natural high, the original high, an effect produced after digesting the song’s infectious notes over and over again. With each second, the song builds and builds and builds to this gorgeous crescendo, a symphony of sound that combines the organic, the electronic, and the raw power of Lambert’s voice. If “Ghost Town” is a gateway drug, I’m fully prepared for the addictive album to follow. Early on April 20th, Lambert revealed the tracklisting for The Original High on Instagram, which features Queen’s Brian May and rising star Tove Lo: After a string of commercial disappointments following 2010’s “Whattaya Want From Me” and “If I Had You,” it seems that Lambert is returning with a vengeance. He parted ways with RCA in 2013, and, at the beginning of 2015, announced that he had signed with Warner Bros. Records. Lambert has expressed in multiple interviews that he wanted to take his time with his third record, really exploring the creative process like he’d never done before, and it seems like his hard work and commitment to artistry has paid off in spades. He told Express, “‘I kind of had to stop and ask myself, ‘Why am I doing this? What do I want? Who am I? What am I about?’ and just re-examine at everything.” He’s already proved that he can out glam the legendary Freddie Mercury, and The Original High poses to finally set Lambert up as his own star, a rising tour de force who oozes the talent to not just fill in for music legends, but to stand beside them. “Ghost Town” is a song that marries contemporary pop with an original sound and thematic content that the masses can easily relate to. Adam Lambert is poised to take over the pop music scene with The Original High. Will you be listening? You should. It’s rare for a singer of his caliber to come along. Then again, a song like “Ghost Town” is “Song of the Summer” material, so you’re bound to hear it either way.
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Post by cassie on May 8, 2015 13:42:42 GMT -5
www.rollingstone.com/music/features/adam-lamberts-new-high-inside-the-powerhouse-belters-latest-reinvention-20150508?page=2Adam Lambert's New High: Inside the Powerhouse Belter's Latest Reinvention 'Idol' star and Queen singer learns the art of restraint while putting together reflective LP BY MAURA JOHNSTON May 8, 2015 Adam Lambert Adam Lambert made 'The Original High' after reflecting on his life in L.A. Frank Hoensch/Redferns After Adam Lambert left his contract with RCA Records, the former American Idol contestant and acting Queen frontman took a break to figure out the direction of his music, and the best way to put his powerhouse pipes to use. "I was taking the opportunity to, without anybody's input, experiment in-studio and work with some songwriters," recalls Lambert. "I started working with Accident and John West, and I recorded a song with them called 'The Original High.'" "High" is a tense meditation on lost moments that splits the difference between disco and EDM, with Lambert showing off a softer side of his falsetto on the chorus. The song is the title track for Lambert's third full-length, which is due out June 16. "The lyrics [to 'The Original High'] sum up, in the most beautiful, simple way, what I had been noticing about myself and my friends and the circle I'm in here in Los Angeles," says Lambert. "There's this underlying sense of longing that I've noticed that I feel and that a lot of my friends feel. It's hard to even put your finger on what it is that you're longing for. "We spend a lot of time chasing that first-time feeling," he continues. "You're never going to get your first experience back with something. It's really hard to recreate the first time, and that's what we're longing for — that novelty, that discovery. You're in a big city like this that's full of dynamic people, and you tend to kind of always look for the next thing. It makes it very hard to be content and to be satisfied with life." Lambert, who was thrust into the global pop spotlight in 2009 after his torrid Idol run and subsequent coming out, says that while the lyrics to "High" and the brooding lead single "Ghost Town" can resonate widely, they also caused him to reflect on his recent past. "I've been out here since 2001," he says. "And that's the thing: There's a very fine line between the temptations and the excesses and the pure joy of being an adult in a city full of very competitive, creative people. I've been on both sides of it, where it's blown up in my face and been painful, and I've also had wild adventures out here." Lambert signed to Warner Bros. last year and re-teamed with pop super-producers Max Martin and Shellback, who co-wrote Lambert's first post-Idol hit, "Whataya Want From Me." This wasn't a simple reunion, though; Martin and Shellback had definite ideas about where Lambert should take his artistry next. "When I brought ['The Original High'] to Max and Shellback, they got really excited by it — they loved the sound, the feel, they liked the way I was singing it," says Lambert. "'We're used to hearing you go over the top, but it's really interesting to hear you pull back and do something more intimate,' they said. I think that was what made them want to do an album with me. They said, 'This is a new color of your voice that we want to dig into a little bit more.'" On Idol, Lambert was known for his over-the-top takes on songs like "Ring of Fire," and his dance-diva turns on "Shady" (from his 2012 album Trespassing) and "Lay It Down" (from Avicii's True) showed how he could use his voice at full throttle. But here, he's pulling back slightly while still giving full emotional weight to his performances. "One of the things I've learned over the last six years, with Max and Shellback's help, is that sometimes in order to affect the listener emotionally, less is more," he says. "When I was younger, even on Idol, I was a bit more raw in the sense that I would get my original high — my spike of adrenaline — from performing. I would get so charged up and so excited in front of the audience that it would throw my energy through the roof. That's why I tend to be an over-the-top kind of performer. Figuring out how to channel it a little differently is interesting, and I've been trying to do that more lately. Internalizing it more, letting it settle and being more grounded." Swedish singer Tove Lo, the first of the album's two featured artists, worked with Lambert early in the sessions and recorded "Rumors" with him even before her "Habits (Stay High)" became a Top 10 hit. The second guest, Queen guitarist Brian May, dropped by the studio after Lambert toured with the pomp-rock legends last summer. "Brian and I get along really well and trust each other," says Lambert. "I said, 'Look, I have this song we've worked up, and it has a hip-hop beat on it but it's still a rock song, and I think you would kill it.' It's sort of a 'Dirty Diana' type of record, and he killed it. He came in and had a great riff that he added to it. And of course, there's no feature with Brian May without one of his killer solos." Introducing the Queen guitarist to the man behind pop blockbusters like "…Baby One More Time" led to an accidentally awkward encounter — a lighter moment amid the restless self-reflection. "He walked into the studio and didn't realize Max Martin was Max Martin — they hadn't met before," Lambert recalls. "And Max is so chill, devoid of any ridiculous ego and down to earth. At first Brian didn't know it was him, and I didn't realize I was supposed to introduce them. We're sitting there for about 10 minutes talking, and Brian says, 'Where's Max?' And I said, 'Uh. . . ' And Brian laughed, and Max laughed. You would think a big pop producer would act like a big pop producer, but that's one of the reasons Max is amazing."
