Adele just turned 20 years old a month or so a go.
And while the first 18 or so of those were spent like most of other people’s 18-or-so years, the 19 in her saw: a release of a debut album (named-you guessed it, 19), that same album becoming the #1 seller in the UK, fame, fortune, critical acclaim and sharing the stage with Paul McCartney and Bjork following suit, and inevitable “the next Amy Winehouse” comparisons just waiting to happen.
For some 19 year olds, it may have all been waaaay too much, but when I spoke to Adele a little while back (in preparation for her tonight’s show @ The Sixth & I Synagogue (with Laura Burhenn of Georgie James opening) she was funny, relaxed and the biggest problem at hand was not rehab or tabloid drama but being homesick.
After all, with a voice like this, you don’t need anything else to attract attention to yourself.

So, off we go
(note: Adele has the most darling South London accent which crackles and pops even over bad cell phone connections, so imagining this being read in it, helps)

Hiiii
Hello, I am Adele.

Hi, you probably don’t need to introduce yourself, most people know who you are.
Its a habit I guess.

So, Adele, here we are, on the US tour. Is it your first time in America…
Well, it is my first time in PROPER America. I’ve only been to New York and LA before. Now we get to do everything in between.

And how is everything in between?
Quite fun actually. I just wish I had some more time to sightsee. But Chicago was really a great town to play shows in. I did get horribly homesick yesterday.

Awwwww…What do you get most homesick about?
You know, the usual-my Mum, my mates, my house, being able to just put my clothes on and go and do whatever I want. But my Mum is coming to see me in New York, so I am looking forward to that. A lot.

You two will have so much fun there. Its the best mother-daughter city in the world. Speaking of which, I read in your tour diary (Adele keeps one on here myspace) that you just bought your first pair of Manolos…
I did, they’re brilliant.

Are you a big Sex and The City fan?
I mean, who isn’t?

So true, did you get to see the movie yet?
(excitedly)I got to go to the world premiere in London!

I am so jealous! Here, it is the only movie I’ve ever seen people dress up for to go to.
Oh yeah, I mean, I never even wear hose, but I had a dress on and little heels and you know, just went for it. I was late though so I missed most of the red carpet which made me so mad, I had a fit right there and then.

Still though….
Exactly

So, how does it all feel, a little over a year a go you were just a girl living in London with your Mom and now you are a best selling artist, and you just got the first ever Critic’s choice Brit Award (the British equvalent of Grammies-ed)….
Well, it is all happening very fast, and I know everyone says that. But the Brit award…I have no idea where that came from.

I think it came from you having an amazing voice. I mean, the INVENTED A CATEGORY FOR YOU. They must have really, really wanted to give you an award…
I KNOW! That’s kind of odd though, you know. I mean, I am very honored and flattered, but I would probably preferred if I just won Best Female Artist or something they already had…

There is always next year
Yes! And the year after that…

So, you know, everyone is curious how does an 18 year old score a contract with XL recordings without any professional help.
Well, you know… I think we all need to thank Lily (Allen) for that. After her, all the labels were looking for the next big thing on myspace, and somehow, they stumbled upon me. There is nothing else to it really. And XL is the first label that ever approached me.

And you just went with them?
I mean, why not? I liked them, and I have always been the kind of person that if I like something I don’t need to think about it too much. So, I just went with them. There was no bidding war or anything.

And its been good?
Its been great.

Speaking of Lily, do you know all the other “new British girls”: Lily and Duffy and Amy and…Any juicy gossip?
No, not really, I mean, sometimes we all are at the same premieres or parties but…it’s not like we all call each other on the phone and make plans and are best of friends.

Are you sick of people asking about them?
Haha…I understand that people want to know and since we are all put together in the same basket, so to speak, people need to ask.

OK, onto more important things…lets talk about the record. Your first and such a success, especially in the UK.
Yes. Waking up to a number one record on the charts is insane.

I can (quite literally) only imagine. So, we want to stream some songs from it for our readers
Ooh, brilliant

And everyone’s heard “Cold Shoulder” and “Chasing Pavements” since they’ve done so well all over youtubes and itunes but we would rather you pick some of your favorites.
I’d like that. How many?

Lets say…3?
Ok, ready? Here goes:

Melt my Heart
This is probabably my favorite song on the record. We did it all in one take. As close as it comes to seeing what it is like live. It is just a perfect moment in time.

Hometown glory
This is the first song I ever wrote, probably in just 20 minutes, after a fight with my Mother. Just sat down and it came out. It is also the first song that most people heard, and now over 5 000 000 people ave downloaded it from itunes, so it is so crazy to think that my little, first song ever has been heard by so many people.

and finally
Right as Rain
This is just a favorite to perform. Most of my songs are sort of slow but with this one I get to dance and stomp a bit and scream. It is sort of predictable, musically, in terms of what is popular right now, very 60s, very Motown beat, and the music is upbeat but the lyrics are sad. People always react really, really well to it, and I love that I get to dance. I mean, I have no rhythm, but I don’t care.

And you shouldn’t. Thank you for this and finally, and we always like to ask this from everyone we interview…So, en route to DC, what are you guys doing to pass the time on the tour bus…any music or books or movies you’d like to recommend?
Oh, well, we ran out of DVDs a little while back so we’re mostly watching youtube these days. And we’ve been listening to a lot of Bruce Springsteen, and when I am sad, I listen to Whitney. And I’ve been trying to read the gossip mags here but that’s proving kind of pointless since I don’t know who any of the US celebrities are.

Well, by the time you get to DC, I am sure you’ll be an expert.
Haha, and by then it will be time to go to Europe and Asia

Where you are a celebrity.
I guess.

No need for guessing

For more:
Befriend Adele here
and check her out TONIGHT at the Sixth & I Synagogue

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