Entertainment

Adam Lambert's New Album Will Show A Lot Of Growth

by Alex Kritselis

Adam Lambert's music has been absent from the airwaves for the past couple of years, but that's about to change: Lambert's new single, "Ghost Town," premieres on Apr. 21. The 33-year-old "Whataya Want From Me" hit-maker told Hunger in a revealing new interview that his upcoming album, The Original High , "will explore another side" of his personality, and that sounds really exciting. I've got a feeling Lambert's comeback is going to be huge.

Lambert took a break from his solo career after the disappointing commercial performance of his 2012 LP, Trespassing , but he stayed busy, playing sold out shows all over the world with legendary rock band Queen. Lambert told Hunger that the experience left him feeling "creatively revived and inspired." In fact, he feels like he's changed quite a bit over the past several years:

I definitely feel both a personal and professional evolution over the past five years. I think I’ve become more well adjusted to the strangeness of fame and more grounded in my personal life. I don’t overwork my performances as much as I once did; as an entertainer, sometimes less IS more. Personally speaking, I’ve tried to take a similar less is more approach to life...

According to Lambert, this "personal and professional evolution" is reflected on The Original High:

This album was executive produced by Max Martin and Shellback and they helped me keep a very cohesive sound and mood throughout. Sonically it feels more contemporary than my previous material. It’s definitely pop but not bubblegum. We have avoided camp and theatrics and have favoured a darker, more grounded vibe, and at the same time, it will make you dance! Lyrically, it’s very very personal, the album has an overall bittersweet feel to it. Vocally, I think it’s my most tasteful, sophisticated work to date. With Max’s guidance, I approached a lot of it with more restraint than in the past...

Be sure to check out the full interview over at Hunger .

The "camp and theatrics" of Lambert's debut, For Your Entertainment, were part of what drew me to his music in the first place, so, they will be missed. However, it's important to keep in mind that all artists need to try new things from time to time. Occasionally, the risk really pays off (see: Taylor Swift's 1989).

Of course, I hope Lambert hasn't lost any of his unique energy and spark in an effort to create an album with more mainstream appeal (after all, nobody knows mainstream appeal like executive producers Martin and Shellback...), but I'm going to trust him on this one. I think he knows what he's doing.

Thankfully, we won't have to wait too long to hear how this new "less is more approach" has affected Lambert's signature sound: "Ghost Town" debuts in less than a month, and according to the singer, it's "the perfect introduction to The Original High," with a hook that "will worm its way into your ears after the first listen." Wow.

At this point, I don't think I could be more excited for Lambert's new project even if I tried.