ELLE Interview: Adam Lambert. Adam Lambert: I'm not Mercury, but he inspires me Adam lambert interview

ELLE Why did you choose the dance genre for your latest album?

ADAM LAMBERT This post is a reflection of where I am now in life. This musical style is very close to me. I love to dance and often spend time in clubs. Therefore, this album became a natural vector for my development as an artist. The album's producers, Max Martin and Shellback, completely understood the direction I wanted to go. They helped me keep a very cohesive sound and mood throughout. We decided to move away from the bombast and theatrics and focused on a darker, more down-to-earth sound and added some great hooks. The result is a record that will make anyone dance and I really like it.

ELLE Are you close to creative collaborations? Which famous artist would you like to work with?

A.L. I love collaborating with other artists! Working with Brian and Roger from Queen was a great honor. Being able to be a part of Queen on their world tour is an incredible experience! There's an amazing song on my album featuring Brian May. [approx. - Song “Lucy”]. I was also lucky enough to work with Tove Lou on my track “Rumors.” I admire her as an artist!

ELLE What is the secret to success in the music business?

A.L. I don't think there is any secret. You just need to work hard.

ELLE What important things are happening in your life right now (that perhaps not many people know about)?

A.L. I recently worked in the studio with Steve Aoki. It was an amazing experience. So keep your finger on the pulse!

ELLE What was your first income?

A.L. I received my first decent income at the age of 19, working as a lead singer on the cruise ship Ms Amsterdam. A musical revue was being staged on the liner for a sextet of actors, and at the last moment one of the singers was fired. Then I auditioned for the vacant role and got it. I was so green back then. The youngest in the troupe! But we have traveled all over the world. I saw so many beautiful places!

ELLE What kind of person should be next to you? What will you never tolerate?

A.L. A positive person. I don't have time for drama and negativity. This is not what life is made for. Thank God I am surrounded by wonderful people.

ELLE What's your craziest experiment with your appearance?

A.L. There were several experiments. A couple of years ago I dyed my hair gray. It looked pretty cool. It turned out to be a very interesting image!

ELLE What items are most in your wardrobe?

A.L. In terms of style, there has been something of an “evolution” in me. Exactly the same as in musical terms. I began to sort of study fashion and try to figure out what I wanted my style to say about me. I like a lot of different designers at the moment. I especially love McQueen and Saint Laurent.

ELLE Whose image (historical, stage) would you like to try on?

A.L. I loved David Bowie's style in the 80s. In my opinion, he was a real style icon!

ELLE This is not your first time coming to Russia, what Russian traditions/features do you remember?

A.L. I really remember the Kremlin and Red Square. Amazing buildings! I also remember Russian vodka. She also remained in my memory.

ELLE What plays on your player most often?

A.L. I'm particularly enjoying Disclosure at the moment. The songs from their album are the most played on my player.

ELLE What is the most valuable advice you have received in life? Who gave it to you?

A.L. To be honest, I’m used to not worrying too much about other people’s opinions. What others think is none of my business. I just like to surround myself with positivity, positive people. For me this is an important component of my life.

ELLE If you could be another person for one day, who would you choose? Why?

A.L. It would be great to be King for a day. But just for one day, because I love being Adam Lambert.

ELLE Tell us about the upcoming show in Moscow. What should we expect?

A.L. The show was very energetic and passionate. I really like performing new songs. There is a lot of old material, but there will also be unexpected moments. Surprises await fans! This world tour brings me a lot of joy.

On the eve of his first concert in St. Petersburg, American singer Adam Lambert, a songwriter, actor and owner of a voice of 4 octaves, finalist of the American Idol show, told our correspondents a lot of interesting things.

– Adam, when did you realize that you wanted to become a singer?

– Around the age of 9 it all started. I was a kid with a lot of energy, a lot of ideas and a desire to speak out. In general, almost unbearable. My parents tried to let me play sports, but I didn’t really like it. They tried to find something else for me where I could spend my energy and improve. As a result, the theater became my home.

– In what production did you first appear on stage? How did you feel at that moment?

– I played the role of Linus in the musical play “You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown” (the famous American production of the late 60s based on the comic strip by Charles Schulz - editor's note). I really enjoyed being on stage and the feeling of performing in front of an audience. In addition, the important point was that for the first time I found myself in the company of children with whom we had a lot in common. They were artistic and creative. For the first time I felt like I had friends, company. In middle school, at the age of 12-14, I began to have difficulties communicating at school. I had few friends, I was to some extent an outcast, a loner. But on Saturdays, when I went to rehearse at the theater, I was absolutely happy - all my friends were there.

– It’s hard to imagine that someone like you could have been lonely as a child...

