Adam Lambert: ‘Good music is good music, and people want to be entertained’

Adam Lambert recently talked to The Irish Times about his new album.

With High Drama coming off the back of several successful solo albums and a period of fronting one of the biggest rock bands of all time, it’s understandable that Lambert is feeling confident. The firepower and versatility of his voice remains undeniable.

“Well, I think I’m a little less precious about trying to prove something,” he agrees. “Good music is good music, and people want to be entertained, and that to me is pretty much the most important part of this. And I guess there is a part of me that feels that if by listening to it, people are reminded of what I’m known for and what I’m capable of, then that’s lovely.”

It’s always important to challenge yourself, he says, which is why his next project will be a stage musical, with original music written by him.

“It’ll be coming out as a concept album of my own first, before it becomes a stage thing. So that was the other reason we thought, ‘Y’know what, let me put more music out there to entertain people while I’m working on this masterpiece,’ if I do say so myself,” he giggles. “I’m not giving the whole thing away yet, because I want it to be more fully formed – but I can tell you that it is based on a true story of somebody’s life, and it takes place in 1970s New York. And it’ll be fabulous: sex, drugs and rock‘n’roll.”

Fairyland is a story that he felt particularly passionate about, considering his vociferous activism among the LGBTQA+ community. “It’s based on an autobiography of a young girl who is raised by her single gay father in San Francisco in the 1970s, so it just checked so many boxes for me – the idea of what family could look like in the queer world, especially at a time where it was really taboo,” he nods. “And I have a lot of family on my mom’s side who actually lived in the Castro in San Francisco in the ‘70s, so it feels sort of like this nostalgic thing for my family, as well. It’s a really beautiful story. I just saw the final cut and it’s really lovely, so I’m just proud to be a part of it, and to be acting alongside such incredible pros; they definitely elevated me and made what I did better.”

Lambert is clearly happiest when he has multiple pots on the boil. He speaks of his desire to do more behind-the-scenes work producing and writing, as well as more film and TV voiceover roles, having worked on various animated shows recently. He turned 40 last year, he explains, but your perspective changes as you age: he has done so much already, yet there is still so much more to do.

Before finding fame as a pop star, Lambert’s background was in musical theatre, so it’s not a huge stretch. It also laid the groundwork for a new potential offshoot of his creative career. He has a small role alongside the likes of Scoot McNairy, Emilia Jones and Geena Davis in the Sofia Coppola-produced film Fairyland, which recently premiered at Sundance.

“I did a season of Glee back in 2014, or something, and that was the first time that I’d really truly done that kind of acting on-camera,” he explains. “And it was a good experience. I haven’t really done a tonne since, so this does feel like it’s maybe a door opening to some new opportunities.”

“Y’know, it’s kind of surreal. I remember being in my 20s, thinking that 40 sounded ancient,” he says, laughing. “So I don’t feel ancient. I mean, I definitely feel older; I definitely feel grateful for all the things I’ve experienced, and everything I’ve learned so far. That doesn’t mean that I’m gonna stop learning, but I’m trying to take what I know now, and use it, and have it inform my art and my personal life. Experience is cool.”

He pauses, raising an eyebrow before he continues with a smirk.

“I do wish that my metabolism was what it was in my 20s, but other than that, I’m good.”