Adam Lambert for ONE HOUR PHOTO

His new album ADAM (out now), a cross-country move, and his tip for living a juicy life.

From American Idol to fronting Queen to singing alongside Cynthia Erivo in Jesus Christ Superstar, he’s spent the better part of two decades proving himself. Now he’s released a self-titled album — less to prove, just more to say.

I met him at a subway station to shoot before we walked and talked. You won’t be surprised to hear Adam is exactly as kind, as thoughtful with his words, and as genuinely passionate about his art as you’d want him to be. Here he is:

Tell me about the new album.

It’s called ADAM. Self-titled, it’s time. I’d never done that before, and I was toying with other titles, but they felt kind of pretentious, or vague. Once I’d sequenced everything and sat with it, I realized, this is just me. It’s not some abstract concept, it’s moments from the last couple years of my life, built around different types of relationships. Romantic, sexual, my relationship with myself, with the world. The good, the bad, the ugly of it. That’s just me, that’s me right now. Felt like the right thing to call it.

A self-titled album is iconic. It shows where you’re at.

I think it’s easier to see now that I’m just in a different place, honestly, maybe it lines up with the move. I got out of a long relationship, single again, these chapters closing, new ones opening. I feel more settled than I have in a long time.

Your life looks pretty different than it did a year ago.

I was doing eight shows a week on Broadway a year ago, which is not real life. It’s a time warp. You’re constantly thinking about when you’re on next, and you don’t really have time for anything else. One day off a week, and you’re mostly just trying to sleep.

What does the perfect day look like for you?

I love just lounging with the dog, waking up, coffee, some TV. A perfect day is: so-and-so calls me out of nowhere, hey, want to get lunch, let’s get a drink. That’s a perfect day.

You moved to NYC! Tell me about it.

I was in LA for twenty-five years, basically my whole adult life, and — change is good. When I was fourteen I thought to myself, I want to live in New York someday. It was always this fantasy, especially because I was into musical theater, so I figured this is where I’d end up. It just never happened. Not until now.

Do you remember the first time you were ever in New York?

I was fourteen. My mom brought me, just the two of us. We saw four Broadway shows, stayed at the Michelangelo Hotel in Midtown — the pink marble one. I drove by it the other day and thought, oh my god, that’s the hotel we stayed at. We saw Rent right when it opened, in ‘96, it had been running a couple months. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Kiss Me, Kate... and a fourth one I can’t remember. We had to pack it in. I was a big musical theater nerd. Still kind am.

Where did that come from?

My parents tried me out in sports — that didn’t stick, surprise surprise. My mom heard about a children’s theater group that met on the weekends, and we tried it, and I took to it immediately. I was a hyperactive kid, really talkative, a lot of imagination. It just fit.

What’s different about New York vs. LA?

Here, I’ll be walking the dog, and we’ll be stopped at a crosswalk, and a total stranger will just strike up a conversation. I love that. In LA, people think that’s weird — everyone’s so sealed off.

How do you feel about photo shoots, generally?

I like clothes, I like wearing makeup, I like creating together, I just never really know if it’s good. If I really like what I’m wearing, that makes me feel more confident. I like looking a certain way. And I know almost immediately when it’s not going to work. I’ve got tips and tricks, lotions, potions, smoke and mirrors. I know what’s going to work and what’s not. That’s when it gets tricky.

Do you remember the first time you got your nails done?

I do remember going with my friend Allison Porter to CT Nails on Santa Monica, getting little art, decals, cute stuff.

What would people be surprised to know about you?

I don’t know anymore, honestly, I’m pretty open. But I’ve said this before: during the pandemic, I got really into video games.

What’s your console of choice?

PlayStation. PS5. It’s unfuckingbelievable what they’ve built, some of these games are stunningly gorgeous, fully immersive, you get invested in the characters. I don’t think most people would peg me as a gaymer.

If you had to build a syllabus, a few movies people have to watch to get you, what comes to mind?

Movie-wise, you’ve got to see Mommy Dearest, it’s so bizarre, so trippy. You’ve got to watch Cabaret, obviously, Liza Minnelli. And then genuinely one of my favorite movies of all time, a Todd Haynes film from the ‘90s : Velvet Goldmine.

Music-wise, Eva Cassidy is worth a real deep dive, her voice was something else. And everybody should spend some real time in the world of Prince. It’s just necessary. If you haven’t gotten into Prince, you’re missing out.

Last question: Whataya Want From Me?

I want to know who did your tattoos!

Developed and scanned in partnership with Nice Film Club

One Hour Photo Creative Production: Carly Kane

Thank you Avery Robinson + Gabi Hollander

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Adam’s tip for living a juicy life