– Yes, but in high school everything got better. There were extracurricular activities and activities through which I made many friends. I think that this is, in general, a standard problem for teenagers all over the world - to find friends with similar views on the world. I remember coming home and saying, “I have no friends, people treat me badly.” And my father always answered me: “I am sure that when you grow up, you will be one of those with whom everyone will want to be friends.” I said with a skeptical smile: “Okay, dad. I will remember this."

– It turns out that participation in the theater was a kind of refuge from problems for you then. How did this come to the music itself?

– It was just musical theater. That is, the music was present from the very beginning. I continued doing this through high school and after high school—I did quite a lot of professional musical productions in Los Angeles. It was not easy, if only because there are few musical theaters there and therefore little work - after all, everything is mainly in New York.

– This is a difficult path. Were there moments when you said to yourself: “That’s it, I’m tired, I don’t want to continue”?

“In my twenties, I was discouraged several times when I went to an audition and didn’t get a role, then another and another. It’s not easy when you are rejected many times, but it strengthens you. It gave me protection, which I am very grateful for now. And that really came in handy when I got on American Idol.

Why did you wait eight seasons to audition for American Idol?

“I think because I just wasn’t ready.” I've been a fan of this show since the very first episodes. I remember being absolutely delighted with the vocals of Kelly Clarkson (winner of the first season, 2002 - editor's note). Every year I would watch the show and think, “It might be interesting to be a contestant.” But every time I told myself: “No, I can’t.”

– But in 2008, did you tell yourself that you could?

– I think that by the age of 27 it became clear to me what the music business was and how it worked. I had thoughts about becoming a singer before, but it turned out that signing a contract with a label, becoming part of all this is very difficult, especially considering that the mp3 format just gained popularity, the record industry began to make money less money and everything changed. But at some point I had something like an epiphany and I began to actively work on my own projects - composing, recording, sketching vocals. Then I found out about auditioning for American Idol and realized that this was the best, fastest and most effective way for me to become successful, show myself to the public, and then use that as an argument to convince the record label.

– Did you have any feeling that everything would work out?

– No, I thought they would kick me right away (laughs). And even more so, I didn’t think that I would go through the entire competition. After I managed to advance to the next stage, every time it seemed to me that this was some kind of joke.

– After one of your competition performances on “American Idol,” the jury gave you a standing ovation. What were you thinking at that moment?

– I was very nervous because it was a very quiet song (the hit of the rhythm and blues group The Miracles “The Tracks of My Tears” of the 60s - ed.), and it’s easier for me to sing some more energetic things where you can give free rein to your emotions. There was a very intimate composition here, during which it was necessary to very clearly maintain concentration so that it all sounded as if from within. Perhaps, to some extent, my theater experience helped me cope with this number. And this happened more than once.

– During “American Idol” you experienced a real evolution – both in terms of performances and in terms of image. Tell us about it.

– I always liked fashion, clothes and some kind of change. I loved costumes as a child—Halloween was always my favorite holiday. I still dress up as a vampire every year (laughs). I call it “Glampire” (from the words “glamour” and “vampire” - editor's note). I loved dressing up and dressing up others, so in a way, becoming a singer is just me continuing to play the game (laughs).

– Who inspired you, who did you follow as an example?

– First of all, the teachers had a very big influence. The director and director of the children's theater in which I performed was Alex Urban, my main mentor. Also teachers of vocals, theater, and choir. When I started listening to popular music, I liked Michael Jackson and Madonna - they were my King and Queen. They combined great music with great visuals, personality, fashion. They had all aspects at a level unattainable for others, and this still inspires me.

– Is this exactly what you are trying to achieve?

– It seems to me that I am still at the beginning of my journey. I'm still experimenting. We need to compose music, record it and try to make each album an independent project. It seems to me that this is exactly how Madonna and Michael Jackson came to their success.

– You were a boy from San Diego – a very relaxed and sleepy town. Now you are glamorous, bright, emotional... There are many people who criticize this, wondering why you need such an image?

“But many others lack this.” It seems to me that this is a common situation - it depends on the taste and color. It was never my goal to convert people to my faith and force them to do as I do. I want to inspire them to be who they want to be. Inspire freedom to express your feelings, thoughts, love. This is what I promote with every step of my creative journey.

– What is Adam Lambert like at home?

– Well, I guess I’m not so glamorous when I’m lying on the couch and watching TV (laughs). I like to be a homebody between trips - put on sweatpants, cook, watch TV. Everything is very simple. For food, I most often cook eggs in different combinations. With avocado, for example. In general, over the past year I have become interested in healthy eating and vegetarian food. But I myself am not a vegetarian.

– Last year you collaborated quite actively with Queen. Tell us about it.

