Adele first demonstrated her supple phrasing and tasteful arrangements on 19, an album released in 2008 (its name referencing Adele’s age when most of its songs were composed), which broke records.
At 25, Adele plays to her strengths. In an age where many pop musicians sound similar and go along with trends, Adele stands out with her dignified, stately sound.
She’s a singer
Adele stands out with her extensive vocal range, depth, and power. As a mezzo-soprano she can shift between alto and contralto vocal ranges with ease; her raspy quality can sometimes even be described as throaty or phlegmy; yet this should not be taken as negative criticism!
She can effortlessly switch from scornful ex (‘Rolling in the Deep’) to heartbroken lover (‘Someone Like You’) to soul searching widow (‘Hello’). No matter whether she’s singing about Tottenham or offering up a soothing lullaby for her baby, her mastery of tone and color allows listeners to become fully immersed in her lyrics and emotions.
Chas Newkey-Burden takes us through Adele’s career, from her turbulent private life to creating albums 19, 21 and 25. He describes how Adele skillfully overcame numerous hurdles which threatened her career path; providing us with a portrait of an artist combining tradition and innovation.
She’s a songwriter
Adele has proven that even in today’s diminished music business there remains money to be made through marketing oneself correctly. Her audience includes mostly female listeners aged 25-44 with children, all eagerly waiting for new material.
She wields an enormously captivating voice that resonates with audiences everywhere despite technical deficiencies and vocal cord issues that have beset her. Additionally, she’s a talented songwriter whose emotive narrative songs make them just as captivating and compelling as anything on the charts.
Her first single, “Hometown Glory”, was written at age 16. Following in the footsteps of Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse, she used MySpace as a platform to showcase her material. A producer from hip indie label XL heard it and introduced her to Jonathan Dickins of hip indie label XL who secured Sony Records as her record label and secured a multi-album contract for her.
She’s a businesswoman
Adele has amassed an A-team consisting of world-class producers and managers to support her show on tour. A keen entrepreneur, Adele understands the value of having an exceptional team supporting her career while making strategic business decisions designed to promote its success.
Adele’s trademark filing is intriguing as it suggests she might venture into design, from fashion to accessories or home design. But until this has been confirmed by Adele herself, speculations must remain valid.
Adele has managed to achieve greatness despite beginning her musical journey from humble roots. Her unfaltering drive and down-to-earth approach has set her apart from her peers; she represents an iconic blend of tradition and innovation, evidenced by her new album which shows just that she remains an industry powerhouse. Although music may no longer be what it once was, Adele proves its viability for business purposes.
She’s a mother
Penny, Adele’s mother, has had an enormous influence on her music. In particular, Penny inspired some of Adele’s most beloved tracks such as Hometown Glory and Million Years Ago. Last night’s special featured how Penny helped launch Adele’s career and supported her through some of her most trying times such as when Adele battled addiction.
Motherhood can be challenging at times, which is why it’s refreshing to see a celebrity recognize this truth on such a large platform. Adele allows those struggling with new motherhood feel less alone while simultaneously showing working mothers can balance both roles; in fact, recently she shared that she prepared 60 chicken kababs for Angelo’s school event as evidence of her dedication both family and career – something we can all learn from Adele’s example! She certainly has no regrets about becoming a mother early in her career – something which we all can learn from.