ADAM LAMBERT

Anyone who has ever seen Adam Lambert perform knows that he carries within him an unquenchable thirst to sing better, to live better, to love better, to be better. “It’s this hunger,” he says. “You can’t sum it up too easily because it runs deep, and certain things quell it for a minute, and you're like, ‘Oh, I’m satisfied.’ Then you realize, ‘No, I’m not.’ Everybody’s chasing something.”

On The Original High, Lambert’s third studio album, the international superstar keenly captures the piercing longing of trying to recapture the exquisite rush that comes with any first—from first kiss to first hit—followed by the inevitable dashed expectations.

The hypnotic, pulsating title track dares to question what’s behind the sense of melancholy that dusts over people as they struggle with the discontent that comes with their dreams not coming true— or coming true and then seeming hollow. The set adventurously balances dark and light themes and sonically pushes pop boundaries with its experimental beats and quirky rhythms.

The Original High is Lambert’s first for Warner Bros. Records. Eager to snap him up, the label contacted Lambert the day after he announced his departure from RCA Records, home to his first two albums. No wonder they were so interested: the multi-platinum selling singer-songwriter’s work has garnered such accolades as a Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, a BMI Award for Award-Winning Song, two GLAAD Awards, a Young Hollywood Award for Artist of the Year, a Teen Choice Award for Choice Male Reality/Variety Star, and a People's Choice Award nomination for Breakout Musical Artist.

For The Original High, Lambert turns up the vulnerability and tones down the vocal acrobatics. His soaring range and powerful vocal strength remain, but he purposefully dials back some of the pageantry, and, in doing so, creates an enthralling intimacy with the listener.

Nowhere is that more evident than on first single, “Ghost Town.” The haunting track about heartache and loss of faith starts with a lone acoustic guitar before exploding into an irresistible whistle-laden dance track.

In the past, Lambert was content to hide behind his often over-the-top glam persona, but on The Original High, he has no use for artifice as he steps confidently and boldly back into the spotlight.

Aiding him on the journey are Max Martin and Shellback, with whom Lambert had worked on his first album. After hearing the title track and other demos that Lambert wrote in Los Angeles, they were so excited about the direction in which the he was moving that they wanted to oversee the creation of the full album and signed on as executive producers.

Their commitment provided Lambert with a dream situation: a powerhouse team behind him to guide the process with consistency and creativity.

Lambert relocated to Martin’s Swedish base for two months, working with the legendary producer’s team of songwriters, the Wolf Cousins. They provided a safe haven for Lambert to experiment and dream, surrounding him with like-minded songwriters, musicians and producers, all wanting to go on his musical journey with him.

Among the writers he worked with was Swedish sensation Tove Lo (“Habits”), who duets with him on the fun, R&B-spiced “Rumors.” The pairing allowed both artists to venture into a style they aren’t normally associated with for, exhilarating results.

A San Diego, California native, Lambert stepped into the national spotlight in 2009 when he became a finalist on the eighth season of American Idol.  His vocal range, along with his unique style, made him a standout contestant and he quickly won over millions of viewers.  After the season wrapped, Lambert released his successful RCA Records debut, For Your Entertainment, which has sold nearly 2 million copies worldwide and featured the Grammy-nominated radio smash,"Whataya Want From Me.” In June of 2010, Lambert embarked on his first headlining tour playing to sold out crowds in the US, Europe and Asia.

Lambert released his sophomore album, "Trespassing," in 2012. The set debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart and made history as the first openly gay artist to have an album debut at No. 1.

Lambert then showed off his acting chops via a multi-episode arc on Season Five of “Glee” as NYU student Elliott Gilbert. He collaborated on superstar DJ Avicii on “Lay Me Down,” and also continued as the lead singer for Queen, playing alongside founding members Brian May and Roger Taylor and selling out venues throughout the world.

In Queen, Lambert found a great band of brothers and their relationship continues with six South American dates in September. May even contributes a blistering guitar solo on The Original High’s “Lucy” that Lambert predicts will blow people’s minds.

Chances are The Original High will blow people’s minds as well as fans discover a new depth to Lambert’s multi-facted talent. For his part, Lambert wants the album to provide solace and joy to anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider. “I hope that the album can pull people together in realizing they’re not alone and in realizing that if you sing about it or talk about it or dance it out, that’s the best medicine.”

PENTATONIX

Since bursting onto the scene in 2011, Platinum selling recording artists Pentatonix have sold more than 2 million albums in the U.S. alone, won a Grammy Award, sold out venues worldwide, have amassed over 1.1 billion views on their YouTube channel with over 9 million subscribers and appeared in the feature film Pitch Perfect 2. All 6 of their releases have peaked within the Top 5 on Billboard’s Digital Albums Chart with 5 of those releases reaching the Top 10 or higher on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart. Most recently, the group received 2 gold certifications for their “Daft Punk” medley and cover of Imagine Dragons’ “Radioactive” ft. Lindsey Stirling.

