IN CONVERSATION WITH ADAM LAMBERT

interview by JANA LETONJA

GRAMMY-Award nominated international superstar Adam Lambert began his successful career with blowing everyone away on the eighth season of ‘American Idol’. With a career marked by groundbreaking performances, Adam continues to push the boundaries of what it means to be a queer artist in today's music industry. This Summer, he released his house/EDM EP ‘Afters’, and is currently making his long-awaited Broadway debut in ‘Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club’. Besides music, Adam launched the nonprofit Feel Something Foundation in 2019 to support LGBTQ+ human rights.

full look ISSEY MIYAKE
gloves VEX

Adam, you are making your Broadway debut in ‘Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club’. What does stepping into the iconic role of the Emcee mean to you, and how did you prepare for it?

It means the world. I think this is such an important piece of theatre considering how it reflects a lot of the themes that are going on in our country and around the world right now, both politically and socially. It's nice to be a part of something that leaves the audience thinking when they leave the theatre. It's also really exciting that we get to be completely bonkers, unhinged and provocative throughout. It’s a great mix of joy, freedom and introspection.”

‘Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club’ is a show that thrives on themes of liberation, defiance, and societal tension. How does your portrayal of the Emcee draw parallels to your own life experiences as an artist and LGBTQ+ advocate

I’ve always felt like a bit of an outsider, even within the world of theatre. When I first started pursuing it, I felt like I was a bit of an alien. Then getting into the music industry as a gay man, at a time where it was sort of an untried business model, it was definitely quite a rollercoaster of ups and downs and side to sides, trying to figure out how to make my brand work for me. I think the Emcee is very much an embodiment of that otherness and I have tried to bring my experience as a queer person to the light and shade of the character.

coat LANDEROS
jewellery VITALY

The Kit Kat Club is an immersive and iconic setting for Cabaret. How do you feel this venue amplifies the show’s message, and how excited are you to be performing in such a distinctive space?

Performing in the round is really challenging. You're constantly turning around realising there's people on all sides of you in a 360 circle. A lot of the lobby spaces have been turned into lounges and bars in the August Wilson Theatre to give the audience the impression that they're at a nightclub and that they're part of the story. Also, when I address the audience, I always break the 4th wall talking directly to them, bringing them into the story. I think it's really effective to warm up the crowd, make them feel comfortable and a part of things so when we get to the more serious themes in the second act, they are more affected by them.

This summer, you released your EP ‘Afters’, which feels like a bold and unapologetic celebration of modern queer culture. Can you share the inspiration behind the EP and how its themes resonate with your personal and artistic journey?

After getting over the shame of being gay as teenager and a young adult, I was left feeling that sexuality is a source of joy and liberation. A way to connect. I wanted to celebrate the pleasures of the bedroom on this EP and the thrill that we all get from that type of connection. Earlier in my career there was a pressure to edit my subject matter. The powers that be wanted things to be commercial, able to sell and palatable for this, that and the other demographic. One of the things that I love about streaming now is that we have a direct line to our audience and there's a lot less censorship going on. It felt like the right time to be more honest about the things that make me who I am.

coat ANTHONY THOMAS GALANTE
shoes BALMAIN
jewellery PARTS OF FOUR and CHRIS HABANA

You’ve described ‘Afters’ as capturing “freedom, hedonism, and liberation.” How did you channel these themes into the music and the afterparty events you hosted?

I wanted ‘Afters to be a soundtrack for a party and what better way to celebrate the release of the album than by throwing a real party. It was really exciting to be able to play the songs with a DJ in that setting and get to see everybody react to the music the way I’d intended it to be reacted to.

‘Ghost Town’ and ‘Whatya Want From Me’ are iconic in their own right. How does ‘Afters’, with its house/EDM sound, represent the evolution of your music career?

I always have a specific world or theme in mind when I'm creating an album. I wanted to make some music that sounded like the kind of parties that I was going to and that sounded like the soundtrack to what my friends were experiencing.

