2012 | International Album of the Year | Adele | | The JUNO Awards

“As soon as I got a microphone in my hand, when I was 14, I realized I wanted to do this,” she says.
A fan of such diverse artists as Jill Scott, Etta James, Billy Bragg, Peggy Lee, Jeff Buckley and The Cure, Adele’s soul-tinged songs of loves lost and memories made are set to resonate with all who hear them. Anchoring it all together is Adele’s incredible voice. As immediate as it is undeniable, its power is matched only by her Force 10 personality. “I’ve always liked being the centre of attention, yes,” she laughs.

Attending The Brit School, whose alumni number Amy Winehouse and Kate Nash, it wasn’t until 2006 that labels started noticing her talent. When XL called her in for a meeting, ADELE was nervous enough to take a chum with her. “I never, ever thought I’d get signed. The A&R guy emailed me and I was ignoring it… I didn’t realize they [XL] did all these amazing names…”

Releasing her debut album 19 in 2009, Adele followed it up with 21, which debuted at #1 in 18 countries and has gone on to sell over 15 million copies this year alone.