With a self-described style of heartbroken soul, British singer/songwriter Adele has stolen the spotlight with her bluesy voice and deeply poetic lyrics. Rather than stifling the sound of her sorrow from love losing steam, Adele grabbed a thick pen and started writing. The final creation turned into her debut album, 19 which is responsible for four Grammy Award nominations including Record of the Year, Best New Artist, Song of the Year for “Chasing Pavements” and Best Female Pop Performance. I sat beside Adele in her tour bus before her show at the Bluebird Theatre in Denver, Colorado for a chat.
(Adele has a thick coating of glitter and eye makeup with heavy, striking lashes).
Oh, my. How do you blink?
I don’t know. I’ve got two pairs of eye-lashes on as well. Do you live here?
I live in Boulder. But, I’m originally from the east coast. I heard you’re performing in New York on your birthday (Roseland Ballroom, May 5th). Is that your first time?
New York? Oh, no. I’ve been there a million times. But I’m playing there on my twenty-first birthday. Legal everywhere.
Do you have a favorite place in the States so far?
I really liked Omaha, you know. But I love San Francisco a lot, a lot, a lot. And New York and Seattle.
And you’re going to Salt Lake City tomorrow?
Then Seattle, then Portland, then San Fran, then LA and then home. So far we’ve been to New York, Philly, Boston, Washington, St. Paul in Minneapolis, Chicago, then here.
Do you have trouble keeping track of your location?
Once. I was in Washington and I went on and said: Hello Philadelphia. And everyone was like: What? So I said: Oh, I was just watching Dave Chapelle and there was a joke about it and I had to cover it up.
Do you feel at home on stage?
Yeah. Depends how my day is like, really. If I’m having a good day then I’m always really alive on stage, really chatty and mouthy. But if I’m having a bad day then I’m a bit quiet, really. But yeah, yeah. I love performing. I love going and performing to live people who mean something, rather than all the critics. There’s always those sterile environments when you’re first starting out and you have to do showcases and stuff. I love being on tour, but being on tour is hard as well because–not the shows–but the lifestyle is really hard because you’re away from your family and your friends. Especially when you’re coming from another country, you know what I mean, and sharing a bus with like, 11 sweaty boys. Isn’t that glamorous? I realize you’re probably the first girl I’ve spoken to since I’ve been here actually.
Really?
In the States. It’s either been gay guys or straight guys.
Well, speaking of critics, you are nominated for four Grammy’s.
I know. I know. That I don’t mind. That’s amazing.
Are you the type of person that says: Well, it’s just an honor to be nominated?
Well, when it comes to the Grammy’s I am. I feel like I’ve won a million awards by being nominated. I never, ever in my wildest dreams thought I’d ever be included in the Grammy world. If I don’t win, I don’t win.
Your album is about love. Or, love that lost its momentum. Did you find it helpful in writing your album? To be inspired by heartbreak?
Yeah, very. I’m struggling on this tour a little bit because I’m trying to move on but it’s kind of hard to move on when you’re singing about the same thing. And the boy knows he’s got this hold over me now because of the record, you know what I mean?
You’re still in contact with him?
Yeah, yeah, he’s my friend. I still like him a lot because like, I’ve had great success out of the album and he still works at a phone shop. (Laughter) At the moment, I’m really struggling like, in terms of today, I thought of changing all the words to my songs. But yeah, it’s really therapeutic. I’m having a great time.
Are you always writing?
No, I find it really difficult writing on tour because I’m really distracted all the time with schedules and all that and missing home and stuff. In England, the album has been out for almost a year now so it’s kind of finished there–the campaign for the first album. But when I’m home back in London, I’m not really working. Maybe like, two days a week I’m working. So, like the other days, I’m chilling out. (Refers to cigarette) Do you mind me smoking?
No, please. I’m a recovering smoker.
(Laughs) So, yeah, I’m just chilling out, seeing friends, and then writing songs. But, not on the road, no.
