Adele (Adkins) is an English Soul/Jazz singer from Brixton in South London.She signed to XL Recordings for the release of her second single and subsequent debut album.(Her debut single having been released as a 500 Limited Edition 7" on Pacemaker Recordings.)She plays guitar and piano, though her music is characterised by her soulful voice which has been described as "somewhere between Dusty Springfield and Jill Scott." (In contrast to the hard South London accent of her spoken voice). She confesses to being obsessed with the themes of love lost and heartbreak which, along with teenage experiences and London life, predominate in her soul-tinged songs.October 2007 saw her first headlining tour (in the UK), after previously touring with best friend Jack Peñate (on whose album Matinée she provides backing vocals for My Yvonne), as well supporting Jamie T, Raul Midon, Devendra Banhart and Amos Lee.She lists Etta James, Jill Scott, Billy Bragg, Peggy Lee, Jeff Buckley, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Johnny Cash and The Cure amongst her influences, and is also a huge fan of Al Pacino.
She won two Grammy Awards in February 2009 for Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Adele's second album is set for release in 2011.
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From Wikipedia:Adele Laurie Blue Adkins (born 5 May 1988), known professionally as Adele (pronounced /??d?l/), is an English singer songwriter. She was the first recipient of the BRIT Awards Critics' Choice and was named the number-one predicted breakthrough act of 2008 in an annual BBC poll of music critics, Sound of 2008. She is a multi-Grammy Awards nominee who has won two awards, Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 2009.
Adele attracted the attention of XL Recordings with a three-song demo posted on MySpace and subsequently signed with the label. Since her debut, 19, Adele has received much recognition both commercially and critically. The album debuted at number one, and has been certified platinum in the UK. Her career in the US was boosted by a viewer record breaking Saturday Night Live episode in late 2008.
Adele is scheduled to release her second album in September 2010. The album will feature country music and is produced by Rick Rubin.