14 DAY TRIAL // The latest issue of Billboard magazine has on its cover two of the hottest male artists of the moment, both up and coming singers and showbiz men, both enjoying the support of a very large fanbase and, most important, both out with albums this November. They are Kris Allen, the winner of the last edition of American Idol, and Adam Lambert, the runner-up in the same competition and, according to millions around the world, the one who should have won it.
Much ink has been spilled on writing about the rivalry between the two singers, although exactly what it was that prompted the rumors is not certain – and will probably never be. However, the two share the same cover now in a bid on behalf of the magazine to show that, unlike previous editions, the last season of AI has introduced two excellent voices, two artists who will make television watchers switch to buying music.
Speaking of music, Allen describes the experience of going into the studio with a very personal and intimate experience. “When you’re going to write and be in the studio, it’s like, ‘Now I have to think about me.’ That’s the mind-set you have to work with. I keep a journal, and maybe I’ll take something from that – but when I’m writing a song I’ll usually just be playing around on my guitar. More than anything, I just try to capture a moment,” he says for Billboard.
At the opposite pole is Lambert who, while still very involved and making personal music, is also constantly attentive to the package in which it comes wrapped. For him, music is as much as about selling a product as it’s about writing good verse and having good vocals. “I consider myself part artist, part businessperson. I find marketing interesting, I find publicity interesting. I find the whole process interesting. I think there’s some artists that are really focused on the music and the artistry, but I also think being a showman and being an entertainer is more than just being a musician. It’s everything,” Adam explains.
Below is a brief video interview Billboard magazine also conducted with Adam Lambert, in which he talks about the tracks that have made the final cut on his debut album, “For Your Entertainment,” the collaboration with Lady Gaga, also included on it, and what it was to be asked to record a song for the score of the blockbuster “2012” doomsday film. Enjoy.