In less than one decade, Adele was able to establish herself as one of the world’s most successful pop singers and songwriters. Her soulful voice and expertly crafted songs made her one of the bestselling performers of her generation. She reached the top by rejecting the industry’s expectations and instead staying true to herself and her image.
Born Adele Laurie Blue Adkins in 1988 in England and raised by her single mother, she began singing at an early age before sharpening her talents at the BRIT School, the U.K.’s leading performing and creative arts school.
But her career really took off when one of her friends posted her songs on social media. She caught the attention of record label XL Recordings, with whom she signed a contract after graduation in 2006.
Ever since, she has topped the charts in multiple markets, earned numerous accolades, and smashed many sale records. She revived the music industry, helped ballads to become cool again, and opened the path for other musicians like Ed Sheeran.
But the biggest draw of her music has been the way that it resonates with listeners. “The way I write my songs is that I have to believe what I'm writing about, and that's why they always end up being so personal - because the kind of artists I like, they convince me, they totally win me over straight away in that thing. Like, 'Oh my God, this song is totally about me,'” she said. While famous for her love and heartbreak songs, her true message has always been about loving yourself.
Unlike many other celebrities, she doesn’t play by the rules of fame and overexposure. Except through some of her lyrics, she remains private and shields herself from public when not working on records.
“I just want to make music, I don't want people to talk about me. All I've ever wanted to do was sing. I don't want to be a celebrity. I don't want to be in people's faces, you know, constantly on covers of magazines that I haven't even known I'm on,” she said.
And avoidance of the spotlight doesn’t prevent her from being one of the most inspiring artists of this century. Where major labels try to make their artists be in touch with their public, Adele had it all naturally.