Album Preview: Adele’s 30

by mpalmie2 on October 21, 2021


Arts & Entertainment


Album Preview: Adele’s 30

The Music Icon’s Much-Anticipated Return

By Olivia Riportella ’25

Fans of Adele should prepare to get their tissues out, because the iconic musician is back to take them on an emotional rollercoaster with her fourth studio album. 

The singer’s newest creation is titled 30, continuing the tradition established by her first three albums of naming them after the age she was when creating them. This will be the icon’s first album in six years, bringing about much anticipation from fans.

Adele first hinted as to what her latest sound will be like with the release of her single “Easy on Me” on Oct. 15. This heartbreaking song allows listeners a glimpse into the “inner turmoil” that Adele has confirmed to be facing recently in her personal life. 

The release of this single also came with a moving new music video from the singer. The video was filmed in Quebec by esteemed director Xavier Dolan, with whom Adele has reunited for yet another collaboration. It features vintage black-and-white cinematography for the majority of the video, creating a somber mood, before ultimately switching to color. It is just as tear-jerking and beautiful as fans could have imagined after initially listening to the song. 

The music video also exemplifies the major themes Adele explores on 30. This album follows the singer’s divorce from Simon Konecki, with whom she shares a young son. She created it for her son, Angelo, as she wants him to understand why his parents’ divorce was necessary despite the hardships it created. Adele described this life-altering event as “the most turbulent period of my life,” which is certainly evident in the gut-wrenching glimpse into the album that “Easy on Me” and its accompanying music video provide.

30 is anticipated to be Adele’s most personal album yet. In a heartfelt interview with Vogue magazine, she explained, “It’s sensitive for me, this record, just in how much I love it. I always say that 21 doesn’t belong to me anymore. Everyone else took it in their hearts so much. I’m not letting go of this one. This is my album. I want to share myself with everyone, but I don’t think I’ll ever let this one go.”

Adele has confirmed that 30 will be released on Nov. 19, 2021, by Columbia Records. It was produced by Greg Kurstin, Max Martin, and Shellback, who also worked on her last album, 25, in 2015. This album is expected to be one of the most successful commercial releases of the year, based on Adele’s remarkable track record. The iconic singer has 15 Grammys, world-record-setting sales, and sixteen No. 1 hits to her name.

An exciting element of 30 that is unlike any of Adele’s previous releases, the album is expected to be available on streaming services upon its initial release. This is a significant departure from her traditional release method. For instance, her last record, 25, was out for seven months before appearing on streaming services. The singer isn’t completely abandoning her tradition, however, as Vogue reports that Adele is “adamant that [the album] come out in tangible form,” releasing it on CD and vinyl, as well.