Mary Lambert (singer)

Mary Lambert
Birth name Mary Danielle Lambert
Born (1989-05-03) May 3, 1989
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • spoken word artist
  • gay rights activist
  • poet
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
  • guitar
  • cello
Years active 2011–present
Labels Capitol
Associated acts
Website marylambertsings.com

Mary Danielle Lambert (born May 3, 1989) is a Seattle-based singer, songwriter and spoken word artist. She worked with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis on a track on their album The Heist. Lambert is the featured artist of their gay rights single,[1] "Same Love". Lambert's contributions to "Same Love" draw upon her experiences as "a lesbian growing up in a tumultuous, Christian upbringing."[2] Lambert took the content she created for "Same Love" and used it to develop the song "She Keeps Me Warm" which she released on July 30, 2013. A music video was released on Vevo on August 24.

Lambert's songs, often emotionally charged, have been considered a mix of Adele, Tori Amos and James Blake.[3][4] Her shows are described as "safe spaces where crying is acceptable and even encouraged."[2] Her debut EP, Letters Don't Talk, was released on July 17, 2012, and peaked at number 18 on the iTunes Singer/Songwriter charts.[5] On December 17, 2013, Lambert released her second EP, Welcome to the Age of My Body, under Capitol Records.[6] Lambert's studio album, Heart On My Sleeve, was released on October 14, 2014, and debuted at number 29 on the Billboard 200.

Lambert performed at the 2016 Gay Christian Network Conference in Houston, Texas,[7] an annual conference that draws over 1300 LGBTQA+ people from all over the world, on January 8, 2016.

Early life

Lambert was sexually abused by her father and others as a child, and has described herself as "end[ing] up being a depressed eight-year-old". She was raised as a Pentecostal, but her family was expelled from the church when she was six after her mother came out as lesbian. Lambert later became an Evangelical Christian, attending Mars Hill Church beginning when she was in high school. She struggled for many years to reconcile her Christianity and her sexuality, even after coming out as lesbian at the age of 17.[8] She eventually concluded that homosexuality does not conflict with Christianity, and that condemnation of gay people is antithetical to the Christian message.[9][10]

Lambert taught herself how to play piano and write songs at age 6, as an escape from her traumatic and abusive household.[2]

Originally from Everett, Washington, Lambert attended Mariner High School between 2003 and 2007. Her mother is also a recording artist.[11] Lambert moved to Seattle in 2007 where she studied at Cornish College of the Arts, and graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Composition.[12]

Lambert is known to be revealing in her poetry and music, often discussing her early childhood traumas, sexual abuse, body image, bipolar disorder, and her sexuality.[8][13][14] Lambert lives in Seattle, WA.[2]

Career

2008–11: Career beginnings and spoken word poetry

Lambert represented Seattle, Washington, in Brave New Voices International Poetry Competition in 2008, which was filmed on HBO. She co-founded Seattle's Collegiate team in 2009, and competed at the College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational.[15]

2012–13: Breakthrough with "Same Love" and 500 Tips for Fat Girls

In 2012, Lambert co-wrote and provided vocals for Macklemore and Ryan Lewis's single "Same Love". In 2013 "Same Love" reached double platinum in the U.S.[16] and became a top ten single in six countries. A music video was released on October 2, 2013, and as of December 2013 it has over 100 million views on YouTube.[17]

In January 2013, Lambert independently released a book of poetry titled 500 Tips for Fat Girls.[18] The book has received positive reviews, with one critic stating that it was "moving and strikingly original exploration".[19] In the summer of 2013, Lambert released her solo debut single, "She Keeps Me Warm", which samples the chorus that she wrote for "Same Love". A music video was released on August 24 of that same year on Lambert's Vevo.[20] As of December 2013, the "She Keeps Me Warm" music video has reached over two million views.

On December 17, 2013, Lambert released her debut major label extended play Welcome to the Age of My Body under Capitol Records. The EP features a new version of "She Keeps Me Warm"; "Body Love", which was broken into two parts and was also featured on her last EP, Letters Don't Talk; and a new song, "Sarasvati".

