Adam Lambert talks about coming out, a possible tour, the AMAs and more

Lambert on his expectations going into American Idol
"I honestly didn't feel like I would get that far on the show. I thought, I'm not as conventional as American Idol usually likes. I just didn't expect the judges and the audience to be as supportive as they were. Week after week, when I got through, I said, 'Wow, this is, like, working out!' I didn't think I'd get to the end."

On coming out
''I'm very comfortable with my sexuality, and very, very open about it, and have always been out, since I was out of high school. Then, when those pictures came out right before [the] Idol [top 36] started, and I was faced with the media asking me about them, I was like, What am I going to do, deny that they're me? But what I didn't want was to put a label on myself, because I think there may have been people in our country who might not have looked past that."
"I think by not putting a label on myself, maybe it was helpful in letting people see past all that, past putting me in a box based on my sexuality. And then after the show ended, and after the competition was over, and I had made my mark, so to speak, I felt like then it was appropriate to talk about my personal life."

On the fallout from the American Music Awards
"The thing I was disappointed about is that it did start to take the focus away from the music. Hindsight is 20/20. Hindsight is our best teacher, in my opinion. I was in the moment, I was just expressing a song, I was just having a good time. Then I heard the backlash, and I realized, okay, all right, I pushed a little too hard this time around. Maybe it wasn't the right second first impression. I can stand by that. But I don't really feel like I have to make an apology, because I don't feel like there was any wrong done. Maybe it's not just the most broadly appealing performance style. Let's put it that way."

On an upcoming tour
"I think it's probably going to be springtime. I've started talking to management about putting something together. I think it's not going to be a standard arena tour. I think we're going to do something a little different. My big goal is I want to create a show. I want to do something that's very visually dynamic, and is a little more interactive feeling than your typical arena tour. So we're looking at venues that are probably going to be a little smaller and a little more intimate."

What he wears when he's hanging out at home
"A full sequined jumpsuit! [Laughs] Obviously, there are all these photo shoots and appearances where I get all done up. I love dressing up, putting on eye makeup and over-the-top clothing. But when no one's looking, when I'm just kicking it with friends or family or by myself, I'm, like, [in] sweatpants, t-shirt, no eye makeup — except maybe what was on the night before."

On his favorite entertainers of the year
"Yeah, probably Lady Gaga. She just inspires me with her creativity and her out-of-the-box thinking. She's not afraid to take risks and to be different. She dances. She's visually interesting; she's got costumes. And she's a great musician."

On his favorite TV show of the year
"I haven't been up on my media all that much. I watched True Blood, that's probably my favorite show. I just love the tone of it. I really like what they're saying. In many ways, they're talking about our current civil rights issues, but under the guise of they're vampires. It's really sexy. The actors are fantastic. The storylines are captivating. I just love that show."

Adam Lambert talks about his New Album “For Your Entertainment,” Working with Lady Gaga, and His Appeal to Women

Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood might want to watch their backs. Adam Lambert, the Season 8 “American Idol” runner-up, is poised to become one of the reality show’s biggest break-out stars. The glamtastic rocker released “Time for Miracles,” the closing credits song for this Friday’s disaster porn epic “2012.” And his first solo album, “For Your Entertainment,” drops Nov. 23, one day after he’s scheduled to perform at the American Music Awards. Lambert talked to Speakeasy about his music, his fans and why he’s so appealing to women.

The Wall Street Journal: On your Twitter feed, you said Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” video “melted my brain.”

Adam Lambert: Oh my god, I love it. It’s so out there. She’s so brave in her artistic freedom; she’s an inspiration.

WSJ: She actually contributed a song — “Fever” — to your new album.

AL: Yeah, I really wanted to work with her; she’s just one of my favorites right now. She had an old demo — I think she said she got signed with that demo to her first label deal — and then she never produced it and got it done. I think that it’s a really catchy melody; the lyrics are really fun and silly. Overall, I really enjoyed the process of recording with her. She was on the other side of that glass, just egging me on. She was constantly like, ‘Go crazier! Go higher! Go louder!”

WSJ: If and when you make a music video for “Fever,” would she cameo?

AL: I’d love it. Of course I’d ask her. We’ll see if she’d actually want to do it. She has a lot on her plate right now.

WSJ: You seem so at ease with fame. What do you attribute that to?

AL: I think it helps that that I’ve lived in L.A. for the last eight years and I’m a little older. I’m 27, seen a lot of s—, met a lot of people. I’ve certainly been on the sidelines of paparazzi barrages, like, I’ve been out at a club with various reality show acquaintances and they get that kind of attention. So I’ve been near it, which helps me not to be thrown off by it. My M.O. is just do what you do and don’t feel like you have to make apologies for it. I’m sure there will come a point when I have to apologize for something, but not yet.