Do you have a writing practice? Or, do just act on inspiration when it comes?
Yeah, yeah. It just depends. It depends on the kind of mood I’m in and what it is that’s inspiring me. Sometimes I get the chord progression first, sometimes I get the bass line, sometimes I get a phrase or melody or something like that. Or, if I’m out and I get really pissed off about something, I might run home and write a song. Usually when I wake up in the middle of the night to go for a wee, that’s usually when an idea comes.
Wow. Interesting. You heard it right here. Do you have any vices?
What do you mean?
Any kind of wicked behavior. Something that may not be good for you but you still love to indulge in. Like, for me it’s peanut butter and black licorice.
Okay. Cigarettes. Tea. English Breakfast tea. PG Tips.
PG Tips?
Yeah, it’s a British brand. And…love. Boys. I love having a boy in my life.
Is there a boy in your life right now?
I don’t know. I think so. I’m not sure. I think I’m reading it all wrong.
Is it hard to meet people now?
Yes. (Laughs) I’m just moaning to you. Feels like one of my girlfriends with me. Yeah, a little bit. I don’t mean to be like, a dickhead when it comes to it but you have to question people’s motives a little bit. So I don’t really meet like, brand new people. Like meet at a bar or anything. It’s usually a friend of a friend. My circle of friends have become a lot smaller because people are selling stories on me in England. I don’t know. It’s alright that it’s kind of smaller now. My best friends are closer than we ever were. It’s like, rather than spreading yourself really thin trying to see everyone–especially when you’re away and you get home and it’s like, two weeks–at least you can kind of relax and see everyone. So, yeah it is kind of hard to meet new people but I don’t mind–I’m living the dream. I don’t mind sacrificing it.
Is age mentioned a lot with you?
Yeah, all the time. It’s fine really. Sometimes it’s a little bit patronizing but I don’t really mind.
Well, it’s very conditional because some people have lived several lifetimes at 19, while others 30 years older are confined or less open to adventure or spontaneity.
Yeah, totally.
Do you have any advice you’d feel comfortable giving to young listeners?
Just live for yourself and not for anyone else. Don’t rely on other people to make you feel a certain way and don’t rely on other people to help you get places. People always think I’ve had a lifetime of heartache and I haven’t. It’s just one relationship but it’s become more magnified because it’s on an album. Just do it. Get on with it. Always do things for yourself. Not in a selfish way, but never rely on other people and other things to feel good about yourself.
Do you find it difficult in an industry of airbrushed bodies and tight skin where beauty is defined by superficial rules of looking a certain way?
I don’t. Not really. I mean, I’m not a mega-star or anything but people that come up to me–I’m really moved–when people come up to me and believe me and think I’m a real person. When I was younger, I was a pop, pop girl when I was little. It’s all I knew. The Top 10 and stuff. Not because we were snobby about other types of music or anything. I just didn’t know how to find like, more obscure music. Marvin Gaye would have been obscure to me when I was like, four. (Laughs) Who I looked up to when I was younger were invincible and they were super-human. Like, the Spice Girls and Britney [Spears] and stuff like that. As I got older, I met the Spice Girls and they’re not super-human. They’re just women. And Britney–you see her just like, kind of crumble but she’s building herself back up now. But to like, fall apart in front of the world. I’m moved then, when people come up to me and say they believe me. I would never want anyone to say: I wish I was her. I like it when people come up to me and say, you make me really like myself. That’s the most amazing feeling ever. I much rather someone come up to me and say, you remind me of me, rather than I wish I were you. That stuff makes me feel sick when people think that. So when it’s more like that–a friendship, rather than like a fan of an artist–I think that’s really amazing.
Who do you enjoy listening to?
Music? Etta James. She’s my favorite singer. Love Etta James. Love her story. Love her look. I love Karen Dalton, Ella Fitzgerald, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Billy Bragg. Carol King, I love. Lauryn Hill. Destiny’s Child, Beyonce–biggest fan.
