The bipolar lesbian who rocks mom jeans is at it again with a new album. Lyrics from the latest single "Secrets" tell all with a description of the personal things that make her unique—including the characteristics mentioned in the opening sentence.
The massive hit "Same Love" took over the airwaves with her guest vocals on the Macklemore & Ryan Lewis track that proclaims it's okay to be gay and not change. Our Seattle sister then took her section and formed it into a new song called "She Keeps Me Warm."
During the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, "Same Love" was featured during a public ceremony of 33 couples where Queen Latifah officiated and Madonna joined her in singing the chorus.
Lambert's debut album Heart on My Sleeve debuts this month. We spoke to proud Mary about new music and more in this interview by phone.
Windy City Times: Hi, Mary.
Mary Lambert: Hi, Jerry!
WCT: I saw you play at [Northalsted] Market Days not too long ago.
Mary Lambert: You did? I loved that show.
WCT: You basically played in a parking lot and somehow made it into an intimate concert.
Mary Lambert: [Laughs] Good. I'm glad it translated.
WCT: Are you heading out on tour again soon?
Mary Lambert: Yeah, I am about to release the dates for my Heart on My Sleeve Tour. I'm real excited. I think that there is a Chicago date.
WCT: There better be.
Mary Lambert: I can't remember. I am terrible at this. The toughest place to play will be Utah—I'm kidding!
WCT: You have such a talented family with Miranda Lambert and your gay brother Adam Lambert.
Mary Lambert: I know—we are all related! [Laughs]
WCT: Seriously though, what was it like growing up in Seattle?
Mary Lambert: I was born and raised about 20 minutes north of Seattle; then I incrementally moved closer to downtown, where I went to school at Cornish College of the Arts. I just moved to the East Coast, where I am at now.
Seattle is always a part of me and part of my artistic identity.
WCT: So you have a whole new life now.
Mary Lambert: Yeah, things have changed very rapidly. I can't imagine being that far from Seattle for that long. I imagine I will be back soon.
WCT: You were raised by a lesbian mother. Was your mom always very supportive of you?
Mary Lambert: My mom and I are pretty much best friends. It is funny when I came out—she said, "Mary, I think if you are going to experiment you should wait until college!" She was just really scared that I was going to get beat up or hate-crimed. I could understand her protection. She wasn't too happy with the idea of me being gay but after a while she accepted it. I think she was just happy that I couldn't get pregnant.
WCT: Did you think you would then turn into a champion for gay rights?
Mary Lambert: I don't know. I always wanted to be a leader and a healer. That has always been a part of me. I guess I just have really strong opinions. I believe in equality for all people. There are a lot of social justice issues I have in my head that I want to be a part of and impact change in the world.
I was an activist at a young age so I think that is what I always hoped for. This gift of my career and "Same Love," what it has privileged me to do is unfathomable. It is what I always hoped and dreamed but never actually thought could happen since I was like 17.
WCT: It must have been wild when that hit song took off. What is one "Secret" about Macklemore?
Mary Lambert: I think he always has a peanut butter-and-jelly sandwich!
WCT: How was it performing that song with Madonna?
Mary Lambert: Madonna was incredible. She's such an icon. To even work with her on the song was an experience that I will never forget. She wiped a tear off my face at one point. She was very sweet to me.
The gravity of the performance was what really did it for me. I was definitely excited about it's movement in my career and the implications of what this performance meant. Above all, it rocked me to my core as a lesbian. If I could separate myself from my career and my ego and the production of it to see it for what it was, that's when I broke down crying because it meant so much to me being in the gay community that this performance happened.
WCT: The new single is called "Secrets" and I loved the remix by the Jump Smokers. Did you approve this version?
Mary Lambert: Yes, I approve them all. I liked it. I love all of the remixes that are out there. I think they did a great job.
WCT: Is it a liberating song for you?
Mary Lambert: Totally. I believe in living openly and saying "fuck you" to guilt and shame. I think those things are useless and they inhibit a lot of people from living fully. I know it did that to me. I wanted to write an empowerment song because I felt that would make me really happy. It is about freeing yourself from stigmas. I wanted to turn the lens on myself to invite others to do the same.
WCT: You hit a lot of different topics.
Mary Lambert: Sometimes I feel I walk around and I am a walking stigma. I could just hide in a hole somewhere and be miserable. I think I did. I went into a really dark place. I think because of that extreme sorrow my capacity for joy is exponential. Going through that process of healing and learning how to rid myself of guilt and shame, living unapologetically, learning what self care is and what body positivity is has been very important to me.
WCT: Is "When You Sleep" the next single?
Mary Lambert: No; it was just a track for people that pre-ordered the album. I love that moment on the album. It is such a deeply personal song.
WCT: What music are you listening to right now?
Mary Lambert: I love listening to Spotify's top new songs but, of course, the Sam Smith record. Echosmith's album I love. Always London Grammar—they are amazing!
WCT: I was wondering if you are into this Meghan Trainor song "All About That Bass," with her body-empowerment lyrics.
Mary Lambert: Totally. I am so happy for her success. With all of the stuff on the radio I love sifting through and hearing intentional lyrics. I like hearing a new sound and I think she has it. The song and video are so fun. She's adorable so props to her.
WCT: I heard you are a big HGTV watcher like me. I want to change my house after watching it.
Mary Lambert: Oh my God, and I am obsessed with infomercials! I would watch them until five a.m. and not be able to have this conversation with you.
WCT: I know you were into church growing up. Do you go to a gay-supportive one now?
Mary Lambert: I am at a point now where my spirituality is a very personal journey. I am not affiliated with a church at the moment. My family is Episcopalian. I left the evangelical church; I feel ties to too many denominations. Even though I consider myself a Christian, that journey is very personal to me.
WCT: You have a huge arm tattoo. Do you want more?
Mary Lambert: I was six hours [to get my] sleeve and I just wanted to wrap it up! It took about 32 hours, and that is a lot of needle time. Some of the sessions were about eight hours long. I don't really cry when it happens; I kind of go somewhere, and sometimes I sing. When they are in your armpit, man, it's not fun.
My tattoo artist said he saw his work on my arm on television and it's not done yet. There is still some work to be done, but I think I will be good for a couple of years!
Heart on My Sleeve comes out Tuesday, Oct. 14. Visit marylambertsings.com for more on this emerging artist.