WSJ: A lot of big stars go out of their way to hide the fact that they’re gay, but you’re happily out and women still throw thongs at you — what do you think you’re doing differently?

AL: I think it’s a testament to just owning yourself, owning your stuff, and just being comfortable in your skin. It took me some time to get to that point and the timing of “Idol” was appropriate because [that's] when I realized, you know what? I love myself and I am a good person.

WSJ: What do you think your appeal to women is?

AL: I’m not sure — to be honest, that’s one of the more surprising elements about this whole thing. I’m like, really? I honestly don’t know — maybe it’s because, whatever the sexuality thing, I’m a friendly person, and maybe there’s a safety thing involved, in that I’m not threatening.

WSJ: How much say did you have in creating your album cover?

AL: That was pretty much my call. When we got to the point of doing the photo shoot, I just wanted to go super androgynous glam, kind of campy and outlandish. I love imagery like that — that’s why I love the Lady Gaga video. It’s just funny, because the second a guy starts doing things out of the box, people get all freaked out. But women do it all the time, so it’s an interesting double standard.

WSJ: Bowie seems to have been an obvious inspiration.

AL: Yup, Bowie, Jagger, Boy George, Prince, and Michael Jackson — all those guys who would put make up on and look glamorous. Some of the Michael Jackson covers are amazing, like “Dangerous,” where it’s just his eyes and the entire thing is just super frosted and touched up and perfect. And pictures of Bowie back in the day, like the “Hunky Dory” cover where he’s just pretty and in soft focus. I love that look and think it’s cool that not a lot of guy are doing it, so that’s how I’m going to style myself. It’s part of my persona and has been consistently. That’s why I find it so funny that people were surprised by the cover. I mean, didn’t you see me onstage with KISS and the glitter boots and the rhinestones around my eyes [on "Idol"]?

WSJ: Still, do you ever feel trapped in any way by the glam image?

AL: No, I don’t feel trapped. I’m the one who put on those clothes; it’s my own making. I feel like when I want to, I can change it up like I did on the show. I try not to get trapped in any one musical or visual style at all. I mean, that’s part of what I was really trying to do on “Idol” — change it up week to week, like variety tray. A veggie platter, if you will.

WSJ: Were you upset when tracks of your album were leaked online earlier this month?

AL: To be honest, yeah. I would have rather it not been, but that’s how you sell a CD on the internet. It’s hard, because people jump to conclusions based on 30 seconds, and I don’t know how fair that is. It is what it is.

WSJ: Which song pushed you the furthest vocally?

AL: “Sure Fire Winners” is pretty vocally acrobatic. It’s crazy — but they all kind of go crazy. Artistically, I think the Linda Perry song was a departure for me because it was a little out of my obvious comfort zone — vocally, it sits in this falsetto space, and lyrically, if you really listen to it, it’s complicated. The lyrics contradict themselves, which was done on purpose — Linda and I really talked about it.

There are two different interpretations: one is that it’s about two members of a relationship, and what’s going on in their heads when they’re with each other. One partner is loving every moment and in bliss, while the other person is feeling empty and not satistfied. The other way to look at it is that it’s about one person, going back and forth about a relationship in their head. Like one day, we feel like we love this person to death, the next, what the hell. It’s emotionally complicated, which makes it special.

WSJ: Speaking of “Sure Fire Winners,” it sounds like an homage to “We are the Champions.” Is it?

AL: It wasn’t intentional, and I didn’t write that song. But yeah, that’s totally the vibe. I don’t know if the writers did that on purpose or not. But it is like a “we rock” kind of anthem.

WSJ: How closely do you follow the forums on your site and read what people tweet at you?

AL: I breeze through Twitter — I look at the mentions, the pictures, the videos. But I try not to get too wrapped up in message boards because it’s crazy. When the fans are supportive, that’s super positive. On the flip side, when message boards are filled with negativity, I find it sad that people have nothing better to do than hate on others online. It’s not a good vibe.

WSJ: Have you heard Kris Allen’s album?

AL: I haven’t heard his album, but love his single. I’ll be one of the first to get a copy, I’m sure.

WSJ: Are you going to return to “American Idol” to perform during the new season?

AL: If they want me to perform, I’d love to.

WSJ: Would you have liked to see Ellen DeGeneres as a judge?

AL: No, I wouldn’t change my experience at all. I love Paula and think she’s amazing. She was one of the first believers [in me], if you know what I mean. She really had my back. As for Simon, he really has nothing to do with me at this point. I mean, he’s a judge. He is also a producer, but he’s not the automatic “Idol” producer. He’s producing Leona Lewis, but that’s his project. Going back to the Internet thing, it amused me how people can be so misinformed. When I read certain things, I just want to tell them, you have no idea what you’re talking about. It’s an endless source of entertainment for me.

