Biography

[on attending school at Alford Academy, where her father was a teacher] I hated to be ill and to miss a day because I was so hungry to learn. I was very shy, nerdy and extremely well-behaved. Inevitably, throughout secondary school, it was part and parcel of my identity that I was Mr. Sandé's daughter. No way could I muck about or get into trouble, because it would've got back to him within minutes. And Dad was strict, let me tell you.

[on writing her first song at the age of 11, for her primary-school talent show] [That] was the first time I thought I might be a songwriter. I always knew I wanted to be a musician and I knew I wanted to write because the people I was listening to all wrote. I never thought it was an option to sing anyone else's songs.

Adrian [her manager Adrian Sykes] really respects that I want to get an education behind me. He also knows my parents are keen that I finish university.

[on deciding against using the name Adele Sandé, due to Adele's growing success] I changed it as soon as Adele came out. I just thought, 'You've kind of taken the [name] now', so I went with my middle name. She was just getting bigger and bigger, so I thought I just really need it.