Mary Lambert is good at two things; crying and singing. Nowhere is this better reflected than on her debut EP ‘letters don’t talk’ released in July of 2012. Burrowed away with her friends in the woods of Sequim, Washington recording with the production team of Dungeness, she spent 2 years finessing the heartbreaking collection of songs. In ‘letters don’t talk’, Lambert has carved a niche for herself, winding profound lyricism around breathy, haunting melodies.
As a performer, Lambert exemplifies the traditions of a singer/songwriter while melding a background in spoken-word. With the powerful body-image poem “I Know Girls (Body Love)” going viral on youtube, letters firmly established Mary as a formidable unsigned artist. This status was cemented when the lesbian singer-songwriter paired up with the internationally acclaimed hip-hop duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis to help write and sing their revolutionary single, “Same Love”. The track, an honoring of gay marriage, has led Mary to tour nationally with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, allowed her to reach millions by performing live on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, VH1, and garnered tens of millions of views on YouTube. “Same Love” has reached double platinum in Australia, charted #1 in January, and has peaked at #89 on Billboard. It is no wonder that Mary has become one of the most talked about new artists in Seattle.
Mary is a music composition graduate of Cornish College of the Arts. Surrounded by talented composers and faculty such as Janice Giteck and the Seattle Symphony’s Adam Stern, it was at Cornish that she honed her classical composition skills, including writing a full symphony piece for the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra. Although established as a bright modern composer, Mary’s songs are far from the pretension of academia. Her writing is accessible and thoughtful, and her charisma and sense of humor shine on stage, providing a striking juxtaposition for her sometimes dark and vulnerable lyricism.
Lambert self-released her debut book of poetry, “500 Tips for Fat Girls” in January of 2013. The book is a brutally honest depiction of body image, rape, incest, and homosexuality. Lambert says of the work: “ To me, most curvy women end up having to navigate themselves through a frustrating process to find self-love. I think that that navigation to self-love is universal. This book is a collection of poetry exploring that… I believe in the power of vulnerability. When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, we have the most beautiful opportunity to find human connection, to see humanity in it’s greatest light.”
Mary Lambert is also revered as an accomplished spoken word artist. She competed in Russell Simmons’ “Brave New Voices” International Competition in 2008 (filmed on HBO), and was a co-founder of Seattle’s first College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational (CUPSI) collegiate team. Mary Lambert is Seattle’s 2011 Grand Poetry Slam Champion and the 2012 Northwest Regional Slam winner.
Dear Mary,
I felt the need to “Leave you a reply” as I stumbled across your Ep on spotify whilst at work and literally had to stop what I was doing and crank the volume up.
When someone’s voice/lyrics/music touches me in such a way I feel it is a gift for whatever reason that something can touch me so – so here I am rambling to you about it!
I just think when something like that happens the person should know as it must be a nice feeling?
But anyway, well done on being you!!
Thanks again for “That feeling” (You know the one where you put a song on repeat and when you hear it after a long hard day at work it instantly soothes you like a comfort blanket)
Much love and sparkly things.
Kitty x
Mary Lambert,
Your voice makes me smile. You are an amazing beautiful woman. Keep it rolling.
Beautiful, sensual, and gifted…. killing me softly with her song. I can’t think of the last time I felt so connected to a tune. Very special and talented lady. I would scoop you in my arms and listen to you intently. Please be Portland bound soon. And best wishes in your future. (Hug)
You definitely MAKE “Same Love.” No disrespect to Macklemore, whose verses are fantastic. But when you sing “my love, my love, my love, she keeps me warm” my heart breaks and breaks. Just bought your EP. Never stop.
Amazing voice. Loved the Ellen performance.
You are brilliant
You have an absolutely stunning voice <3
I heard you for the first time on Same Love, and have loved you ever since!
Much love xoxo
I love Body Love so much, you’re amazing!
P.S You’re a total babe.
When I heard ‘Same Love’ for the first time, which was while I was watching BET, I couldn’t help but cry during the chorus. Macklemore brought me close to tears, and your voice made me cry. It seemed that there was actual emotion in the lyrics you sang, and I haven’t heard a song with that in it for a long time. Other than the fact that I came to adore Macklemore’s songs, I think you were the one who made me immediately want to download ‘Same Love’. So, thank you.
Very shortly this website will be famous among all blogging
and site-building people, due to it’s good posts
You inspire me… No.. More than inspire, you lift me higher than I’ve ever felt before. You’re brilliant. A genious. I feel your voice and I feel your pain, and I relate to every breath and every note and every pain-staking, gut-wrenching lyric. You’re beautiful in every way, and while listening to your voice right this very moment, I’m on the verge of tears..
You keep me sane, and keep me fighting for my girl. Thank you, with all my heart.
Thank you.
Your work is absolutely brilliant, inspiring, and completely uplifting. It helps me get up in the morning and continue my day knowing that people like you, and many others, exist. Keep up your work, because it definitely is helping others and reaping rewards.
(Do more shows in Canada too…!)
Sweet girl, I could be your mom ( I have 4 daughters ). Iam too old to be commenting like this, oh well. You have soul that speaks softly. There is something special about you. If you see a grandma & grandpa in the front row at a concert, ya never know- could be me & hubby. I love Maklemore and Ryan- thats how I found you. I’m supposed to be listening to 90′s soft rock, yea right! Love and respect to you and the guys. She keeps me warm……
I’m so enamoured with your voice. Everything about your EP makes my heart soar and it’s beautiful. Your voice is so captivating and your music just fruhfgyreguyhbgjts.
Someday please find your way to London!
You have a nice voice. Too bad it’s the work of the devil because you sing of fornication with girls. You sin though sin is sin, being gay is an abomination. YOU CHOSE.
Thank you for your strength, eloquence, vulnerability, & putting into words exactly what nearly every curvy queer girl has felt. Tears & cold chills encompass me every time I hear your stunning voice. Thank you for being brave & sharing your heart with the world. <3
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