In a candid conversation with Katya Zamolodchikova, renowned singer Adam Lambert delved into a variety of topics, ranging from his unexpected journey with Queen to his new, provocative EP. The discussion, marked by humor and introspection, touched on the challenges and joys of fame, the evolution of LGBTQ culture, and the music industry’s intricacies.
Lambert, who gained fame as a finalist on “American Idol,” reflected on his unexpected career trajectory.
“Did you think that you would be playing Queen?” Zamolodchikova asked.
Lambert responded, “No, none of this. This all has been surreal, pinch me, full circle like, ‘How did I get here?’ And a lot of imposter syndrome, especially coming out of American Idol.” He admitted that he often felt unworthy of his achievements, saying, “I was like, ‘I don’t deserve this. Someone’s going to take this away from me any minute.’”
Zamolodchikova compared the intense scrutiny faced by Lambert on “American Idol” to the drama of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
“A competition show like that, I cannot imagine, so many people watch it, so many people have so many opinions about it,” she remarked.
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Lambert agreed, noting, “It was wild.” He elaborated on the impact of such shows, explaining that “when I was on Idol, we had 30 million people a night watching it, so it was a lot.” The conversation highlighted how reality TV has evolved, with Lambert observing, “We had to get to your TV at 8:00 PM, you had to talk about it the next day around the water cooler.”
Discussing his music, Lambert introduced his new EP, “Afters,” which he described as “horny” and “dance, house.” He reflected on the creative freedom he felt while working on it, sharing, “I had so much fun putting them together. It’s very dance, house.” Lambert elaborated on his artistic evolution, noting, “I found myself at a point, over the last couple of years, during the pandemic, when we had time to sit and think a little bit. I was just like, ‘You know what? I need to follow my instincts a little more. I need to say fuck it. I want to do what I want to do more than I had been doing.’”
Lambert also touched on the darker aspects of his career.
“The music industry is hard,” he admitted. “You’re going to have to deal with dicks. You’re going to have to deal with a lot of political bullshit. But do you love music? Yeah, I love music. I love making music. I love performing. So you have to let that outweigh the BS.”
The conversation took a humorous turn as Lambert and Zamolodchikova reminisced about their early experiences with digital culture and erotica.
Lambert shared his memories of using Gay.com, saying, “I remember, when I was first coming of age, we had Gay.com.” Zamolodchikova, who is also 42, laughed about the technological challenges of the time, recalling, “We were graduating on the precipice of global digital meltdown, and we also had to wait 28 minutes for a JPEG of porn to load on the family computer.”
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They both marveled at how far technology has come, with Zamolodchikova reflecting on the changes. “Think about it now. We’ve changed so dramatically,” she said. Lambert agreed, appreciating the shift in societal attitudes: “I like that we’re desensitized a little bit because it takes some of the danger out of certain activities.”
As the conversation delved into personal anecdotes, Lambert shared his experiences with dating apps and his early days in the LGBTQ scene.
“I was so uneducated and unaware of how anything worked when I finally got into my 20s,” Lambert admitted, adding that he found the experience of navigating sexuality and dating quite daunting.
Zamolodchikova brought up their shared experiences with old-school LGBTQ culture, including the infamous XY Magazine. “Do you remember XY Magazine?” she asked. Lambert responded enthusiastically, “I sure fucking do, bitch.”
Looking ahead, Lambert expressed excitement about his upcoming projects, including his role in a new adaptation of “Cabaret.”
Adam Lambert and Auli’i Cravalho are preparing for their Broadway debuts in “Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club,” which is currently playing at the August Wilson Theatre in New York City. Lambert will take on the role of Emcee while Cravalho, famed for voicing Moana in the Disney film, will portray Sally Bowles. They replace Eddie Redmayne and Gayle Rankin, who are concluding their run on Sept. 14. Calvin Leon Smith will also join the cast, stepping into the role of Clifford Bradshaw, previously played by Ato Blankson-Wood.
In a statement to PEOPLE, Lambert described the rehearsal process as “collaborative and creative,” noting the support he’s received from the team and expressing admiration for his co-stars. Cravalho expressed excitement about joining the long tradition of actresses who have played Sally Bowles, calling it an honor to be part of such a historic production.
The revival of the Kander and Ebb musical, which first hit Broadway in 1966, is a Tony Award-winning hit that has been praised for its portrayal of pre-World War II Berlin. The musical, based on Christopher Isherwood’s novel “Goodbye to Berlin,” explores the lives of characters in the Kit Kat Club amid the rise of the Nazi party.
