Adam Lambert got his first look at his upcoming album cover this week, and he’s signaling a public reveal isn’t far off.
Lambert shared a post on Instagram documenting the moment he first saw the finished artwork. Watching someone see their own work for the first time is a specific kind of moment. Lambert chose to share it. He captioned it “seeing my album cover for the first time” and added that fans would get their look soon. He also named the creative team behind it: photographer Nick Knight, designer Nikita Vlassenko, and Knight’s creative platform Show Studio.
Nick Knight is one of the most influential photographers working in music and fashion today. His portfolio spans decades of landmark imagery. He founded Show Studio in 2000 and has spent the years since pushing visual art in new directions. He’s worked with artists like Lady Gaga and Björk, and his visuals for those projects have become as memorable as the music itself. Getting Knight to shoot an album cover signals serious artistic intent.
Design work was handled by Nikita Vlassenko through Show Studio. Knight built Show Studio into a space that treats image-making as a discipline in its own right. The platform has hosted photographers, directors, and artists pushing visual storytelling well beyond standard promotional shoots. Having that team assembled around a new record says a lot about how Lambert is approaching this project.
That context carries weight. Lambert’s last solo studio album, Velvet, came out in 2019. The years since have been full of touring as the lead vocalist for Queen + Adam Lambert alongside Brian May and Roger Taylor. The band’s live show has kept Lambert at the center of stadium-sized stages around the world. But the solo chapter has been quiet for a long stretch. A new album backed by this level of creative investment marks a real shift. His years performing alongside May and Taylor make a return to solo recording a significant step.
No title or release date has been announced. Lambert’s “this will be you guys soon” is about as specific as anyone has right now. It doesn’t sound like a tease from someone still months out from finishing things.
His track record gives fans good reason to pay attention. He finished second on the eighth season of American Idol in 2009. His career moved fast from there. His debut, For Your Entertainment, arrived the same year. It announced a voice that could handle just about any genre. Trespassing hit number one on the Billboard 200 in 2012. The Original High came in 2015 and leaned into polished pop. Velvet in 2019 drew on classic rock and pop influences and earned strong reviews for its ambition. Each record has taken its own direction. The question with a new album is always where he’s pointing next.
Nick Knight’s involvement adds real weight to that question. The photographer has a way of positioning artists at significant moments in their careers. His work tends to frame its subjects as more than musicians making records. He positions them as artists with something specific to say about a moment in culture. Lambert pairing with Knight and Show Studio at the start of a new era is a strong opening move.
Lambert said the cover reveal is coming soon. The creative work is done. Now it’s just a matter of time.
