The Prophet Blog

British soul singer Adele has been hard at work on her sophomore album all year, and now she’s invited SPIN into her studio to let them know exactly what’s going on with the follow-up to her Grammy-winning debut 19.

Due for release in September/October, Adele has enlisted the legendary Rick Rubin to produce the majority of the album. She’s also spent time writing and recording closely with Jack Peñate, as well as Paul Epworth, who is most noted for his work with Bloc Party and Florence + the Machine.

“[Paul and I] came out with this bluesy, gospel sound which was, without me realizing, exactly the route I wanted to go down,” she explains. “[the songs] are about love. They’re about a shitty relationship… It is about heartbreak and my influences with soul, [but] this one is so gospelly…”

Adele also told SPIN that she’s been very influenced by Alison Krauss for the new album, as well as heavily by country music in general.

“I really got into country [while touring the U.S. with my debut album, 19],” she says. “I think they’re the best songs written, just the emotion and the lyrics, and the way that they sing them.”

News of Adele doing an album that’s influenced by country music and gospel is enough to make me die and go to heaven. I’m sure many would agree that her debut ’19′ was one of the best records of 2008/2009, and the follow-up is shaping up to be just as good, if not better.

You should also know that late last year it was reported that Adele has also worked with Ryan Tedder and Jack White from The White Stripes. Don’t worry though – Ryan promised he wouldn’t ruin her sound.