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PEOPLE & ARTS Monday 21 october 2019

Adam Lambert: Happy to see more LGBTQ artists find success

By G. GERARD HAMILTON kind of success. And may- lowing some trend of the
Associated Press be it's not about what your moment," he said. "As an
NEW YORK (AP) — Adam sexuality is at the end of artist, I don't like repeat-
Lambert, who rose on the the day. Maybe it's about, ing myself. I like exploring
music scene as the run- 'Do you like the (expletive) new sounds, new vibes and
ner-up on "America Idol" song or not?'" that was part of it, too. I just
in 2009, says he's happy to Lambert, who has been needed to find a new inspi-
see more mainstream LG- busy over the years touring ration." Lambert will release
BTQ artists find major suc- with legendary rock band the rest of the project at a
cess. Queen, is hoping to move later date, and while each
"I think it's less taboo to be the needle again with his half will have a different
queer in the music indus- own music. The EP "Velvet: sound, he said the entire
try now because there's so Side A," his first new project project will be cohesive. His
many cases you can point in four years, was released main goal is to make listen-
to like, 'Oh, it worked for last month. ers dance, have fun, and
him. It worked for her.' I think "I took a while because I re- take their minds away from
10 years ago, it was a lot ally had to dial into sort of the madness of the world.
different," Lambert said in a the sound that I wanted it "There's a lyric in 'Super-
recent interview. "Ten years to be, and I needed to get power,'" he said referring to
ago, it was kind of like no This Sept. 6, 2019 photo shows singer Adam Lambert posing for a back to sort of why I love his current single, "'You kick
one really knew. And I met portrait in New York to promote “Velvet: Side A,” one-half of his making music," he said. us down in the dirt, but we
a lot of amazing people in first studio album in four years. The Grammy-nominated ain't going away.' People
the industry — executives, Associated Press performer calls his new are pissed off and people
people, publicists, market- know better. Now, people Billboard charts this year. project his "baby" and said are being marginalized all
ing people — who on a aren't as scared. They're "I think I can relate to some- while he has previously re- over the place. And I hope
personal level were cool not as fearful. There's an- one like Lil Nas X who wait- leased different genres of that if you're somebody
with me and totally open, swers. There's examples," ed until a song went to No. music, he's brought his lat- that's feeling that way, you
but didn't understand how he continued. 1 to be like, 'By the way, est project to back to his can listen to the song and it
this was going to work in One person Lambert points I'm gay,'" Lambert said. "It beginning. With the excep- gives you like a little boost,"
mainstream America, or to is "Old Town Road" rap- proves a point that you tion of a ballad, most of the he said. "It's not super dark,
the world for that matter." per Lil Nas X, who an- can have success, big suc- EP consists of groove and it's not super heavy, but
"Now, I think there's been nounced he was gay while cess. It is possible. Anybody funk-based tracks. hopefully it gives people a
some research and they his song was on top of the is welcome to have that "I didn't want to just be fol- feeling of power."q