American Idol contestants are not normally the fodder for our weekly Q&a slot. Runners-up even less so. However when we were invited to hear Adam Lambert's second album Tresspassing, released in March, we were surprised to see that along with expected pop collaborators like Dr Luke, the singer had recorded with Pharrell Williams, cult indie type Sam Sparro (he of Black And Gold fame) and Nile Rodgers while rumours of further work with Queen's Brian May and Roger Taylor continue. Not just that, with the record's subject matter openly embracing Lambert's sexuality, the singer has used his mainstream launch-pad to challenge the preconceptions of American's right. All in all, a bloke worth sitting down and having a chat with then, which is exactly what we did...How the devil are you?
"I'm good. I'm happy to be here, despite the cold. I love coming to the UK."
Is it harder for you in the UK because you are known a bit for American Idol, but we didn't see the show or get your back story?
"Yeah, the last album didn't get the attention it deserved but hopefully this time it will be different. But it's been three years. I'll always be associated with the show, which is great because I got to put myself out there and do great music. I really enjoyed my time on it, but hopefully people can start considering me as an artist. This album in particular is more of an artist's album. I got to co-write most of it, I was an executive producer, it's very much my thing! I did the styling, the artwork... I'm a control freak, but I'm doing it from a good place."
Unlike a lot of reality TV types you actually had a decent career as a singer, particularly in musical theatre, before you went on the show, while in the UK it seems you're supposed to have a decent sob story rather than talent. Why get involved?
"It was one of those things where they mentioned my background on the show once and then let it go. I did have to quit all my contracts which was a bit scary because that was my bread and butter, my health insurance... I had to quit and I didn't know if I'd be on the show. I was told, Quit so you can be considered. I thought Oh my God, it was kind of a risk but I knew it was worth taking because of the possible reward."
That reward is national exposure in a country the size of America?
"It's a huge platform, that's why I did it. There's nothing like it, you can't buy PR like it. Right before I auditioned I had started to write some music and I had some experience, talked to some people in the business and got a feel for what it's all about. I was still pretty green, but the impression I got was it's fucking hard to break into! I thought, well I'm a 27 year-old gay musical theatre dude/ club kid so this is not going to be an easy sell. Idol seemed the way to get myself out there."
Were you conscious that it was also a good opportunity to present someone with your sexuality to mainstream American, particularly as a large percentage of that audience might be prejudiced against you if they met you outside the show?
"The best opportunity on the show is to sing songs they identify with. That's the part of the show I approached like a strategy game. It's like Risk. Once you get comfortable in there, each week I would try to - in a good way - manipulate the audience, which is what entertainment is anyway. And it is a game show! My big strategy was to do something totally different each week to keep people guessing and do something that's the opposite to all the other performers so you get the attention."
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