Mary Lambert Spills 'Secrets' With New Single and CD

Mary Lambert made history twice in the past year. First, she released the groundbreaking and heartwarming single "She Keeps Me Warm," perhaps the first hit pop song about romantic love between two women. The song was sampled on "Same Love," Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' stunning, Grammy winning ode to marriage equality.

A few months ago Lambert joined Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, and Madonna, onstage at the Grammys. As Queen Latifah performed the wedding ceremony for thirty-three couples, some of them same sex couples, the foursome performed an emotionally riveting medley of "Same Love" and Madonna's "Open Your Heart." The set concluded with Lambert and Madonna performing a duet of "She'll Keep Me Warm"'s final bars. Lambert appeared to be fighting tears as the audience cheered.

In her newly released single "Secrets," Lambert sings about her bipolar disorder, her highly dysfunctional family, and other "secrets" which she chooses to reveal.

The song tells listeners much about who Mary Lambert is.

"Secrets" will be included on Lambert's new CD, "Heart on My Sleeve," due out on October 14.

Can you describe how it felt to participate in the Grammy wedding?

It was really huge, pivotal, an affirmation of what I do and what we've accomplished. As the date came closer to the performance I realized that it has nothing to do with me. This is about the shift in our culture.

Around what age did you realize that you're a lesbian?

My mom came out when I was six or seven. That's not difficult to process before you're tainted by society. I came out much later. Before that I was boy crazy, so it hit me like a ton of bricks. The only lesbians I knew in high school were very femme, not my type. I like more of a tomboy type, so I thought "I'm not gay." One of the people who helped me come out was a close friend who was thrown out of a Christian school for being gay. His parents sent him to Exodus (ex-gay ministry).

Is your Christian faith at odds with your lesbianism?

Our faith is our own personal story. I have a strong faith that I prefer to keep personal.

How would you categorize your music to new listeners?

I like to say that I never intended to be a pop singer. I intended to be a healer. I hope to urge people to be empathetic and compassionate. People don't relate to each other or see each other as equals, and this causes problems. I want to open up and be vulnerable, and to encourage others to be vulnerable.

Your new CD title "Heart on My Sleeve" is so appropriate, considering how much of yourself you reveal. What kind of responses are you getting?

I've gotten nothing but support. It's all about love. If I had heard songs like "Same Love" and "She Keeps Me Warm" at 17, it would have been life-changing.

Heart on My Sleeve is now available for pre-order at Amazon.