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Post by cassie on Jun 10, 2015 23:30:22 GMT -5
www.coupdemainmagazine.com/interviews/interview-adam-lambert-his-new-album-original-high-working-tove-loIt's hard to believe it's been six years since ADAM LAMBERT appeared on season eight of 'American Idol'. And despite coming in second place, Adam has established an immensely successful career for himself - from his chart-topping hits to his recent 'Queen + Adam Lambert World Tour', it's safe to say that Adam is well and truly an international pop sensation under his own steam. 'The Original High' (out on June 12th in NZ) marks a new era for Adam's personal growth, leaving behind a lot of his 'diva' theatrics in favour of a more stripped-down, emotionally mature sound. Coup De Main spoke to Adam Lambert about his shift in style, collaborating with QUEEN's Brian May, and working with TOVE LO on the album... "I wanted to let my guard down more. I wanted to be more vulnerable. I wanted to show my heart a little bit more. I think that's also why some of the theatrics aren't present on the album. Those are a lot of fun, and those are really wild and entertaining, but I don't know if there's as much heart there. That's kind of what I wanted to explore: authenticity and honesty and real emotion that reflects what I've been through in my life." more
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Post by cassie on Jun 11, 2015 15:28:25 GMT -5
www.gigwise.com/features/101108/adam-lambert-interview-on-queen-and-the-original-highThursday 11th June 2015 by Andy Morris | Photos by David Roemer Tags: Queen and Adam Lambert ADAM LAMBERT TALKS QUEEN TOUR & THE ORIGINAL HIGH The flamboyant frontman reveals all on his new solo record Adam Lambert interview on Queen and The Original High Photo: David Roemer Having played to over 300,000 people in the past year when touring with Queen, Adam Lambert has faced significantly tougher crowds than a select group of journalists at a playback in West London. What's impressive is how charming he is: dealing with the familiar questions and dancing around the trickier topics with ease. To mark the release of The Original High this month, Lambert talked about the realities of joining Queen on their private jet, being an 'adult entertainer' and why The Original High is the best thing he's ever recorded. Adam Lambert on... His friendship with Brian May and Roger Taylor: "Brian's a breeze. He's so sweet and thoughtful. When we're trying to make a decision he doesn't react: he stops, thinks about it for a second. He's very thoughtful. Roger too. They are definitely like family now it feels very comfortable. It's cool. I definitely asked them a lot about stories and Queen folklore. We all get along really well. Roger and I have a lot in common when it comes to lifestyle. We both like nice things, nice clothes, parties, nice things to drink. We bonded over tattoos. But Brian will let his hair down - literally. We would do a gig, then we would get on the plane - I'm not used to flying private jet for my work. I was very spoilt by this. Then we would open a bottle of something eat dinner and talk about the show that night and laugh. We had our bonding moments. There were a lot of discussions about issues and half of what they were talking about was very based on UK politics so I would just listen and learn. They're both really smart. It was nice to be around really intelligent well travelled men. Without directly giving advice they showed me to think big picture and not worry about little small things as much. To really make sure I'm enjoying it as it's happening, as life is short." The wildest night he had on the Queen tour "We were in Amsterdam for my birthday. That got a little rowdy. We found a club there and we had a room of our own: it was very Dutch. Was anyyone throwing up? No, they're classy: these are rock stars. They like to have a good time but they know how it's done. No sloppiness." Whether Queen would visit gay clubs when on tour - and what Freddie would make of Adam "I think I will say if we had been somewhere where the only option was a gay club I think they would have been game. Obviously they knew Freddie and they worked with Freddie and it wasn't an issue for them at all [about] his lifestyle and his choice. They've told me a lot of stories about him and it sounds like he was a lot of fun. I don't think I know it it was anything shocking but it's more an idea of getting a sense of his personality and they said to me. "You guys would get along very well. Your senses of humour are very similar. You'd get a kick out of each other." On how fronting Queen helped inspire his confidence "I was in a little bit of a rut before all of that started. I was ready for the next thing but wasn't sure how it was going to come about. Being on stage with Queen in front of an audience that loves the band that much and loves the songs was really rewarding. It definitely gave me a nice kick of confidence. It was a good challenge. I wasn't sure how it was going to play out. I wasn't sure how it was going to be received. Every night felt like I had to prove myself. Most of the audience was on board from the get go but there were skeptics out there, sitting with their arms crossed. By the third or fourth song they'd be like fist pumping. It was a challenge every night which was good for my spirit." How he had to get used to the highs and lows of playing with Queen "As an artist and personally I'm never quite satisfied. I feel like I'm always hungry for the next experience. I wonder: I ask myself the question 'When is it enough? When will I be satisfied with everything?" It's something you've got to remind yourself to be thankful along the way. It's definitely easy not to be. The highs I do experience - being on stage at the sold out O2 is like 'GAH! OHMYGODITSFUCKINGAWESOME' And then to come down and go to bed by myself that night. I've just had this crazy high and now I have to bring it back down and fall asleep alone in bed. Extremes, for sure." His thoughts on The Original High "The album turned out really fucking good I think. I'm really proud of it. I feel like it's my best album that I've done. Vocally it shows the most range and different tones and colours. I think we've nailed these concepts. The songs are totally personal and things that I've been through in my real life but I feel like we've found ways for me to connect with the public - because they are things everyone goes through. Very universal but done in a specific way. I think the big running theme throughout the album is the pursuit of happiness. Some of my previous work and my life in my early twenties was like most people, trying to figure out who I was and a search for identity. Now that that's pretty much established I feel like the next chapter in my life is figuring out what works for me, what makes me happy and what I want out of life. I think that's what most people want: that's the natural progression. That thing that makes you feel high: whatever that is for you. Some people it's love, some people want adventure, they want adrenalin, some people want sex, some people want parties, some want power, wealth. I think you get to a point in your life when you start figuring what works for you and what doesn't. Each song on the album looks at a different part of that journey: and the album never really claims to have all the answers because I certainly do not. I'm still learning. I'm still figuring it out. It's about this journey and longing and desire. Conclusions? I still don't fucking know." How 'Ghost Town' shows a different side to Adam "I have my moods and my ruts that I get in. And I wanted to write about those ruts. The times where I felt a little big lost. And that's where "Ghost Town" the single where that comes from. In searching for the thing that makes you feel good and alive if you get to a point where the thing is either taken away for you or a thing breaks up with you or the thing leaves you really hungover. It's that feeling of being empty and kinda lost. In greater terms you have to stop and revaluate your beliefs and think what those things are.... I don't have the answers. One of the things that makes us all happy is love. Everybody wants love and everyone wants to be loved back. It's not that dry obviously it can be tricky relationships. Everyone wants their heart taken care of." On his personal life "I've been single for more than two years. Some parts of it are fun. I think I'm getting to a point now where I'm thinking 'Yeah I could fall in love again. That would be nice. I want that deeper heart connection but I'm travelling a lot. It's very difficult. I'm dating my album actually. We're in a monogamous situation. Would I try online dating? That's a little scary. I have no judgement against it. I have friends who