The singer's edge - Adam Lambert: Cool, Calm and Eclectic (part 3)

As an openly gay man during a time when that identity has become more acceptable (in the media, at least), Adam Lambert starts with a surprising advantage over apparently straight rockers: He's expected to be in touch with his feminine side.

"I'm the gay guy pushing the straight boundaries," he said. "But that's what I did on the show! Like when I did 'Ring of Fire,' I went full-on with eye makeup, a really weird outfit and leather. The very next week, I did 'Tracks of My Tears' in a suit, looking really hetero. I was playing with my image. It wasn't that I was trying to be straight."

His playful pan-sexuality and flamboyant swagger, once qualities common to hard rockers, are now owned by the likes of Pink and Lady Gaga. Lambert understands that. He also cites Justin Timberlake as a kindred spirit, if not musically, then in terms of showmanship and fluid style.

"I think the next generation coming up is a little bit more open-minded," he said. "More accepting, more colorful, more multi-genre, multiethnic, multi-sexuality, which is more utopian. Or I think so. I hope so."

What separates Lambert from much of pop's young elite is his voice, an instrument whose timbre, power and range recalls those titans of hard rock.

"He can sing almost any note on a guitar from the lowest to highest," said Cavallo, who thinks Lambert's sense of style and soul, combined with that range, puts him in the realm of the greats. "And if you're in the studio with him and say, 'Can we get a little more dirty?' he'll go 'Waaaaah!' And then the microphone is melted and the speakers have exploded."

Lambert studied opera as a teenager, then turned away from lessons for a while. "I started rejecting the proper way to sing and I started singing," he said. "I was listening to more and more rock music and wondering, wow, how does that person do that with their voice?"

He discovered there was no name for what rock singers do. Lambert's singing, like his taste and his personal style, put him beyond a boundary.

"I met with [a vocal coach] over the summer and talked to him about it, and the funny thing was, you know when I do those little, crazy, screamy notes? He's like, 'We don't really have a way to teach that. It kind of goes outside of our box.' Those notes that sound sort of like rock-scream, no one ever taught me to do. I sort of had to teach myself. You just do it. It's just a sound you make."

Hang out In the Studio with Adam Lambert

Recording vocals at L.A.'s Capitol Studios, Adam Lambert has just uttered words that could strike terror into the heart of anyone who loved his over-the-top style on American Idol. ''In the verses I'm being really theatrical,'' he tells producer Rob Cavallo (Green Day's American Idiot), who's supervising tonight's session. ''Should I scale it back?''

Scale it back?

Fear not, Lambert fans. ''I think the ballsy way's better,'' Cavallo replies, and soon enough, Lambert's letting it rip on ''Music Again,'' a stomping electro-metal ditty penned by former Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins. He works his trademark wail so hard that he's eventually forced to request a notorious rock-star pick-me-up: Throat Coat tea. Lambert calls the stuff ''voice lube.''

Before he needed to soothe those vocal cords, though, he needed a sense of direction. ''When I got off the Idol tour, I had a little identity crisis,'' Lambert says during a break, backstage-casual in acid-washed skinny jeans, a Dickens-orphan scarf, and black leather cowboy boots. ''I was like, 'What do I wanna do?'''

The singer's management had solicited 28 songs from some of music's A-list writers and producers, and he had to decide exactly what kind of record he wanted to make. Inspired by the performances that seemed most successful on TV and on tour, Lambert settled on the idea of updating a guitar-heavy classic-rock sound with dance grooves and futuristic synths; he cites Muse and the Killers as influences. ''It's as if a '70s time capsule blasted off into space and you're watching it through a holographic filter,'' he says with a laugh. ''That's my big vision.''

In addition to Cavallo, Lambert's written and recorded with big names like Greg Wells (Katy Perry), Linda Perry (Christina Aguilera), and RedOne (Lady Gaga). This week he and his team are choosing which cuts will make the album, still untitled and due out Nov. 24. Cramming a year's worth of work into a couple of months has been ''stressful,'' he says, but back in the studio with Cavallo, where the singer's just nailed an especially Bowie-esque vocal riff, he's confident of one thing: ''Glam is back, motherf--ers!

Adam Lambert working on six songs with RedOne on his debut album

RedOne is the producer behind three of Lady Gaga’s biggest hits — “Poker Face,” “LoveGame” and the Grammy-winning “Just Dance.”

“I want to go rock — David Bowie and Queen, but make it more easy for people to get,” RedOne said of his plans for Adam Lambert. “It has to be rock, but with an interesting dance angle to it, you know? You’ll like it.”

Link

Adam Lambert Goes Gaga for Debut Album

Adam Lambert working with hit-making producer RedOne, the man behind Lady Gaga's two biggest hits and the person frequently credited with the recent resurgence of glam rock.

EOnline