– It was a very difficult challenge. When I was offered to do these shows with Queen, I was both scared and proud. It was necessary to approach this project in such a way that it would not offend the band’s fans, would be respectful of the musicians themselves, but not at the cost of my own self-respect and my fans. In the end we decided to do it in Freddie's spirit, trying to understand what motivated him, what reaction he wanted from the audience, but taking into account my own experience and doing it in my version. It was difficult, but everything went just great. In addition, Brian May (Queen guitarist - editor's note) and Roger Taylor (Queen drummer - editor's note) were on stage with me and they always supported me. If I had been on stage alone, it would have been much scarier.

“I think it was the perfect combination...

– Maybe, but I clearly understand that no one can be the new Freddie Mercury - there was only one like him, this is a human icon. Although, as it turned out from communicating with Brian and Roger, we have some things in common. They once said: “You would get along great with each other. You would make each other laugh until you dropped.” I was very pleased.

– You have two studio albums. Both are very popular. The debut disc “For Your Entertainment” (2010) took third place on the Billboard hit parade, “Trespassing” (2012) took first place. As far as I understand, you compose quite a lot of songs yourself?

– On the first album I didn’t have the opportunity to be the author to the extent that I would have liked. Everything happened right after “American Idol” and very quickly - literally in two months. Plus, I was still new to the music industry and had a lot to learn. However, with the second album I also continue to study, although I was already the executive producer of the disc. The role this time was the artistic direction of the project - relatively speaking, I had to make sure that everything that was being done was suitable for me as an artist. I also wrote songs, most of them. And this is a very great experience.

– How has the burden of fame affected you?

– I wouldn’t say that this is a very big load. Of course, I now have a much busier schedule, I travel a lot more, periodically I need to adapt to sudden changes in time zones and to the violation of my privacy, but I think it’s all worth it. I feel very lucky because shortly before I auditioned for American Idol, I had a career crisis. I turned 27, I was already an adult, but I doubted whether I had made the right choice about what I would do next. I couldn’t answer this question for myself, I was scared. And this whole adventure that began from the moment of listening removed this question - now I know that I will perform for the rest of my life, that I have my own audience, that I have all the opportunities for this. So I feel lucky.

On March 20, Adam Lambert will give a concert at the Ice Palace in St. Petersburg.
Read more about the concert at.

The young American singer Adam Lambert, who will go on a mini-tour of the legendary group Queen as a soloist, spoke in an interview with RIA Novosti about his relationship with the legendary Freddie Mercury, whose place he temporarily took, about the Moscow show on July 3 and shopping in the Russian capital. Interviewed by Irina Gordon and Gleb Olkhovoy.

- Adam, is Queen your favorite band or are there musicians whose work has had a greater influence on you?

Yes, of course, I’m a Queen fan, although I didn’t discover them as a child, but a little later - I was 18-20 years old then. In general, I was influenced by a wide variety of music. First of all, of course, I was inspired by classic rock and roll. But besides this, since I grew up in the 90s, the pop music of that time did not pass me by. Later, I became interested in electronic dance music. But, in fact, I don’t single out one thing. If the music is good, it is good, no matter what style it belongs to.

- Wasn’t it scary to take on the legendary “We are the champions” in the finals of the American Idol show?

I felt amazing. This song inspires me a lot. It is a great honor for me to perform We are the champions. And besides, I felt some kind of internal connection with them, you know?

- Performing in the place of Freddie Mercury in Queen, are you trying to copy his style?

I think it's very important to stay honest with yourself. I'm no Mercury, but he really inspires me. I feel not only great respect for him, but also some kind of special trust.

- What kind of relationship do you have with Brian May and Roger Taylor?

They were very sociable and friendly. It's incredibly easy with them, just wonderful. It’s as if we’ve known each other for a long time, despite the fact that I’m terribly nervous that I have to perform with them.

-Are you going to continue working together?

Yes, now we are going to do six concerts together. This is definitely not a one-time experience.

- What are you preparing for your performance in Moscow?

I think the audience first of all wants, of course, to hear the old Queen songs. This is why they go to the concert. But other than that, we're going to give them a great show.

AFP, Getty Images/Michael Tullberg

Singer Adam Lambert

- Many artists learn Russian words before coming to Russia - do you already know anything in Russian?

I haven't learned Russian words yet. But I think you should wait and see what we show on the show.

Last year you performed at the Russian music festival Maxidrom. Did you like Moscow and Russian fans?

Yes I liked it very much. I really had fun and enjoyed the moment. After work I mostly signed autographs, but I still really enjoyed my time in Moscow. I quickly looked around the city. This time I'm planning a nice walk. And hopefully this year I will be able to go shopping.