have met online that are together for years. I have really bad game to be honest with you. I can't tell you how many times I've been in a social situation like a dinner or a party I've met somebody who I think is cute. I'm pretty outgoing when I'm speaking to a room full of people about my music or I'm on stage. But if I think someone's attractive I get a little bit shy. So I won't say anything but just be like 'Ahem' [nods]. Or I'll say something and just be very friendly. I don't make it obvious that I'm into them. So my game is wack. I'm working on it." Madonna also releasing a song called 'Ghost Town' "That was fun! I was in Mexico on a little four day vacation. I opened my laptop and saw her tracklisting had come out. I thought 'What? How on earth does she also have a song called Ghost Town. What are the chances? We'd already picked the song as the first single. It was already mixed and ready to go. I asked some questions: how does everyone feel about this? We talked about it. I hadn't heard the song yet but I didn't feel an outside event should be changing my plan. I just stuck to my plan and my instincts on this should be the first song from my album. Then when I heard the song - which is a great song - they are so different it really ellivated my concerns. I've not heard from Team Madonna but I'm a fan. The only thing I was concerned about was that people would think I was coming for her. It's not like that at all. I did not want a fan war. That was the last thing I wanted." Whether he still stood by his quote: "I'm an entertainer, not a babysitter" and whether he was prepared to become an "adult entertainer" "Adult entertainer? i'm not interested in that field. [Laughs] I don't run a daycare centre. I'm not a babysitter. I think that came out six years ago: I was responding to a specific thing that I was getting some heat for some choices I made on stage. Looking back I don't have any regrets at all but I also learned a lot about how I can relate to the public and what works and what doesn't work as well. I'm in a different space now. This album has darker themes on it and deals with real life stuff you experience in adulthood yes. But I also think it's not irresponsible in its storytelling. I don't think it would put any wrong ideas in any kids head." Going beyond camp on his new record "What I've done in the past and my image - even with doing a lot of the Queen stuff I was doing - a lot of very theatrical, flamboyant, stylised and over the top. And it's been fun. It's great to make people smile with that kind of music. But I felt like I had done a good amount of that camp angle. It was just time to try something new, strip that back and be real. Not be a character, not be a persona but be an actual person who goes to the same things you do and lives a real life. I think sonically the album sounds more like real life than what I've done in the past. This is the kind of music I listen to when I'm going out, going in the car or running on the treadmill." Whether he's now more comfortable within himself "I think so. The Pop Idol thing happened so fast that you're like 'Woah!' The whole idea of what a celebrity is when you're not used to that. There's a lot that comes with that that's strange. It's exciting and it means I have a platform where I can do what I want now on a grander scale. But it throws your personal life into a bit of a tailspin. It's been six years since that and I'm now finally at a place where I'm like OK I'm comfortable I know who I am. I'm comfortable with the opportunities I've been given, the fame thing. The ups and downs of the entertainment industry. When I first started six years ago I thought 'This is going to be easy." No. I think I'm just more comfortable. Like anyone growing up I don't feel the need now to please everybody as much as I used to. I think that's what your Thirties are about. I feel less is more." How America (and the music industry) has become more accepting of gay people "It is a different world, especially in America. Here it's always been a little more forward. In the States we're catching up. I think the powers that be, the people that were running the industry started realising it doesn't matter to the people buying music. They're more open than they thought they were! And that's really nice to see. I like that's it's moving towards a place which is 'post gay mentality' - where it doesn't have to be the thing that defines you, it can just be one of the facts and details about you as an artist. I don't really think it makes any sense to be called 'Gay artist Adam lambert' because what I'm singing about is for gay people, straight people, black people, white people: it's not specific." The best rumour he's ever heard about himself: "I read I was dead once. It was like 'Oh really? I think I'm alright.' It was on Twitter. I think my Mom said 'Are you dead?' My heart's a ghost town but I'm not dead." The Original High is out 15 June.
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Post by cassie on Jun 13, 2015 7:42:45 GMT -5
www.billboard.com/articles/news/6597828/adam-lambert-ghost-town-career-caitlyn-jenner-sam-smithAdam Lambert looks like he's ready to kick some ass. Sauntering through a penthouse at the Hollywood landmark Chateau Marmont, the 6-foot-1 singer towers over a cadre of assistants in a pair of throwback club-kid platform boots that lift him a good half-foot off the ground. To complete the look, Lambert is donning drop-crotch pants and a tight black tank, showing off his arms, which are newly muscled and heavily tattooed, with much of the ink acquired during the last two years. It's a gloomier, rawer look for the former glam-rock revivalist, one better-suited for a guy who calls his inability to be content his "dark side." Adam Lambert: The Billboard Shoot "It's hard for me to be happy with things," he says. "Even if things are going well, I tend to look at the negatives and be really critical of myself. I think I'm searching for some sort of answer." After six years in the spotlight, Lambert, 33, is still trying to find himself and his comfort zone in the music industry. His third studio album, The Original High (due June 16), features a new Euro-dance-inspired sound via pop maestros Max Martin and Shellback (Taylor Swift, Maroon 5), darker lyrics -- loneliness is a recurring theme -- and a new label home, Warner Bros., after a split with RCA due to creative differences in 2013. Exclusive: Adam Lambert Premieres Blood Diamonds' Remix of 'Ghost Town' "A lot of us go through life trying to re-create something that has already happened, and that causes us to run around in circles chasing our tail," Lambert says softly. "That's not what life is about." Raised in San Diego, where his mother worked as an interior designer and his father as a software professional, Lambert started out as an American Idol anomaly, a sexually ambiguous rocker with a flair for operatic shrieks and studded leather outfits among earnest pop singers. He came in second place, and revealed himself as gay in a Rolling Stone cover story shortly after. Neither hurt his career: His 2010 major-label debut, For Your Entertainment, landed two top 10 hits, "If I Had You" and "Whataya Want From Me." His edgier, glammier follow-up, 2012's Trespassing, made him the first openly gay male artist to top the Billboard 200. That same year, he entered a new phase in his career, as touring frontman for Queen. A strange gig for a young pop star, sure, but one that felt "fated," says Lambert -- he auditioned for Idol with "Bohemian Rhapsody." Exclusive: Adam Lambert Signs New Major Label Deal, Max Martin to Executive Produce Album Those were the good times. But then, says Lambert, he faced a growing disconnect with RCA, which, after releasing two albums by the singer, saw only one way to a third: an '80s covers record. There was just one problem: "I'm not an '80s guy," he says. "I don't know '80s music. I have a lot of respect for the label's opinions, so I sat with the idea and started researching the time period, but it just wasn't resonating with me. It felt forced." Announcing his split from the label in July 2013 -- just three months after he broke up with his boyfriend of three years, Finnish reality star Sauli Koskinen -- was "scary," recalls Lambert. "Like, what's going to happen? What's the expression -- in a boat without a paddle?" Just as frightening were visions of being another forgotten Idol grad. "I thought about that too," he confesses. "I felt unsettled, disenchanted." Adam Lambert Smolders in 'Ghost Town' Music Video: Watch He didn't have to feel that way for long. Warner Bros. contacted him the next day, and he eventually signed with the label. "His path has had its bumps and ups and downs," admits Warner CEO Cameron Strang. "But he's poised to have a great career. He's more