Say hello to Adele

Every time we listen to Adele’s album 19, we’ve been dreaming of smoky,
booth-filled bars and being able to nonchalantly snap our fingers in time to
the music, Dean Martin-style, while carrying on urbane and sophisticated
conversation over our martinis. Such is the jazzy splendour of the British
soul poppet’s record, we sent intrepid frankie reporter Andy Hazel out
to chat to the lady herself, who told him what matters most to her.

Her mum: “I moved out for a bit but I moved back in because I missed her.
She comes to a lot of the gigs and the TV shows – but not the early morning
ones. She doesn't travel with me anymore, she just checks up on me. She can
tell if something isn't right or if I'm upset. I call and text her every day if I don't
see her.” Ignoring fame: “To be honest I'm quite oblivious to it. I know things
have changed a lot and that it's all happened so fast, but I like it better this way
– not thinking about it. I never wanted to be famous. I only decided that I
wanted to do this when I was offered the record deal over lunch.” Singing:
“I always loved to sing; I have done since I knew you could make noise. With
the kind of artists I grew up listening to it was never about having a talent,
it was about looking pretty and having a gimmick – that's all they knew. So to
me it seemed impossible; not even something I considered.” Her school: “I didn't
know about The BRIT School before I went there. I was just really bored at my
secondary school. It was free, and I absolutely loved it. The Feeling, The Kooks,
Leona Lewis, Kate Nash, Katie Melua, me and Amy Winehouse – all of us are BRIT
School graduates.” Turning 20: “I'm doing a birthday show at Shepherds Bush
Empire with about 1200 pals, then I'm going to Mark Ronson's gig at Billingsgate
where I'm singing with him. It's going to be brilliant!”