K.AT
Adam Lambert with new album "Velvet"
Adam Lambert is in a good mood these days.The singer does not let the mood spoil from the coronavirus crisis. "It's pretty tough, isn't it?" Lambert says in a dpa conversation. He calls from Los Angeles . "I'm just glad that they do the necessary things to protect people. Security comes first." Irrespective of this, the 38-year-old released his new album "Velvet".
Lambert wants to go on tour with the extremely danceable material , followed by a concert tour with the rock veterans from Queen . It remains to be seen how much the coronavirus will affect Lambert's plans for the coming months. In any case, he says about his various activities: "I am pleased that I can do both. The energy of Queen's music is huge and very theatrical, it is really loud and big." On "Velvet", however, he takes it "a little more relaxed" and "a little gentler".
The result is a versatile pop album on which the American once again impresses with his vocal range. The album should sound timeless but not outdated, says Lambert , who had released almost half of the songs on the EP "Velvet: Side A" months ago. He mentions Motown-Soul, Funk, Classic Rock and artists such as David Bowie , Prince, Sly Stone or chic legend Nile Rodgers ("Le Freak"), who also contributed to "Velvet" as inspiration . "It's like a collection of all my influences," says Lambert and laughs. "Cooked together in a crazy soup."
One of the outstanding songs is "Overglow", which with its catchy chorus turns into a catchy tune. "Superpower" is rousing funk rock with a strong guitar finale. Strong rock or music for the dance floor? Lambert sees no contradiction. "I love both. I love rock music that has a groove that you can move to," he says. "And that's exactly how I find dance music best when it has guitars and real bass."
With "Roses" you can immediately hear Nile Rodgers' unmistakably groovy guitar sound. With the musician in the 70s and 80s as a producer for selling albums of stars like Bowie , Diana Ross , INXS or Duran Duran was responsible, has Lambert worked several times in recent years. "He is a legend!"
Lambert , who he says is currently single, sings on "Velvet" about love, sex and self-confidence. "Is it love or are we just f *** ing", he asks in "Roses" and also complains about superficial relationships in "Loverboy". "Romanticism is such a thing these days," he says. "For many people it doesn't even exist. Others try to be romantic, but only work through a list." Is he a romantic himself? "I am a romantic person," affirmed Lambert . "But I am also a realist. I am a romantic who is 38 years old and has experienced a lot. Part of me is romantic, but I am also a bit dull."
Since his breakthrough on the American casting show "American Idol", his homosexuality has been an issue in the media. Lambert doesn't mind - on the contrary. "When I sing about things like relationships, sex, love and all that stuff, it's interesting to know I'm a gay man," he says. "And as confident as I am about my sexuality in the spotlight, it may also help someone who feels they have to be strong."
At the beginning of his career, the aspiring pop star was advised to "downplay" his homosexuality , as he says - "because it was uncomfortable for people or they didn't think it was marketable". Before his hit "Whataya Want From Me" written by Pink came out in 2009, the text was even changed - from "he messed me up" to "it messed me up".
Today Lambert would not get involved in something like that. "Times have changed," he says. "I think in the past you sometimes had to look good to play bad so that you had a chance to get your music out. You had to endure that as a homosexual artist. But I'm glad that that's no longer an issue today."
Lambert is at peace with himself. "There are still things I want to improve on," he says. "But I was never as clear about myself as I am today." Also thanks to the appearances with Queen . "I really think that made me a stronger artist. It gives me confidence, on the one hand on stage and on the other because Queen has started a new chapter in my career. And I think that gives me credibility."
Lambert never tried to copy the legendary Queen singer Freddie Mercury . Guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor would not have wanted that either. "They immediately made it clear that I should do my own thing," he says. With his vocal volume and extravagant appearance, Lambert also convinced skeptics. "Velvet" has definitely become Lambert 's best album to date, which sounds modern and relevant despite classic elements. "I really love what I do," says Lambert . You can hear that.
Translated from German:
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