comfortable with himself and his vision." Last year, Lambert reunited with Martin, the Swedish Grammy winner behind the hits from his first album, who agreed to produce his new project with frequent partner Shellback. "Adam came to us with a new direction that inspired us to get involved in a big way," says Martin. "I'm very excited." The result often sounds more like EDM than pop or rock. It's not a "dance record" per se, Lambert is careful to note, but it is inspired by the clubs, both in his adopted hometown of Los Angeles and in Stockholm, where much of High was recorded with Martin. "I wanted something more internal and grounded -- a little bit less with the theatrical, the camp, the presentation," says Lambert. First single "Ghost Town" sounds like a '90s house banger, but its chorus ("My heart is a ghost town") is anything but chipper. "The album is really honest," he says. "It's about where I'm at in my life right now." Where's that exactly? Lambert is open about being "boy crazy" but ultimately feeling lonely. "I don't know what I want in relationships, which is probably the reason I'm pouring my energy into my work. I'm dating my album right now," he cracks. "It's going well. We have an open relationship." Music and fame sometimes fill the void, temporarily. "I'll do a TV show or a photo shoot, and there's so much happening that's really fun, then I get home and I'm like, 'Oh, I'm by myself.' Part of me is independent and another is needy. I have both extremes, and they wrestle all the time." Ever the "open book" (his words), Lambert takes great pride in being the first out gay male to top the Billboard 200. It's a subject that has come up lately with another openly gay vocal sensation who followed in his footsteps: Sam Smith. "We've commiserated on how it is to be gay in the media," says Lambert. "But a lot has changed. People are not as hung up on it. I'd like to think that the media doesn't sensationalize it as much, but sometimes I'm proven wrong." Adam Lambert Gives 'Ghost Town' Its Live Debut on 'Ellen' One media spectacle he has had his eye on, like the rest of the world, is Caitlyn Jenner. "The power Caitlyn has is that she can show and teach everybody what transitioning is from start to finish, and challenge people's perceptions," says Lambert. "It's important to have that ripple effect into the mainstream so people can begin wrapping their heads around it and become more comfortable. Any movement in that direction is positive." Lambert has always been about forward movement, after all. He may never find his place -- but he's not sure if he wants to. "Life's about exploring new things," he says. "It's about getting into new relationships and adventures and traveling. That's what gives me the motive to keep pushing on. Like, what's next?" This story originally appeared in the June 20 issue of Billboard.
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Post by cassie on Jun 13, 2015 7:44:26 GMT -5
Celebrity Adam Lambert Finally Feels Like a Grown-Ass Man With his latest album, The Original High, in stores now, the American Idol star talks about his new sound, new life, and the end of an era. BY Dan Hyman www.details.com/blogs/daily-details/01-adam-lambert-original-high-1240.jpgIn 2009, when he finished as runner-up on the eighth season of then-pop-culture-juggernaut American Idol, it appeared as if we had Adam Lambert completely figured out. Here he was, a shrill-screaming, classic-rock-loving singing dynamo with a definite flair for the dramatic. We were wrong: no, he certainly hasn't lost his balls-to-the-wall performance chops, but in the years since Lambert has without questions expanded his musical palate. "Coming off on Idol I'd gotten slotted into the classic-rock position," Lambert says via phone as he prepares to release his third full-length album, The Original High (out today). "This album I think reflects the soundtrack to my actual life." For his latest LP he teamed up again with pop-production gurus Max Martin and Shellback, with whom he'd collaborated on arguably his biggest singles to date, "Whataya Want From Me" and "If I Had You." For Lambert, it's a welcome and much-needed change. "This is the kind of music I listen to when I'm going out, when I'm on the treadmill, when I'm driving in the car," the singer, who recently toured with Queen, tells Details in a lengthy conversation. "It feels the most representative of me." DETAILS: At points on your new album you seem a bit more vocally restrained than normal. Adam Lambert: Yeah, I sat down with Max Martin and Shellback when I had my first meeting about this project and I had this demo [for "Original High"] that I had worked on on my own with some guys and that was one of the things they really responded to. I played it for them and they really loved it. It was an early version of the song. They said, "We're getting a different color of your voice right now that we're not used to hearing and we really like it. That's a really cool sound from you and it's surprising and it pulls you in instead of pushing you away." And we just talked about it a bit and they said we should go down that route: "I think you'll pull in some new listeners and some new fans with that type of energy." And I was like "Well, that's what I want!" DETAILS: Given that you had a history with Marin and Shellback, how was it to work with them again? Adam Lambert: That was one of the cool things about that meeting I had where we started this whole thing. It had been three or four years since we'd worked together. Both him and Shellback gave me my two hit songs really so it felt like the right thing to come back to. DETAILS: What are your thoughts on the current state of pop music? It's certainly changed since you broke out in 2009. Adam Lambert: I definitely think when Max and Shellback are the two executive producers of the album it's naturally going to be geared toward the radio. That's what they're really, really good at. They understand that. That's one of their specialties. So I knew that was going to come with the deal and it was going to be really exciting. I think all the albums I've done I feel like there were singles that were set aside in hopes that they would connect on the radio. That's always kind of been the idea. And then, of course, there were songs on all the albums that were not meant to be radio tracks but just meant to be interesting, really experimental tracks. As for the current state of pop? I actually think it's in a really good place right now because it's super diverse. People are dictating what's on the radio more than ever. There's still program directors and they're still very influential as to what gets put on these playlists, but the radio guys are looking at Shazam and Spotify and iTunes, all of these streaming services and YouTube and Vevo—all of this stuff—in order to understand what people want. And I don't think they used to have as many tools as they have now. So it's all happening quicker and in real time as well. So with Shazam you can see how well a song is catching on while it's catching on. So a radio station can look at that and go, "Oh. OK. People like this. I'm going to put it on my station." DETAILS: It also has to be a nice way for artists to get instant feedback. Adam Lambert: It's great. What it does is it gives the power to the people that you make the music for. Because ultimately you're making music for the audience. www.details.com/blogs/daily-details/02-adam-lambert-original-high-620.jpgAdam Lambert by David Roemer DETAILS: "The Original High" is a lyrically intriguing song. I know it's largely about your experience in LA, but I was taken by its seeming message about how short attention spans we all have nowadays. Adam Lambert: That's one of the reasons why that song resonated so much with Max and Shellback and me. I was really excited about it because of how we were able to put that all into words. I was feeling that the circle of friends that I run around with, I was noticing that same feeling and I just didn't know how to sum it up. It kept coming up in conversation: this whole concept of 'Why do I feel this way? Why am I feeling unsatisfied even though I'm doing all the things I want to do?' I was still sort of longing for something and I can't put my finger on where it was or what it might be. And it's something that I've noticed in a lot of different people. Putting into the context of the instant-gratification element is a really good point. The way we satisfy our needs now is changing. It is so instant with technology and it's so disposable. It makes real connections harder to find and harder to hold onto. "The Original High" is about a lot of different things, but it's really all about desire and longing and craving. DETAILS: I couldn't help but laugh when you referred to yourself as a "grown-ass man" in "There I Said It." Adam Lambert: [laughs] It's funny you say that: for the first time in my life, over the last year or two, I feel like I'm a fucking grown-up! I definitely have a little dash of Peter Pan syndrome somewhere where I always have a childlike attitude towards things. But I bought my first house this year; I have a business; I've done a lot for myself and I've done a lot for my career. And all of a sudden I'm realizing: "You know what? I'm a grown-ass man! I will not be talked to a certain way. I will not be treated a certain way." Having self-respect is part of that too. And I've had my ups and downs with that my whole life. DETAILS: Has this newfound confidence translated to being more outspoken when creating music? Adam Lambert: I think the more and more clout you have the more you actually get listened to [laughs]. I think that's a big part of it. But I think it's also how you handle it that changes too. I've always been really outspoken and opinionated so I'm not as surprised or worked up over the little things now as I used to be. I've definitely gotten a little more grounded on a personal level and in my career and I think that affects things too as you go through the process of putting out an album. And the other thing been different this time is that right as I was about to put out my last album I changed management very quickly. They were just getting into the swing of things and getting to know me when we put the album out so there was a learning curve there. And upon releasing this new album I signed with a new label and all that so I really got a clean slate with this new album. I think I got to go into it with a lot more knowledge and experience under my belt. I'm not just saying this: I would have been a bit lost without them. They've done a whole lot for me. I'm definitely a creative person in every way shape and form so when it comes to certain business things and certain organizational things and time management and all that I'm a little bit eccentric. So they've been incredible in helping make all my ideas come to fruition. DETAILS: A thoroughline I've noticed in all of your music is your use of vivid imagery in your lyrics. "Evil In The Night" on this album ("My life flashed before my eyes/Razor blade lips and daggers up in your eyes") comes to mind. Adam Lambert: I'm super visual. So if I can get a visual by listening to something I'm usually really happy. In fact, the real challenge of this album was to dig deeper into the emotional side—to the heart and not the visual. Visual stuff I got [laughs]. So yeah, if you can paint the picture, that's the kind of song I usually gravitate towards. DETAILS: I found the song "Lucy," on which you collaborated with Queen guitarist Brian May, to be an interesting choice. It has almost a hip-hop rhythm to it. Adam Lambert: The way it worked out was that the demo of that song had already been recorded. I was looking at all the songs and there was some guitar in the demo and I thought, "It definitely needs something." Being on the road with Brian [for the Queen tour] in the back of my head the entire time I was thinking, "God, I would really love to ask him to be a part of my album. I think that would be really cool." So I played him the song and he was like, "Oh, I have some ideas!" I was like "OK! Let's schedule some time." [laughs]. But yeah, the song really has a bit of a hip-hop beat. I think people will be really excited to hear Brian play on top of a beat like that. DETAILS: And was I correct in hearing you reference David Bowie in the song with that "Diamonds Dogs" shout-out? Adam Lambert: Oh yeah. There's a little nod to Bowie, for sure. DETAILS: You mentioned touring with Brian and Queen: I imagine being part of a spectacle like that gave you even more confidence in your solo career. Not that you probably needed much. Adam Lambert: I think I actually did need some confidence. So that came along at a great time. I did need a little wind in my sails and it gave me a ton. It hit me like a hurricane, actually [laughs]. I have to say: they are the nicest guys in the world. They were so welcoming to me and collaborative and when we put together this concert my ideas were heard and it was a team effort. It was really beautiful and it kind of reminded me why I wanted to get into this all in the first place. Putting a show together, getting onstage, singing songs that people love, making people happy, getting to do a show that literally would run the entire gamut. It went from zero to 60; Queen's catalogue spans over different decades and different colors and different genres. It was like a dream gig for me. And it was a big honor. Also getting to be in front of audience members that might not otherwise know me or take a listen to what I do was really exciting. It was kind of like a new chance to reestablish myself. DETAILS: What are your thoughts on the recent announcement that next season will be American Idol's last. Adam Lambert: I think they had a great run and I'm very thankful for the show. It launched me and put me on the map. I don't think I would be where I'm at today without Idol. All good things come to an end. That's just how things are. The show came about at a time where the country really needed it. We just had 9/11 happen and simultaneously the music industry was not in a very good place either. And I think the show shook things up and brought people together. Families would literally gather around the television rooting for something, supporting the idea that dreams come true and that you can be from anywhere in the county and you can have a dream that does come true. It gave people hope and it brought people together. At the time, that's what we needed. www.details.com/blogs/daily-details/03-adam-lambert-original-high-620.jpg• • • Link: www.details.com/blogs/daily-details/2015/06/adam-lambert-original-high-interview.html
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Post by cassie on Jun 13, 2015 7:45:51 GMT -5
Q&A Adam Lambert on new album 'The Original High': 'I know who I am now' Adam Lambert in Los Angeles on May 14, 2015. (Christina House, For The Times) By MIKAEL WOOD June 12, 2015. Since finishing in second place on "American Idol" in 2009, Adam Lambert has established himself as one of pop's most reliable glamazons: a big, showy voice delivering big, dramatic songs about big, clearly defined emotions. That reputation only grew when he began touring three years ago as the frontman of Queen, filling in for perhaps the most reliable glamazon of them all, the late Freddie Mercury. www.trbimg.com/img-557a483f/turbine/la-ca-ms-adam-lambert-original-high-20150614-002/550/550x309On the most recent Queen tour: "One minute I'm getting to be super-campy and over the top and flamboyant and effeminate, and then the next minute I'm tough and macho," Adam Lambert says. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) Yet Lambert, 33, changes course on his third studio album, "The Original High," due Tuesday. Overseen by Swedish producers Max Martin and Shellback, it's moodier and more introspective than the Los Angeles-based singer's earlier solo work with softer-edged songs about growing up and "searching for trust in a city of rust." The disc also marks Lambert's new deal with Warner Bros. Records after a high-profile split from RCA, which failed to expand his ultra-devoted core audience with 2012's "Trespassing." "There's a difference between being an artist and being an entertainer," he said recently during a frank conversation in West Hollywood. "I have both sides to my personality. But with this music, I was like, I don't care if everyone's going to understand what I'm singing about. It's real to me." What inspired that shift? Something I began to pick up on within my circle of friends over the last few years, which was this feeling of disillusionment. Disillusionment with what? People don't even know half the time. That's the thing — it's like this general haze, a feeling of not being satisfied. You're looking for something, but you can't put your finger on what it is that's going to satisfy you. That was the first big aha thing I wanted to write about. I turned 33 this year, and I feel like, "OK, I know who I am now; identity isn't so much of a challenge anymore." The challenge is figuring out what I want from my life. And from your career. Right. Before I started thinking about all that, my second album came out, and I was really proud of it, and critically it was well received. But it didn't quite have the life that I hoped it would have commercially. How did that affect you? I was bummed out. I wanted to release more songs to radio and make videos and ultimately put together a great big tour. What happened? A lot of things. I'm not going to point fingers, but I think there were some creative decisions and some business