Adam talks to Yahoo Music
Part 2 is posted tomorrow.
On finding his true voice: "I think I'm fully embracing the gay community on this album, maybe even more so that the last one. I think I'm really talking about where I come from."
On the American Music Awards controversy: "I think that whole thing was kind of me proving a point. I think I had something to say that was bigger than just the music. Now I'm going back to, 'Let's make some great songs.' I don't have as much of an agenda or a point to prove. I think it's been done."
On Trespassing vs. For Your Entertainment: "With this album I was able to play it for friends along the way--in various states of consciousness! Like on Halloween, I rented a party bus with friends and we were having a great time, and I played some of the dance music to see how they would react, and it was like an explosion....The last album was kind of this showy, theatrical, over-the-top thing; it was me kind of escaping into this rock-star fantasy that I had always had, almost like a big game of dress-up. I think this one came more from the inside out. It came from me saying, 'Well, what do I want to talk about in my music? What do I want to express from a personal place?'"
On past relationship troubles, before falling in love with his boyfriend Sauli Koskinen: "There was a lot of me trying to be a 'fixer.' I was that kind of guy. I'd meet someone who had 'so much potential' that needed 'help.' I think that was kind of my curse for a long time."
On turning 30 on January 29: "There's a little part of me who's like, 'Whoa, 30, that sounds so crazy!' But I also feel changes coming and happening. I feel much more solid in who I am right now."
On the new song "Cuckoo": "It's basically owning how crazy how think I am. I know I'm a little insane! But there's something kind of cool about being a little bit crazy."
On working with Pharrell Williams: "When they said, 'You're going to go in the studio in Miami with Pharrell,' I said, 'I'm not cool enough! He's too cool for me.' I was intimidated, I was nervous!"
On the new song "Kickin' In": "I think people are gonna be like, 'That's Adam???' It's me, but it's a totally different sound...it's me narrating and giving my commentary of a hot-mess girl at a bar. But I played it for some of my gay friends and they were like, 'Oh yeah, that's about our friend!'"
On the title track: "The song is basically saying, 'You're saying I'm an outsider and to keep out, and I say...f*** you! I'm gonna do what I want to do, and I'm gonna do it the way I want to do it.'"
On collaborating with Queen again: "I actually think this year's there's going to be some more Queen stuff--so stay tuned! I would be honored to sing with them again."