Adele speaks about her monster year, healing from throat surgery

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Adele performs the ballad “Someone Like You,” one of her biggest hits, at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards in August. | Kevin Winter~Getty Images

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Updated: January 29, 2012 8:01AM

Adele owned 2011. The kicky, 23-year-old British singer released her second album, the breakup requiem “21,” in February, and it’s sold more domestically than any other album this year. But it wasn’t just heartbreak that made her popular. In contemporary music, Adele is one of a kind, a woman who thrives off no bells and whistles, just pure personality and talent (and the ability to make the toughest curmudgeon cry).

Despite it all, Adele has been living in exile, of sorts. After having surgery to remove a benign polyp from her throat, she was not allowed so speak for weeks, never mind sing — and, as readers of her blog know, she wasn’t quite feeling it. By e-mail, she discusses her latest live DVD, her astronomical success and, naturally, true love.

Q. In your “Adele: Live at the Royal Albert Hall” DVD/CD, you have a dedication to Amy Winehouse. Obviously people have compared you since you’re both white British singers with soul, but do you feel any affinity with her beyond that?

A. I certainly think Amy set the bar and a standard, but for singers and artists in general. Though of course there was a flurry of British women who came out with debut records after “Back to Black,” and I do think there was more interest because of her. I loved her for the same reasons everyone else did — firstly, she was a remarkable singer but she was a believable and relatable artist, feisty but timid and fun but tragic — normal! She created herself. That’s what inspired me. I see no appeal in having a very specific plan as an artist. Who cares if people don’t get it or don’t like it? I’d rather trust myself, to like what I’ve done and stick to my guns than make music I don’t like, wear clothes that don’t suit me and flutter between genres because I’m scared I won’t be relevant if I pass my “sell by” date. Amy tattooed that in me! She made music because she was good at it and wanted to. And she was a huge artist who was always a bigger fan. That’s why I gravitated towards her and listened when she sang and spoke... Or snarled!

Q. You’ve had a remarkable year. Yet you seem to go about your career almost as an indie artist and, by all accounts, don’t seem to have changed your personality. What keeps you grounded ... and real?

A. Well, I started on an indie label in the U.K. before I signed to Columbia here in the U.S., and I’m still there. What I like about indie artists and indie labels is they don’t do everything. Obviously, the main reason for that is because they don’t have the clout and don’t get the chance to. Ha!

But why does a huge artist have to do everything? Quality control is vital. If I did everything, my artistry and music would become diluted. Performances and interviews travel globally and instantly nowadays because of YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and blogs. I’d be repeating myself and be overexposed if I did every TV and every magazine cover I was given the opportunity to do. I don’t change up my style ... it just is what it is. I only do things I like as well — TV shows I watch and publications I read. I won’t do something simply because I should, so I’ll sell a few more records.

Q: Much has been made about your place in the pop universe, and how you are so real and uncontrived compared to a lot of other pop stars. Did you always feel supported in your decision to just be yourself?

A: I’m not sure. I’m never self-conscious and never have been. The thought of changing yourself or toning yourself down or up for that matter to please someone else seems ridiculous to me. I’m not drawn to people who feel like they have to do that, so I’m not really aware if there was ever a shift.

Q. What do you envision for your future, your next couple of years?

A. I’m really looking forward to some time to do nothing. I imagine I’ll be 25 or 26 by the time my next record comes out, as I haven’t even thought about my third record yet. I’m just gonna lay some concrete, set up home and just “be” for a bit. I’ll disappear and come back with a record when it’s good enough. There will be no new music until it’s good enough and until I’m ready.

Q. Have you begun writing songs for the next album?

A. Nope!

Q. It’s been a long year. Have you found love again?

A. It’s been the most erratic year. It’s been brilliant and exciting and emotional. Professionally, it’s been a year that will define my life forever. But because of the success, obviously things have been unearthed and people have crawled out of the woodwork publicly and privately. But that’s to be expected. And those things personally have forced me to address things I wouldn’t have. I probably wouldn’t have until my thirties.

Not having someone to share all this with made me miserable at times, to be honest. I wanted nothing more than to be in love and be loved back. That was until I remembered I was sharing it with millions and millions and millions of people!! I haven’t been ready to be in love again since summer 2009 ... until now. And I hadn’t met anyone along the way who has changed that.

Q. How was your vocal surgery? How much longer until you can sing again?

A. The surgery couldn’t have gone better. But because I was singing with damaged vocal chords for three or four months and because of the surgery and because of the silence after the surgery I now have to build myself back up vocally. It’s gonna be a lot easier for me to sing now. And mentally I won’t be worried about my voice on stage anymore. So I have to get used to that. That’ll take most of January, so February I’ll be singing properly!

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