Their 2014 holiday album - That’s Christmas To Me - sold more than 1.2 million copies in the U. S., which was the 4th best-selling album of 2014. This past summer the group released their very first documentary (On My Way Home) which follows the quintet on their sold out 2015 North American Tour featuring behind-the-scenes footage, life performance and the making of their debut studio album, Pentatonix. The group just released their first single, “Can’t Sleep Love” which has already garnered over 5.1 million views. Pentatonix will be released on October 16th via RCA Records.

RACHEL PLATTEN

Hands sweaty, heart pounding, Rachel Platten stands backstage at the International Soca Monarch Finals, about to take the stage for the very first time to sing in front of 80,000 people. This is moment that would forever change her life. “When I stepped on [that] stage, it was like I was struck with a bolt of electricity,” recalls the pop artist. “I had that aha moment of  ‘Oh God, this is what I’m supposed to do with my life!’”

In that moment, Rachel discovered her true calling, but making it a reality would take a bit longer. “All you need to know between now and then is that it was 10 years of accepting any and every gig, believing when there wasn’t much to believe in, and lots of cereal with no milk,” she says. 

In the next decade, groundwork would be laid for “Fight Song,” the first single from her Columbia Records debut. “Fight Song” is an uplifting anthem that perfectly embodies Rachel’s own vulnerability and power, with a “don’t give up” message that resonates across all audiences. 

Growing up in Boston, Rachel recalls harmonizing with her family to finely crafted pop songs - from Sam Cooke to The Beatles - that dominated her parents’ vinyl collection. As a teenager, Rachel gravitated towards, and began to become affected by, hip-hop and female singer-songwriters. “My CD collection was Tori Amos and Patti Griffin but then A Tribe Called Quest and Nas.” The commonality between the two seemingly different genres: confessional and vulnerable songwriting.  

As a kid, Rachel dreamt about music as a career but never really thought it could happen in real life. “I grew up playing classical piano and I knew I could sing but I had no model to follow creatively.  The idea of growing up to be an artist seemed impossible.” However, the electricity she felt on stage a decade earlier inspired Rachel to start chasing what she once thought was an impossible dream. 

After finishing college, Rachel immediately set out for New York City where she took up residence in the very apartment building on MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village where Bob Dylan once lived. Naturally, she found a band on Craigslist and started performing in clubs around the city. The next few years consisted of paying dues through a mix of temping during the day and getting fired a lot, gigging until 4am, and lugging an 80-pound keyboard to her fifth floor walk-up night after night. Despite the struggle and the setbacks, Rachel loved being on stage, even if at times nobody was listening. 

Rachel, however, was able to hold her own. She is equal parts magic and pragmatic. An International Relations major who walks around with a fistful of crystals in her pocket. She commands a room with her infectious smile, laughter, and her ability to make a stranger feel as though they are the only person in the room. And she’s gotten here through a talent that is driven by determination and her empathy to connect with people. 

When it was time to branch out beyond New York, Rachel sat in a coffee shop on MacDougal Street, made up an email address, and contacted small coffee shops around the country as “her agent.” People wrote back and she soon booked her first tour. After that, she teamed up with a talented young manager, Freddy Wexler, who broadened her horizons and sent her on a writing trip to Europe to work with several songwriters and producers. After this trip, she pulled her demos together into an album and signed with an indie label that released her single, “1000 Ships.” Despite some moderate success with the record, her single, and management, the indie record deal had all run its course. 

“I felt crazy sometimes that I still believed in myself when there were no signs that I should.” During this time, a conversation with her soon to be manager, Ben Singer, helped reignite her passion.  “Ben helped me realize that I had to start my own fire and my songs would be the sparks.” 

After two years of writing, Rachel would find her first big spark with “Fight Song.” She turned inward by telling her own story through it. Turns out it was just the message people needed. “The reactions were honest, and intense.  People have been sending me the most beautiful stories of how they refuse to give up,” she recalls. One such story included an incredible woman named Christine, who adopted “Fight Song” as her battle cry against a cancer. After hearing how much “Fight Song” had inspired Christine, Rachel taught 150 of Christine’s friends and family the song for an emotional surprise performance. Sadly, Christine would later succumb but her legacy of love, hope and courage stays with Rachel today.

The fire that “Fight Song” ignited has connected not only with music fans but also Columbia Records. Now planning her major label debut, Rachel is touring the U.S. with Andy Grammer, performing a number of songs from her cache. Songs like “Lone Ranger,” a nod to her gutsy road warrior side; “Congratulations,” a passive aggressive jab that she wrote through angry tears after a fight with a friend; and “Better Place,” a stripped down song with a classic melody that should be the wedding song of 2015. 

Ask Rachel what she wants people to take away from her music and she says, “I’m in love with the idea of connecting people. Bringing people together is to me, the most important thing we can do in this life. I feel like that’s my mission with my music. I think that’s why I’m getting this chance right now.”

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