decisions that didn't quite line up. But, you know, there's no science to this; it's kind of a guessing game. www.trbimg.com/img-557a4840/turbine/la-ca-ms-adam-lambert-original-high-20150614-001/750/750x422My feeling is that "Trespassing" didn't provide a strong sense of who you are. It was more about style and about some of the ideas you stand for. But what attracted people to you on "Idol" was your personality. "The Original High" gets back to that. It's more grounded. And it's not trying quite as hard. I'm not saying my previous work was too try-hard, but it was purposely heightened and stylized and theatrical. That was intentional; that was what I wanted to do. But then I felt like I'd done that. I wanted to turn a corner and go into a different place. And yet you made the album with Max Martin, who's known for his work with Taylor Swift and Britney Spears. Nobody goes to him for a stripped-down singer-songwriter record. ven though his ideas are big, and they're tried and true in certain ways, there's also so many subtle, sophisticated layers — little things he's doing that you have to listen a bunch of times to hear it. What did it mean that he wanted to work with you? I was thrilled. Coming off the last project and leaving [RCA], I had this feeling of, "Iis this it for me? Am I on my way out?" But Max and Shellback were saying, "We believe in you." And in your eagerness to show a different side. They knew I was ready to shake things up, and they weren't afraid of anything. It's easy to get wrapped up in what everybody wants you to do. But at some point you have to go, "OK, but what do I want?" Can that be hard to remember? Not now. But there have been moments of confusion. I can understand why. Your fans are very vocal about what kind of artistic decisions you should be making. They all have an opinion. And that's great — it means they're invested. At the same time, it's important for me to say, "I'm going to do what I want to do, and I hope you like it." You're not ordering your dinner for the night. There's no menu. To me that was the problem with the most recent Queen tour. It felt like you were fulfilling someone else's vision. In what way was I not being me, though? Their catalog goes so many different places. One minute I'm getting to be super-campy and over the top and flamboyant and effeminate, and then the next minute I'm tough and macho. Then there's a sensitive acoustic moment, then something huge. And I got to wear all the weird stuff I'd ever want to wear. That was all me, by the way. They let me run with that. It might be interesting for you to find out how much input I had. You didn't feel as though you'd been drafted to fill a prescribed role? No. And I wasn't directed either. It was a collaboration. How much room did you have to interpret the songs? That was tricky. But I wasn't getting a lot of pressure from them. I wanted to make sure I had my moments of putting my own stamp on things. But straying too far from the original would feel self-indulgent and sort of sacrilegious. See, I don't share that view. But you're probably not a die-hard Queen fan. I knew that in this audience there would be a lot of people that were there because they love Queen. And winning them over in the first place, not being Freddie, was going to be hard as it was. If I went too far, it would've killed them. In terms of a creative experience, though, that restriction is kind of a bummer. I understand what you mean. But at the same time, that's why it was successful. If I hadn't found that balance, I don't think it would've gone over the way it did with everybody. I mean, I think you're in the minority of people who didn't like it. Link: www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-ca-ms-adam-lambert-original-high-20150614-story.html
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Post by cassie on Jun 13, 2015 8:01:03 GMT -5
www.queerty.com/adam-lambert-on-making-music-for-his-gay-bros-setting-boundaries-with-fans-and-making-out-to-his-own-songs-20150612It’s been six years since Adam Lambert riveted television audiences as a finalist on the eighth season of American Idol, where his electrifying vocal range and dynamic stage presence made him an instant fan favorite. Although his competitor Kris Allen was named the champ that year, Lambert has gone on to an enviable career with two acclaimed albums, a stint on Glee and a much-discussed tour as frontman for the classic rock band Queen. Now the 33-year-old entertainer is back with The Original High, a dazzling collection of new material and his first album for Warner Bros. Records (out June 16), which includes the hypnotic first single “Ghost Town.” Lambert chatted with Queerty about making music his gay fans can enjoy, why he turned down the chance to play Hedwig on Broadway and whether he’s ever had sex while listening to one of his own songs. Queerty: There’s a ’90s house vibe to a lot of the songs on The Original High. Was this the kind of music you listened to as teenager? Adam Lambert: Definitely. I’ve always loved dance music, like C+C Music Factory and Soul II Soul. I don’t remember how I heard them, whether it was on MTV, but I was hearing them somehow. The dance throw back is definitely ‘90s house, for sure. I started noticing there was a revival for that music and got excited. I thought this is the kind of medium that I should definitely get into. It’s authentic to my experience. Speaking of being authentic, how did your being a gay man inform the music on the new album? One of the things that I found exciting — and it wasn’t a conscious thing — but once we’d finished some of the tracks that have more of a house vibe I realized how dance-oriented they sounded. Even more than my last two albums, I wanted this one to reflect my real life, not only lyrically and emotionally, but through the sound of the music I listen to with friends when we go out or when I’m on the treadmill or in my car. It sounds like music that I actually listen to as opposed to some persona of myself. I got excited because I thought my gay brothers and sisters would identify with this music more than what I’ve done in the past. It’s a sound that feels more like our scene. Which song on the new album would you say is most likely to become an enduring gay anthem? I definitely think “There I Said It” can be interpreted that way. It definitely has that kind of message that can be interpreted different statement that’s saying, “Hey I’m not making apologies anymore. I’m going to be who I’m going to be. I have opinions. I’m a fucking grownup. Don’t tell me who to be, what to say or how to live.” photo-credit-david-roemer-extralarge_1432072930274Which would be the best make-out song? There’s a bonus track called “After Hours” which would be a great make-out song. You’re in the history books as the first openly gay artist to have a number one album. What expectations do you feel with the impending release of The Original High? I have very high expectations for the album but, oddly, I’m more relaxed and calm than I’ve ever been while doing this. With the last two albums, I was very proud of them, but I was nervous and I was unsure. With this album, I don’t have that feeling. I feel really confident about the direction and what it is. I know that when it’s heard it will connect. That’s what I want more than anything. Even in the six years since you became famous, the pop culture landscape has changed significantly for LGBT performers. What advice would you offer young artists who are debating whether to be open about their sexual orientation at the start of their careers? I think there’s a difference between the music industry and the film and TV world for actors. It’s a different thing you’re trying to convey. For musicians who are debating whether to come out, I think it’s a lot easier to live your life as you are. I can only imagine what it’s like to be closeted and having to hide that with the way the celebrity machine works. People are prying into your business looking for anything that can be found out about you. I can’t imagine having to hide anything like that. For their own personal well-bring, I think it’s best to keep it real. More than that I think the more people are honest about, the less it will be a big deal. When I first came on to the scene six years ago there wasn’t a lot of mainstream presence in the music industry for gay or lesbian artists. Because of that the media was sensationalizing it and hyper focused on sexuality and unfortunately what that ends up doing is it makes the artist appear to be hyper-focused on sexuality. One of the things that I’ve found frustrating over the last few years is I’m all sorts of things. My sexuality is definitely a big part of my life but it’s not the defining thing. I’m more than that and it was hard being reduced to that in the