As the frontman of Queen, you’ve honored Freddie Mercury’s legacy while also making the role your own. How has touring with Queen influenced your solo artistry?

Working with Queen has made me a better musician. I've learned a lot about dynamics and what my voice is capable of. I feel that over time I was able to recognise there are moments when less is more, and then there's moments where more is more, sort of maturing a little bit into having my voice support the song as opposed to showing off and having to prove what my voice could do. Letting the music be the driving force.

coat DOLCE&GABBANA
shirt LANDEROS

You’ve been a tireless advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. Tell us more about what inspired you to create your nonprofit, the Feel Something Foundation, and about it’s mission.

Over the years, I've met so many amazing people and fans that have enjoyed my music. I've heard such beautiful things about how they might have been in a dark time or lost and that how me as an artist and the music that I was creating was something that helped them and gave them hope or a light to head toward. I wanted to figure out a way to monetize that type of inspiration to help more people. My fans have been so supportive and have gotten really passionate about the things that I'm passionate about. I've always been very thankful that I've gotten to be a celebrity in the LGBTQ+ world and wanted to put that to good use, to give back. The Feel Something foundation has been a great opportunity to bring awareness, visibility and funds to various charities and initiatives. It's something that we’ll continue to do because there's a lot more work to be done.

suit, shirt, and gloves LANDEROS
shoes DOLCE&GABBANA
jewellery VITALY

How do you see your work in both music and advocacy continuing to shape perceptions of LGBTQ+ culture in mainstream entertainment?

I really enjoy getting to hold up a mirror to what I'm witnessing and experiencing, both personally and what I see is going on in society. I hope to continue to reflect where we're at and how things are changing, much like what I did with ‘Afters’. I feel like my own personal evolution is very much a reflection of how attitudes and opinions are shifting and evolving around the LGBTQ+ conversation. I look forward to continuing to do that.

Your career is marked by boundary-pushing creativity. What’s next for Adam Lambert? Are there any new artistic horizons you’re eager to explore?

I will always love music first and foremost and I will continue to make it. I'm also really inspired by being back on stage in ‘Cabaret’ and getting to play roles and characters. Acting has always been a part of my life and now I am really hoping to dive further into it. I'd love to do more stage work and potentially some on screen as well.

coat RICK OWENS

You released ‘I Don’t Care Much’ from ‘Cabaret’ as a single with an accompanying music video. Believe it’s the first time that the production has done so. How did that decision come about?

The cool thing about ‘Cabaret’ is that it's very meta. It dives into a lot of the themes that are being discussed today, socially and politically. I think that it was interesting because the idea to record this song as a way to promote the show and to share a little piece of it was all captured right around the time of the election in the US. The feeling that the song evokes is one of indifference and disillusionment. I think that Emcee uses that as a defence mechanism to cover up his vulnerability and the sadness that he's actually feeling. He's singing a song about just not caring as a way to lie to himself that it's all going to be fine, but it's his way of dealing and coping with the current situation. It's also a reflection of what Sally Bowles is going through in the story as well. The Emcee tends to provide commentary at different points in the show for what's happening. They're both feeling pretty hollow because of how the shadow of fascism and the Nazi occupation of Berlin is starting to affect their lives. There are a lot of parallels to what myself, my friends, my family and the greater community have been feeling around this recent election. The question is, are we going to just shrug our shoulders and say “Whatever, I don't care?” Or are we going to get real with ourselves and face what's happening head on.

TEAM CREDITS:
talent ADAM LAMBERT
photography TYLER PATRICK KENNY
styling AYUMI PERRY with OPUS BEAUTY
hair DAVEY MATHEW with THE ONLY AGENCY
makeup ANDREW DARLING with THE ONLY AGENCY
photography assistant MADI SILEO
styling assistant FET HILARIO
studio BLONDE + CO
editor TIMI LETONJA
interview JANA LETONJA
cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN
catering CHEF JAE
special thanks to ANN LAWLER for the great space and FULLCOVERAGEPR for making this happen & thank you to INDIGO COFEE CO. NYC for the great coffee and snacks!