Adele is unlike the others. The British songstress was candid during an interview with Time and revealed she thinks the bigger an artist gets, the more awful they become. And if you’re a “bastard,” she isn’t going to spend money on your music, no matter how talented you are.
“I feel like some artists — and this isn’t shading any artist, just me trying to come up with my own explanation — the bigger they get, the more horrible they get, and the more unlikable,” Adele explained. “And I don’t care if you make an amazing album — if I don’t like you, I ain’t getting your record. I don’t want you being played in my house if I think you’re a bastard.”
Adele, 27, also has zero sympathy for those who are overexposed.
“I’m not throwing shade at anybody,” she said, “but when you have a six-month build up, don’t expect me to be there the day your album comes out, because I’m bored. It doesn’t matter how amazing it is. You put seven songs out. I’ve heard the album. I’ve heard everything you want to say about it. I’ve heard it all over radio. Don’t expect me to not lose interest before it’s even happened.”
When it comes to herself, Adele — whose latest album, 25, sold 3.38 million copies in the U.S. in just the first week — she can’t explain why people gravitate so much toward her music, but she has an idea.
“The fact that I’m not shy or embarrassed to be falling apart,” she explained. “Everyone falls apart, I think. A lot of people try to be brave and not shed a tear. Sometimes when you know someone else feels as sh–ty as you do, or approaches things in a certain way just like you do, it makes you feel better about yourself. Even though my music is melancholy, there’s also joy in that. I hope I do bring joy to people’s lives, and not just sadness, but I think there’s there’s a comfort in it. But I honestly don’t know. If I knew, I would bottle it, and sell it to everyone else.”
The 10-time Grammy winner also touched on her personal life, her 3-year-old son, Angelo, and her upcoming worldwide tour.
On her boyfriend, Simon Konecki, and their life at home in London: “It’s as normal a life as I can have. I think people would be pretty surprised. When I’m not doing a photo shoot, it’s just me, my boyfriend and the baby.” Konecki and Adele began dating in 2011 and welcomed son Angelo in October 2012.
“If you try to intrude or come near my family, I’m a lioness. Especially because my boyfriend isn’t famous. So I think it’s really unfair for anyone to want unlimited access to my family when we’re not a brand. Some people do, and if you’re happy to do it, then kudos — that’s f–king great. But I don’t want my family to be part of my package. If my kid decides that when he’s old enough to make his own decision that he wants to be known for being my kid, I’ll be annoyed, but I won’t stop him. I’ll be like, ‘It’s your choice now.’ But this was my dream. This isn’t theirs.”
On her and Konecki’s son: “He makes me so proud of myself, and he makes me like myself so much. And I’ve always liked myself. I’ve never not liked myself. I don’t have hangups like that. But I’m so proud of myself that I made him in my belly. Cooked him in my belly and then he came out of me! This human who’s suddenly walking around and doing his own thing. I can’t wait to know who his best friends are going to be, who his girlfriend or his boyfriend is going to be or what movies he likes … Whatever my kid wants to do or be I will always support him no matter what.”
On not getting consumed by fame: “I think it’s really important so that you don’t get f–ked up by everything. It’s important so you stay in touch with yourself. If you lose touch with yourself, no one’s going to want to talk to you or listen to anything you’re f–king doing. They’ll just point at you and laugh. At you, not with you.”
On the rumor that she turned down working with Beyoncé: “Whoever started that rumor must have been having a laugh because anyone who knows me knows that my main priority in life outside of my child is Beyoncé. I really wanted to do a duet on this album. I spoke to someone about it who I wanted to do it with, and we got on like a house on fire, and then we just couldn’t logistically really get it to work. I can’t say who it is because I want to do it in the future. That’s the only reason. It wasn’t Beyoncé!”