public eye. The way it works between an artist and the media, a lot of things aren’t under your control. Quotes get taken out of context and headlines become this, that or the other thing. Ultimately, the more of us that are out in the mainstream, the less sensational it will agree. photo-credit-david-roemer-extralarge_1432072714752-1You’re considered one of the truly nice guys in show business. How do you stay so grounded? The big thing is keeping the right people around you. I’ve met a lot of people and my old friends from way back when are still my friends. Perspective is everything. I’m not afraid to make new friends. I like people and I’m open. You’re very charismatic on camera and on stage. You’ve appeared in Wicked and on Glee. Do you have plans to do more acting or perhaps perform on Broadway? I don’t know. I definitely want to try it, but there’s nothing on the radar right now. I can’t believe you haven’t been approached to play Hedwig. You could sing the hell out of those songs. They offered. I’m flattered they asked me, but it’s not what I want to do right now. It’s an amazing role. Maybe one day. The thing about it is I don’t want to get in drag for eight shows a week. [Laughs] We’re in the middle of Pride season. Are you planning to attend this year? I was actually bummed because I’d love to have performed at L.A. Pride, but I’ll be in London that week. Logistically, with releasing the album so many commitments came up to promote it that it didn’t work out. I think I’ll be involved with Pride up in Canada at some point and maybe New York, as well. It’s definitely something I want to be a part of. Ultimately, connecting with the community means a lot to me. It’s been important to me. Your mother Leila is the epitome of the cool mom and she’s been honored by PFLAG and is a role model to a lot of parents. How has your relationship with her evolved since you’ve become famous? She’s great. My mom and I have always had a great relationship. We’re besties. I tell her everything. I’ve always been super open with her. She gets a kick out of it. She’s open with me. It hasn’t evolved. It’s stayed just as it always was and that’s what I want from my mom. I don’t want her to change because my life has changed. I don’t want to be different with her, either. I think the continuity of our relationship gives me comfort. album-title-the-original-high-extralarge_1429554606502Do your boyfriends have to meet with her approval? [Laughs] With the two main relationships I’ve had, I’ve definitely been curious as to how they’d get along with my mother. Who wants to be dating someone who doesn’t get along with your family. What’s great is they always do. That’s a sign that I’m on the right path. How close are you to Kris Allen these days? We’re not close. [Laughs] I have the utmost respect for him. We were on a TV show together and a competition together. We got along really well. There was a lot of mutual respect. Our lives have taken us in different directions. Let’s play fuck, marry, kill: Simon, Randy and Ryan. Oh, lord! No! No! No! I can’t play that game with them. [Laughs] I don’t know. I guess you’d want to marry the rich one, but they’re all rich. This question will come back and bite me in the ass. Next question. [Laughs] Have you ever had sex to your own music? [Laughs] No, I have not. I’ve made out to my own music before, but then it gets weird so I turn it off. You have some of the most passionate and devoted fans of any entertainer. I wonder if it ever gets to feel uncomfortable. Boundaries are an interesting thing. Everyone has their own set of boundaries. Actually when I started getting into this, figuring out my boundaries was an interesting process because I didn’t really know what I was and wasn’t comfortable with. I’ve tried to sort on a personal life and private to an extent. I’ve nothing to hide and I’m not ashamed of anything but you want to keep certain things yours. There is a separation between your public persona and your personal life. I don’t just mean dating. I mean with friendships. If fans get too involved with elements of my personal life, I get a bit freaked out. Would you say you’re happy right now? I think so. I don’t know what the ingredients are. It’s relative. I think I’m fine right now. As an artist I’m someone who’s never fully satisfied and I’m always searching. I am a pretty open book, I have to say. A lot of what the album is about is the pursuit of happiness and what makes you content in life and gives you pleasure and how that’s a journey no matter who you are, how old you are or where you’re at in life. It’s a trial-and-error journey. That’s what The Original High is about.
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Post by cassie on Jun 14, 2015 10:42:13 GMT -5
uk.celebrity.yahoo.com/gossip/omg/adam-lambert---i-m-ready-to-fall-in-love-again----exclusive-145659823.htmlAdam Lambert: 'I'm Ready To Fall In Love Again' - EXCLUSIVE Unfortunately, he claims he's pretty rubbish at flirting By Stephanie Soteriou | omg – 39 minutes ago It seems like just yesterday that Adam Lambert burst onto the scene as a guyliner-loving, flamboyant contestant on American Idol, but actually, it's been six bloomin' years and after two hit albums plus a very successful tour filling Freddie Mercury's shoes with actual Queen, the 33 year old is back with his third studio album, The Original High, and he's looking for love. WE VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE. Speaking at an intimate playback of his pretty ruddy awesome new record, Adam opened his heart to us about what life on the road is like, and although he loves every single minute of it he couldn't help but admit that it does get a bit lonely. Referencing his 'original high' as being performing to his fans, Adam told us: "I’m never quite satisfied, I’m always searching for the next experience. "The highs that I do experience are so awesome and then to come down and go to bed alone that night... I mean, I just had this crazy high and now I have to bring it back down and fall asleep alone. "One of the things that makes me happy is love, everybody loves love and everybody wants to love back. Relationships are a little tricky but everybody wants to have their heart taken care of. "I have been single for two years now, some parts of it are fun but I think I'm getting to a point now where I'm like, 'I could fall in love again', that would be nice. "I want that deeper heart connection but I'm travelling a lot and it's very difficult... So I'm dating my album, we are in a monogamous situation." He may have been joking but tbh, his new album is so good that we would probs date it too if we could... When asked if he'd ever consider online dating, the star admitted that, actually, he finds that whole world a little bit intimidating, dishing: "Online dating is a little scary for me, I have no judgement against it - friends of mine have met online and been together for years - but I just have really bad game. "I can't tell you how many times I have been at a dinner or something and I have met someone who I think is cute, and I'm pretty outgoing but if someone is attractive I get a little bit shy and don't make it obvious that I'm into them. "My game is wack, it's so wack.... But I'm working on it." Despite not being the best at flirting, Adam went on to tell us that he is trying to change the type of man that he goes after, revealing that he is nowhere near as shallow as he used to be. He shared: "I kind of have a type but as I'm getting older I'm realising you can get trapped if you have a type. I want to be open to dating different types of people so I can have different experiences. "It's easy to be a little bit shallow but I'm trying to fight the shallowness and trying to look for things that mean a little bit more so that you can build a relationship on, like charm, intelligence, talent. "I have probably been in love like three or four times, I feel like I'm a bit of a late bloomer so a lot of this stuff happened later than a lot of other people, which is why I'm still trying to work out what I want in a relationship. "I used to be more of a romantic but now I'm a little bit more of a realist because I have a lot more going on, but there's a part of me who is still very romantic... I just know now that it's harder and harder to find because there's a lot of other stuff that can get in the way." Well, at least being single has ensured that Adam's not been distracted from creating his personal fave album, with the star telling us: "The album turned out pretty f*cking good I think, I'm really proud of and I feel like it's the best album I've done vocally. "It shows the most range for me and different tones and colours. Songs are totally personal but we found ways to connect them to the public." And do you know what? We completely agree.