Beyonce!
Aha! Sasha Fierce! (Laughs) Leona Lewis, Vampire Weekend, Duffy, Lily Allen, Amy Winehouse.
You collaborated with Jack White and you seemed to really enjoy that. Are there any other musicians on your list right now?
I always wanted to perform with Alicia Keys. And then I did it in December. We did a duet of “Make You Feel My Love”–the Bob Dylan cover that I do. We sang it at the Black Ball to guitar, live together in New York. It was so surreal. I was like, numb while I was singing it and it was at Hammerstein Ballroom, which is quite big. I can’t remember doing it with her because I kind of had to black out in order to get the words out. So, I don’t know if I enjoyed it but looking back on it, I loved it. And I always YouTube it. I always get really emotional when I YouTube it and my mom does as well. I did a thing with Burt Bacharach as well, which was amazing. Beyonce. I want to do something with Beyonce. And Vampire Weekend–I was meant to do a cover with them, but it never came around because they’re in New York and I’m in London. I’d like to do something with Vampire Weekend as well.
When I listen to “Make You Feel My Love”–and I am a Bob Dylan fan–I am so captivated by your voice. You take it in so many different directions and introduce real emotions. Are there other covers you might be thinking of reinventing?
The next record. There’s an INXS song called “Never Tear Us Apart” that I’d really love to do. Again, like really stripped down. The “Make You Feel My Love” is pretty much the same as Bob Dylan. I haven’t changed the melody that much. You can just hear it a little clearer.
I know. I kept thinking: Oh, those are the words?!
(Laughs) And I can play it on piano–”Never Tear Us Apart”–and I probably wouldn’t change it that much. I’d probably do it kind of the same like, as “Make You Feel My Love” except I’d add some strings in it as well. I’m in talks of Ray LaMontagne doing a duet and that would be quite a good song to cover together actually. Live, I do an Etta James cover called, “Fool That I Am” and a Sam Cooke cover called “That’s It, I Quit, I’m Moving On” and The Raconteurs “Many Shades of Black”.
In your experiences now meeting famous people, have you had any really good meetings, or bad ones that stand out?
I’ve never had a bad experience in meeting a famous person but that’s probably because even if they were really rude to me, I probably wouldn’t have noticed. I get so star struck. I get star struck by like, soap stars. Amazing moments– when I met Paul McCartney. The first TV show I ever did was in like, June 2007 and it was like, eight months before I did another TV after that. It was a show that not many people watch but like, every single musical artist does it in the world. Paul McCartney was on it when I did it. To my right, was Paul McCartney and to my left was Bjork. And I was just like: What the fuck–this is ridiculous. After, we all came backstage–I was feeling kind of faint–and then I walked past him to see if I could pluck up the courage to say hi and he stopped me and was like, I’m enjoying watching your career. I was like, oh my god! That was amazing and meeting Jack White was amazing.
What are you reading right now?
I don’t read. The last book I read was Matilda. I was 11.
You’re just very busy?
Well, I get so bored. My attention span is so pathetic.
Short stories. Flash fiction.
No, no. I haven’t read a book for like, nine years. I read magazines.
Which ones do you read?
We have one in England called Music Week. I got a magazine called Heat Magazine. I love Rolling Stone magazine. Dazed and Confused I like as well.
How much longer will you be in the states?
I leave on February the ninth for the Grammy’s. I’ve got like, nine days on tour, then six says in LA doing a Grammy promo and then doing a shoot for Vanity Fair and Vogue. Then the Grammy’s and I go home.
Are you taking some time off?
Yeah, the day before I left to go to New York, like a few weeks ago, I got the keys to my first apartment I bought. So, I’ll go home and move in. It’s really cute.
That’s so great. Adele, it really was a pleasure meeting you.
Thank you very much. It was lovely to meet you, Aimee.
