Adam Lambert is the most successful man to ever lose American Idol. His Top 3 performance of Aerosmith’s “Cryin’” back in 2009 had then-judge Paula Abdul declaring, “We’ll be seeing you next week and many years after that.” Lambert ultimately finished the runner-up to season 8 winner Kris Allen. Since then, he has sold more than 3 million albums and 5 million singles worldwide. Now Lambert has new music coming, and it just might be his boldest work yet.

Meaning Behind “You’re in My Heart’ by Rod Stewart and the Famous Girl Who Inspired It.

Adam Lambert: “I Feel Very Free Right Now”

Adam Lambert’s first live performance after losing American Idol was a controversial one. The Indiana native, now 42, felt pressured to tone down his dramatic stage presence in order to find mainstream success. He did, becoming the first openly gay musician to debut atop the Billboard charts. Now, he’s ready to reclaim some of that pizzaz.

Lambert’s six-song EP, Afters, drops Friday (July 19.) And with titles like “Lube” and “Wet Dream,” the artist promises listeners will “sweat, connect and leave all shame and inhabitions [sic] behind.”

“I think I feel very free right now,” Lambert told Them magazine.

Lambert Talks “Weird Pushback”

Lambert added, “The team that I’ve put together, that I’m working with now, are very much allowing me to drive. I can’t say that that was never the case, but it’s the best it’s ever been.”

With that newfound freedom comes plenty of room for creative self-expression. And Lambert says fans can expect it to get real weird.

“The queer community has made so much progress, obviously over the last 15 years, but now we’re facing a lot of weird pushback from right-wing, hyper-conservative parts of our country,” the GRAMMY nominee said. “That might cause some people to react by taking a step back and being more cautious. But in a way, it almost lights a fire in me. It makes me feel like, ‘Well, f— you. I’m going to shine brighter. I’m going to be even gayer.’”

Who Does Lambert Think Should Replace Katy Perry?

With Katy Perry exiting American Idol in May after seven seasons as a judge, everyone has an opinion on who should replace the “Part of Me” singer. Recently, Adam Lambert weighed in with his pick.

“I think LeAnn Rimes would be great,” he said. “[She’s] so lovely, so down to Earth—very spiritual and deep, but great sense of humor. I think she’d be good on the show.”