On December 18, 2013, Lambert announced on her website that her debut album is scheduled for release in the Spring of 2014.[21]

2014–present: Heart On My Sleeve and upcoming second studio album

For the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, Lambert was nominated for two awards, one for Song of the Year for "Same Love" and the other for Album of the Year for The Heist as a featured artist.[22] On January 26, 2014, Lambert performed "Same Love" alongside Macklemore and Ryan Lewis at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards. During their performance, Queen Latifah read marriage vows for 33 couples on stage.[23] Shortly after Latifah read the vows, Madonna came on stage and began singing with Lambert.[24] After the performances, Lambert's debut single "She Keeps Me Warm" started gaining more airplay and selling more copies.[25] Radio play of "She Keeps Me Warm" reportedly increased by 24%.[25]

On February 9, 2014, Lambert announced on her official website that she was filming a video for "Body Love".[26] On March 17, 2014, Lambert announced on her website that she would be touring with Gavin DeGraw and Matt Nathanson.[27] Eric Rosse is producing Lambert's debut album.[28]

A music video for Lambert's "Body Love" Part 1 and 2 was released on April 22, 2014.[29] As of May 8, the video has received over 220 thousand views on VEVO.

In 2014, Lambert was included as part of The Advocate's annual "40 under 40" list.[30] In December 2014, Lambert took part in a United Nations panel for promotion of diversity within families.[31]

In October 2014, Lambert's debut album Heart on My Sleeve was released and included the hit "Secrets" which peaked at number one on the U.S. Dance chart.[32]

She is currently working on her new album.[33]

Artistry

Musical style

Lambert wrote every song on her first two extended plays, Letters Don't Talk and Welcome To the Age of My Body. Lambert's songwriting style has often been compared to Adele, Tori Amos, Bon Iver, and James Blake.[3][4] Lambert stated in a Huffington Post interview that her music and poetry contain "A lot of darkness, and sadness and grief."[34] Lambert primarily writes about her early childhood traumas, sexual abuse, body image, bipolar disorder, and her sexuality. The "Same Love" chorus draws on Lambert's experiences as a lesbian growing up in a tumultuous, Christian upbringing. The repeating line, "Not crying on Sundays," for example, echoes the way she felt after leaving Sunday services in the Evangelical church.[2] Lambert wrote the chorus's hook in two hours. "Body Love" and "Sarasvati" both feature Lambert using a talk-rhythm singing style.

When asked why she wrote the chorus for "Same Love", Lambert said that she wanted to write a song that was "genuine and authentic to my experience."[35]

Stage

Lambert's live performances are described as "safe spaces where crying is acceptable and even encouraged."[2]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[36]		 AUS
[37]
Heart on My Sleeve 29 61

Extended plays

Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
Heat
[38]		 US
Folk
[39]
Letters Don't Talk 34 —
Welcome to the Age of My Body 20 23

Singles

As lead artist

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
US
[40]		 US
Adult
[41]		 US
Dance
[42]		 AUS
[37]		 NZ
[43]
2013 "She Keeps Me Warm" — 20 — — — Welcome to the Age of My Body
2014 "Secrets" 66 12 1 39 40 Heart On My Sleeve
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart

As featured artist

Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[44]		 AUS
[37]		 AUT
[45]		 CAN
[46]		 FRA
[47]		 IRE
[48]		 NL
[49]		 NZ
[43]		 SWI
[50]		 UK
[51]
"Same Love"
(Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Mary Lambert)		 2012 11 1 19 4 19 6 18 1 33 6
  • RIAA: 3× Platinum[16]
  • ARIA: 4× Platinum[52]
  • BPI: Silver[53]
  • MC: Platinum[54]
  • RMNZ: 2× Platinum[55]
 The Heist