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Post by cassie on Jun 20, 2015 20:44:32 GMT -5
www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-33196989Adam Lambert: 'I'm not a diva!'
By Mark Savage Entertainment reporter From the section Entertainment & Arts Adam Lambert: "I feel more grounded than I did a few years ago" Adam Lambert is one of those pop stars whose name is more recognisable than his music. A former contestant on American Idol, he's probably best known in the UK for touring with Queen, where he substitutes for the late, great Freddie Mercury. His formidable vocals and flamboyant stage presence certainly have the Freddie factor but that same taste for excess has often derailed his solo work. That all changes on his third album, The Original High. Perhaps as a result of his tenure with Queen, Lambert has tempered the histrionics, allowing the contours of his voice to mould the music's emotional punch. Recorded with Swedish pop overlords Max Martin (Britney's ...Baby One More Time) and Shellback (Taylor Swift's Shake It Off), The Original High follows a turbulent period, where Lambert split with his record label after they suggested he record an album of cover versions. "I feel like everything is set up properly this time, " the 33-year-old tells the BBC. "I'm really excited." Sitting down to discuss the record in London, the singer talks about his time with Queen, rumours of diva-dom and his debilitating honey habit. null The album's been getting great reviews. How is everything going? I feel really confident. First of all, the songs are really strong. But secondly, I have an amazing team. In the past there were moments where I wasn't too sure I was being looked after correctly and it made me nervous. Really? What are the warning signs when something goes wrong? When people don't know about your album. When people aren't interested. This time it's clear my fans are on board and we've got people's attention. null Lambert has scored number one records in America, but is yet to have a significant impact on the UK charts What's the story with your old label? I was a little disappointed when Trespassing [Adam's second album] had a shorter lifespan than I felt like it deserved. But I came back to New York and we had a meeting and it was like, 'ok, what are we doing next?' I had some ideas, producers I wanted to work with and stuff like that. Then they were like, "Well, we have an idea, too... We want you to do a cover of 80s new wave hits." And you know, I'm very open. I like taking chances - so I went home and thought about it. I listened to a lot of music from that period but it just didn't resonate with me. And then it's funny that I then ended up on tour with Queen - which is essentially doing covers but it's not an album. There's a new clarity and intimacy to the vocals on your new record. How did that come about? This project wasn't rushed. We started working in Stockholm, Sweden and that was all I had on my plate for two months. That focus really allowed me to dive into the ideas. It gave me a lot of energy to keep just for the studio. Another Lonely Night particularly stands out as a big, emotional moment. Max really, really produced an amazing vocal. I know I can sing, but getting it right in the studio is not always easy - especially with a vocal that's more nuanced. I'm really comfortable when it comes to the crazy, high-powered, intense vocals - it's like I flip a switch and it's there. But when you take it into something vulnerable, it's not as cut-and-dried for me and Max really helped me find the space for it to live in. Do you record your vocals in one go, or piece them together? I do complete takes, mostly. Then after a few full passes, I'll do the verse 10 times. But never line by line. null Lambert came second in the eighth series of American Idol in 2009, losing out to Kris Allen One of the songs is a duet with Tove Lo called Rumours. What's the strangest rumour you've heard about yourself? I heard once that I'd died! And early on, when I first started, there was a rumour that I was like a giant, massive diva. And I was like, 'I think I'm pretty nice to everyone I meet'. Where did they get that? A diva is just somebody that's demanding. A little crazy. Not in touch with reality. I don't like to be treated special. I've seen celebrities where you're told "Don't look them in the eye" and I'm like, "Who would say that? It's ridiculous?" For me, the thing about being a pop artist is, I want people to identify with me. If I'm placed in a bubble, living an unrealistic existence, how can I be close to my audience? I think people want their pop stars to be a little bit deranged. Maybe. Maybe. But there's a big distinction between the onstage persona and real life. I'm always myself on stage - but there's a certain something that comes out when the lights are on. So what's the biggest demand you've made? I'm a little snobby with the tequila! I like a top shelf and not a bottom shelf. But I don't have anything crazy on my rider. I ask for a scented candle, and I started asking for local honey when I found out it helps with allergies. Plus, it's tasty. And low calorie, right? Right! I didn't really think about that and I found myself backstage on the Queen tour eating a lot of honey between songs. After a couple of weeks I was like, "I'm feeling kind of puffy and fat". And my assistant said, "You realise you're eating spoonfuls of honey throughout the entire show?" So now it's one scoop before the show. That's all I get. null Lambert first played with Queen on American Idol and the 2011 MTV Europe Awards, before joining them for a full tour Do you make sure you have people around you who can say "no" to you? Yes, and they do. We get into debates all the time. So when was the last time you were over-ruled? It happens all the time. That's not good enough. Let's have a specific example. Well, lately, the trend with hats has been really problematic. A couple of the members of my team were like, "If you wear a hat on the red carpet, it'll put your face in the shadow and people aren't going to recognise you." And they were right. I was like, "OK, I'll wear the hats on my day off." Does the release of this album mean an end to your time with Queen? It's not the end. It's just a pause button. We have some other things we're going to be doing. How much of a challenge was it to step into Freddie Mercury's boots? It took a second for it all to click in. The first handful of times we did it, I pulled it off, but I was so intimidated by the legacy. I was thinking a little too hard, which I have a tendency of doing. I noticed the tour started in North America and came to the UK last. Was that so you were battle-ready for the home crowd? I think it was just a scheduling thing. The States was the first step because we did a concert in Vegas and people responded so quickly to it. There were offers right away. It was crazy. But when we played Wembley Arena, the audience was on fire. Finally, I notice that your home town of San Diego has declared 8 May as Adam Lambert Day. How do you celebrate? I don't think it's an annual holiday! When you go to a city and they do a proclamation, it's just for that day, isn't it? I got a certificate and a plaque and I'm very flattered - but I don't think it's taken seriously. I certainly don't celebrate Adam Lambert day! The Original High is out now on Warner Bros. records.
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