Adele Bio - Biography

Name Adele
Height
Naionality English
Date of Birth 5 May 1988
Place of Birth Enfield, North London, England, UK
Famous for
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins (born 5 May 1988 in Enfield, North London), known professionally as Adele, is an English jazz singer. Adele has described her musical style as "heartbroken soul". She is the first recipient of the Brit Awards Critics' Choice, which was given to artists who, at the time, had yet to release an album. She debuted at number one with her Mercury Prize nominated debut album 19 in the UK album chart and has since then been certificated platinum with sales over 500,000 copies.

Adele's first public singing performance was in a school presentation where she sang "Rise" by Gabrielle. To make her look like the singer, her mother made an eye patch with sequins, which she said was embarrassing. Adele then claimed she was influenced from the music of Etta James and Dusty Springfield at her teens by accident, as she stumbled on the artists' CDs in HMV in the Classics section while looking for a new hair style. She only got to listen to those songs for the first time as she was clearing her bedroom. She graduated from The BRIT School for performing arts & technology in Croydon in May 2006, which was the same performing arts school attended by Amy Winehouse, Katie Melua, Leona Lewis and Kate Nash. Adele credits the school with nurturing her talent. A month later, she published two songs on the fourth issue of online arts publication PlatformsMagazine.com. Since then Adele has played in small UK gigs, and has toured with best friend Jack Peñate, as well as Jamie T, Raul Midon, Amos Lee and Devendra Banhart. Adele went on her first UK headlining tour in October 2007. During her teenage years she recorded demo's and gave it to her friend Lyndon. He eventually put it on MySpace and it became very successful there. Adele got a record deal through MySpace. When she got a phone call she couldn't believe it was real because the only record company she knew was Virgin Records. When a friend told her that it was a real record company she signed.

Adele's first record, "Hometown Glory", in which she sings the praises of Tottenham, was released on 22 October 2007 as a limited edition 7" vinyl on Jamie T's label Pacemaker Recordings, with B side "Best For Last". "Hometown Glory" was featured as the single of the week on iTunes. Since launching her MySpace page on Christmas Eve 2004, Adele became popular on the site which she used as a media focus and test point for songs. She then signed to independent music label XL Recordings. In January 2008 released her second single "Chasing Pavements", hitting #2 for 4 weeks in the UK Chart and still in the Top 40 14 weeks after release.

Adele performed Daydreamer on BBC Two's Later With Jools Holland, alongside Paul McCartney and Björk; and then on BBC1's Friday Night with Jonathan Ross on 7 December 2007, singing Chasing Pavements.

On 28 January 2008 her debut album 19, was released in the United Kingdom. The album went straight to #1 in the UK charts and was certified platinum within a month of its release.

In March 2008 Adele signed to Columbia Records in America, and embarked on her first live shows in North America and Canada, playing two sold out shows at Joe's Pub in New York, a sold out show at LA's Hotel Cafe, as well as two sold out shows at Cabaret in Montreal and Rivoli in Toronto.

In February 2008 Adele announced a new nine date UK tour, calling at Cardiff, Newcastle, Edinburgh, York, Manchester, Cambridge, Southampton, Birmingham, and London. The tour also includes overseas performances in Japan and the United States.

On 13th April 2008, Hometown Glory re-entered the UK Singles Charts at number 38 after featuring in an episode of the E4 show Skins.

On 11th May Adele performed a selection of songs from 19 at Radio 1's Big Weekend in Mote Park, Maidstone, Kent. She sang Cold Shoulder, Melt My Heart To Stone, Right As Rain, Hometown Glory, Tired and Chasing Pavements.

On 16 June 2008, Adele performed an exclusive set for Billboard Magazine. The set can be viewed here.

On 16 June 2008 Adele performed "Chasing Pavements" from 19 on The Late Show With David Letterman.

On the 20 June the album was released in the United States.

The album was written about a former boyfriend. The song Chasing Pavements refers to an incident that occurred at 6AM one day after a fight with that person during which Adele was running down the street alone. She thought to herself "What you're chasing is you're chasing an empty pavement." Adele finds it hard to sing Melt My Heart To Stone because it was written right after her breakup with the former boyfriend. Adele is alleged to have said that The Daydreamer was about herself daydreaming about her having the relationship the former boyfriend was allegedly having with another boy.

Adele plans to write her next album in New York because it would give her the inspiration she is lacking at home where she is comfortable.

On 10 December 2007, Adele was awarded with the first Brit Awards Critics' Choice Award and has been nominated for a 2008 Mercury Prize award for her album 19.

She also received praises from Paul Rees, editor of Q magazine, who said it was "refreshing to hear something different" after a thousand years of "identikit bands who want to sound like The Libertines".

Adele cherishes the praise she has received from Kanye West and Beyonce.

Adele's success is occurring simultaneously with several other British female soul singers. The British press has dubbed her a new Amy Winehouse. Also she has been linked to a third British Musical Invasion of the United States. Adele commented that while this phenomena is unexpected she is "proud to be a part of it. I'm very pleased to be riding the wave".

Adele lives with her mother in North London. She admitted that she was planning to buy a flat after receiving her record company advance, but spent it all on Burberry Clothes before "Chasing Pavements" was even released. She said in an interview that she likes being the centre of attention at home and with friends, but she is a little resistant with the negative aspects of fame especially when it comes to gossip and criticisms about her weight. "I’ve always been a size 14-16, and been fine with it," Adele said to the The Times. "I would only lose weight if it affected my health or sex life." Adele commented that her weight is brought up more often in the United States than in London and believes that reflects the Hollywood influence.

Adele is a self described "big drinker" who drinks to starve off boredom. She is worried because she can envisage herself at some future time becoming like Amy Winehouse. Adele does not use drugs, nor has she ever done so.

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