Tours

References

  1. ↑ Macklemore (July 18, 2012). "Blog post - Same Love". macklemore.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Meredith Bennett-Smith (May 18, 2013). "Mary Lambert, Singer Featured On Macklemore's 'Same Love,' Talks Songwriting, Lesbians, Vulnerability". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  3. 1 2 Lovseth, Josh (August 21, 2012). "On Repeat: Mary Lambert – 'Forget Me'". Soundonthesound.com. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  4. 1 2 feckingdeadly (April 3, 2013). "Mary Lambert | Letters Don't Talk | @MaryLambertSing - Deadly Music!". Feckingdeadly.com. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Mary Lambert - Letters Don't Talk". Marylambert.bandcamp.com. July 17, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  6. ↑ Caramanica, Jon (November 12, 2013). "Mary Lambert Breaks Out on Her Own". New York Times. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  7. ↑ "2016 Gay Christian Network Conference, Houston, TX". GCN Conference. Archived from the original on September 18, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  8. 1 2 Annie Hollenbeck (May 9, 2013). "Lesbian Macklemore Collaborator on 'Same Love' is Poised for the Big Time". SheWired.com. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  9. ↑ Nicole Brodeur (January 13, 2013). "Mary Lambert: ‘Same Love’ singer strikes out on her own". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on October 26, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  10. ↑ Mary Lambert (December 29, 2012). "gay christians are totally okay dog". marylambertsings.com. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  11. ↑ Nadia Elkharadly (March 2, 2013). "Love Talk with Mary Lambert". weraddicted.com. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Artist Bio - Mary Lambert". marylambertsings.com. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  13. ↑ Mary Lambert (April 9, 2012). "Body Love - music video". Live version of "Body Love". YouTube. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  14. ↑ Prosser, Keegan (August 21, 2012). "Mary Lambert: New Verse, Same Love". Seattleweekly.com. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  15. ↑ "College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational". Acui.org. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  16. 1 2 "Macklemore And Ryan Lewis Join The RIAA Diamond Club". Forbes.com. November 20, 2015. Archived from the original on January 8, 2016. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Same Love feat. Mary Lambert (Official Video)". YouTube. October 2, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  18. ↑ Vanessa (March 6, 2013). "Almost Famous: Mary Lambert". Autostraddle. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  19. ↑ Mary Lambert. "500 tips for fat girls by Mary Lambert — Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists". Goodreads.com. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Mary Lambert - She Keeps Me Warm (2013 Version)". YouTube. August 24, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Welcome To The Age Of My Body Is Heeeeeeeeere". Marylambertsings.com. December 18, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Grammy Awards 2014: Full Nominations List". Billboard. December 6, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  23. ↑ Dan Avery (January 26, 2014). "Macklemore, Madonna, Queen Latifah Host Gay Weddings". newnownext.com. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  24. ↑ McRady, Rachel (January 26, 2014). "Madonna Performs "Same Love" With Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, Mary Lambert - Us Weekly". Usmagazine.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  25. 1 2 "Mary Lambert's 'She Keeps Me Warm' Rises At Radio After Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Success". Billboard. January 27, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  26. ↑ "London! And the Grammys! Not Grandmas!". marylambertsings.com. February 9, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  27. ↑ "Tour Announcement - Mary Lambert". marylambertsings.com. March 17, 2014. Retrieved March 23, 2014.
  28. ↑ "Facebook - Mary Lambert - March 21, 2014". facebook.com. March 21, 2014. Retrieved March 23, 2014.
  29. ↑ "Mary Lambert - Body Love (Part 1 & 2)". YouTube MaryLambertVEVO channel. April 22, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  30. ↑ "Mary Lambert's 'Oversharing' Is Helping Us Heal". Advocate.com. July 29, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  31. ↑ "United Nations Celebrates Family Diversity". Human Rights Watch. December 10, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Hot Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. November 22, 2014. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  33. ↑ "Mary Lambert on Twitter – August 30, 2015". Twitter.
  34. ↑ Julie Gerstein (August 26, 2013). "5 Things To Know About Mary Lambert, The Female Vocalist On Macklemore's "Same Love" Song". The Frisky (website). Thefrisky.com. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  35. ↑ "Mary Lambert: Why I Wrote 'Same Love'". etonline.com. January 27, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  36. ↑ "Allmusic: Mary Lambert - awards". Allmusic.com. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  37. 1 2 3 Hung, Steffen. "Discography Mary Lambert". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  38. ↑ "Mary Lambert: Chart History - Heatseekers Albums". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  39. ↑ "Mary Lambert: Chart History - Folk Albums". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  40. ↑ "Mary Lambert: Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  41. ↑ "Mary Lambert: Chart History - Adult Pop Songs". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  42. ↑ "Mary Lambert: Chart History - Dance Club Songs". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  43. 1 2 Hung, Steffen. "Discography Mary Lambert". New Zealand Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  44. ↑ Peak positions for the featured singles in the US:
  45. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "Discographie Mary Lambert". Austrian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  46. ↑ Peak positions for the featured singles in Canada:
  47. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "Discographie Mary Lambert". French Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  48. ↑ Peak positions for the featured singles in Ireland:
  49. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "Discografie Mary Lambert". Dutch Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  50. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "Discographie Mary Lambert". Swiss Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  51. ↑ Peak positions for the featured singles in the UK:
  52. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2013 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  53. ↑ "Certified Awards – MACKLEMORE/LEWIS/LAMBERT – Same Love". Manual search required. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  54. ↑ "Gold and Platinum Search (Same Love)". Music Canada. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
  55. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart – 29 April 2013". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved April 28, 2013.

External links

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