Unruly black hair, wild eye liner, black nail polish and splendid voice: these are the noticeable signs for American Idol alum Adam Lambert. Since he rose to fame in 2009, Lambert has made a lot of Chinese fans. But it wasn't until the finale of The Voice of China last September that he managed to reach a larger Chinese audience.

That night, he sang "Trespassing" and co-performed his "Whataya Want From Me" with a contestant named Zhang Wei. His performance ignited the Chinese audience with his high tenor voice and vibrant style.

For those who missed his live performances before, there's still a chance to catch one. On March 3, Lambert will give his first solo concert in China at Shanghai's Mercedes-Benz Arena. The concert is one stop on his world tour that will take the 31-year-old singer across countries in Asia and Europe from February 17 to March 22.

"I feel there is a deep love of music and artistry in China. I can't wait to connect more!" Lambert told Global Times, "Get ready to come to a great party!"

An idol to many

Since the world tour is an important part of promoting his second album, Lambert told Global Times that most of the songs for the Shanghai concert are from Trespassing, but will also include familiar hits from his first album For Your Entertainment (2009). "All the songs in my set list are selected by me and the team carefully," he said.

Released in May 2012, Trespassing has been a huge success, selling nearly 80,000 copies and taking the No.1 spot on the Billboard 200 album chart in its first week. The achievement set a milestone for Billboard 200 because Lambert is the first openly gay singer to occupy the top position.

Lambert said that the new album shows his most vulnerable side, his ideas, dreams, fears and struggles. "Trespassing is more honest and self-aware. I think it paints a clearer picture of who I am and what I want out of life," he told Global Times. In the album, he shows his bravery and sincerity as usual. In the single "Outlaws of Love" he openly defends gay love.

Also serving as executive producer on the album, he regards it a chance to explore. Trespassing "is part buoyant dance-pop with a funk-rock sensibility, and part brooding introspection," he said, adding that he did a lot more writing for it than his first album.

He cooperated with many well-known producers such as Dr Luke, Pharrell Williams, Benny Blanco and Josh Abraham as well as songwriters like Claude Kelly, Bonnie McKee, Sam Sparro and Nile Rogers in the process. "Collaboration is a key part of creating great art and learning. I can't wait to write more," said Lambert.

There is no fixed direction of his musical style. His songs in both albums boast not only rock, lyrical ballads and disco but also dance music and "acids."

"It is hard to define his musical style. The most accurate word to summarize it might be 'changeable,'" a fan named Lesliee said.

As a talent show singer, Lambert is gifted at imitating other artists like Lady Gaga and the late Freddie Mercury of Queen. To some, his cooperation with famous producers and songwriters somewhat overshadows his own uniqueness. Some worry his gift for imitation might be a disadvantage in forming his own style. "I don't think of myself that way. I feel that I'm just being myself. … I feel lucky that I am able to do so," Lambert responded.

"Singers usually start with copying and exploring their unique side," said Blue Butterfly, a music industry commentator in Guangdong Province. "Even in imitating others, Lambert can form his own music style by combining his special build and gorgeous stage style." But he added that Lambert could also reflect his personality more by abandoning the shadow of predecessors.

A hero for some

The American Idol star born in Indianapolis in 1982 has come a long way in his music career. He started performing in musicals since childhood and made it on his own in Hollywood for years. But he gained little fame until the eighth season of American Idol in 2009. Though the final tally placed him as the runner-up behind Kris Allen, Lambert is regarded by many as the champion of that season. The use of "Time for Miracles," off his debut album as the theme song for the movie 2012 demonstrated Lambert's vocal prowess to a worldwide audience.

After American Idol, Lambert wasted no time coming out with For Your Entertainment. The album got help from producers Max Martin and Sam Sparro and reached third place on the Billboard 200 chart, selling almost 200,000 copies in its first week in the US. Then he launched his first worldwide concert tour in 2010, released two mini albums of live performances and came out with his second album.

These achievements - including a Grammy nomination in 2010 - make Lambert a standout among many other American Idol (AI) contestants who usually fade when the season ends.

"He does not follow others. Compared to other AI singers, Lambert is clearer about his own peculiarities, either in music or in image," commented Blue Butterfly.
Lambert's popularity is also due to his brave and sincere personality. He declared his sexual orientation soon after his success through American Idol, in spite of the impact it might make on his career.

Lambert's current tour started shortly after he was honored the Unity Award by the We Are Family Foundation (WAFF) for his contribution to spreading peaceful messages through music. As reported earlier this year, Lambert dedicated his 31st birthday on January 29 to WAFF (a non-profit organization founded by legendary record producer Nile Rodgers) and asked his family, friends and fans to donate.

Reflecting back, Lambert said he was grateful for American Idol. "I came out from AI and I owe the show my career and I had a great experience on it," he told Global Times, "The transition from TV to the music biz is indeed a bit complicated, but this is my path and I'm sticking to it!"

He provided some suggestions for young people in China who seek a future through talent shows. "Be prepared to make sacrifices and compromises - the music biz is a gamble and requires patience, but as long as you love your music and your audience, you're on the right track."