ADELE'S MUSIC MANIFESTO

Adele's conversation with Jon Pareles of The New York Times delivers the best glimpse so far into the recording process behind the forthcoming 25, featuring some insights from collaborators Paul Epworth and Ryan Tedder, who had the best analogy ever about the success of 21: “You’re lucky if at one point in your life you stumble across a unicorn in the woods. The odds that you find a second unicorn are extremely remote, and she’s aware of that."

Speaking about her songwriting process, Epworth said, “She’s got this incredible intuition about what’s right and what’s real and what suits her,” and added, “She’s the sharpest, most instinctive artist I’ve ever worked with. She’s pure gut, pure intuition.”

Adele reiterated once again—as she has in nearly every interview so far— that her reluctance to embrace celebrity is due to her determination to be known for music, and only music.

“If I wanted to just be famous, like be a celebrity, then I wouldn’t do music, because everything else I’ve been offered would probably make me more famous than I am just with my music,” she said. "I’ve been offered everything. And I don’t want to water myself down. I want to do one thing. I want to make something. I don’t want to be the face of anything."

Amen, sister!