“I wanted to wipe the slate clean”: Adam Lambert on new single ‘Velvet’ and why there’ll be no ‘Bohemian Rhapsody 2’

"I tried to lean into classic and truly musical influences."

He’s an American Idol runner-up and the man who restored Queen to their greatest glory since the death of Freddie Mercury.

We, of course, refer to Adam Lambert, who is still continuing to fill arenas across the globe alongside Brian May and Roger Taylor.

But while those shows see Lambert proving his chops as a proper rock star, he’s not neglecting the day job. Last month saw the arrival of ‘New Eyes’ – Lambert’s first solo effort in four years.

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Inspired by the high points of classic soul and ’70s rock, it sees Lambert heading in an entirely new direction.

“I wanted to put something out that would wipe the slate clean. A new beginning and a new era,” Lambert told NME in London earlier this week.

“I tried to lean into classic and truly musical influences.”

Still, there are some very modern influences at play too.

“I wanted to go back to the music that had an impression on me as good music,” he says.

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“There are contemporary acts that I love and fit into that: Tame Impala and The Black Keys and Jungle. There’s groups that borrow heavily from that style. That made me feel like I had permission to do whatever I wanted.”

Check out the rest of our interview with Lambert above – which sees discussing Queen, upcoming album ‘Velvet’ and whether Bohemian Rhapsody 2 could be a distinct possibility.

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