In the world of pop music, Adele’s name carries immense weight. Her voice, so full of soul and emotion, has moved millions around the world. She has crafted songs that evoke deep feelings—of love, loss, and longing—that resonate with listeners on a personal level. But before she was the megastar behind hits like “Someone Like You” and “Hello,” Adele was a young artist honing her craft, writing songs that, until now, have remained hidden from the public. These early unreleased tracks offer a glimpse into the mind of an emerging talent, struggling to find her voice and her place in the music industry.
These unreleased gems are more than just musical experiments—they are the foundation of Adele’s success. They reveal the raw emotions, the depth of her creativity, and the struggles she faced in her formative years. Understanding these songs provides insight into how Adele evolved as an artist and how her early work laid the groundwork for the global sensation she would become.
The Beginning: Adele’s Uncharted Path to Stardom
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins grew up in Tottenham, London, and from a young age, she was captivated by music. Her influences ranged from the jazz and blues greats like Ella Fitzgerald and Etta James to more contemporary artists like Lauryn Hill and Destiny’s Child. Music became her outlet, a way to express the emotions that she otherwise found difficult to articulate. Adele’s talent was evident from an early age, but it wasn’t until she enrolled in the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology that she began to truly explore her abilities as a songwriter.
During these early years, Adele recorded a number of tracks that were never officially released. These songs were raw, unpolished, and deeply personal—reflecting the uncertainties of a young woman trying to make sense of her emotions and her place in the world. Many of these unreleased tracks were written before she became a household name, offering a glimpse into the mind of a developing artist. These songs reveal a different side of Adele—one that is less polished but no less powerful.
Finding Her Voice: The Songs that Almost Made the Cut
Some of Adele’s early unreleased songs are now circulating in fan circles and on obscure music platforms, offering a tantalizing peek into the evolution of her sound. One of the most intriguing aspects of these early tracks is how they showcase Adele’s ability to blend genres. While her breakthrough album 19 is firmly rooted in soul and jazz influences, these earlier recordings reveal a more experimental side of Adele, mixing folk, blues, and even hints of rock.
Take, for instance, the song “Never Gonna Leave You,” an emotional ballad that captures the raw vulnerability that would later become Adele’s signature style. The song features a stripped-down acoustic guitar and Adele’s voice, which, though not as controlled as in her later work, still carries the same emotional depth. It’s a song about heartache and betrayal, themes that Adele would revisit in her later albums, but in this early track, the pain feels more immediate, less refined, and perhaps more relatable.
Another unreleased track, “My Same,” would later be reworked and included on 19, but the early version of the song has a more playful, experimental feel. In the unreleased version, Adele explores a more upbeat tempo, blending jazz and pop influences. It’s fascinating to hear how this song evolved, becoming a more polished and cohesive piece in its final form. The early version, however, has its own charm—it feels like a snapshot of an artist experimenting with her sound, trying to figure out what works and what doesn’t.
A Glimpse into Adele’s Songwriting Process
Adele’s songwriting has always been deeply personal, and her early tracks are no exception. Many of these unreleased songs reflect her experiences as a teenager, grappling with love, loss, and the anxieties of growing up. In interviews, Adele has often spoken about how she uses songwriting as a form of therapy—a way to process her emotions and make sense of the world around her. These early songs provide a fascinating glimpse into that process.
One particularly poignant unreleased track, “Forgive Me,” feels like a precursor to the emotional intensity of songs like “Someone Like You.” The song is about asking for forgiveness from a lover, but what makes it so powerful is Adele’s delivery. Even in these early recordings, she had an uncanny ability to convey raw emotion through her voice. You can hear the pain in every note, the regret in every word. It’s a testament to Adele’s songwriting that even her unreleased tracks can evoke such strong emotions.
Then there’s “Hometown Glory,” a song that Adele wrote when she was just 16 years old about her love for her hometown of London. While the version that appears on 19 is polished and refined, the early demo version is much rougher around the edges. The vocals are less controlled, the production is minimal, but the emotion is palpable. It’s a song about feeling connected to a place, about the way our surroundings shape who we are. Even at a young age, Adele had an impressive ability to tap into universal themes and make them feel personal.
The Industry’s Role: Why Some Tracks Stayed Hidden
One of the most intriguing questions surrounding Adele’s unreleased songs is why they were never officially released. Part of the reason may be that these tracks simply didn’t fit the vision that Adele and her producers had for her debut album. The music industry is notoriously selective, and often, songs that don’t align with an artist’s branding or commercial appeal are left on the cutting room floor.
It’s also possible that Adele, who is known for being fiercely protective of her creative process, chose not to release these songs because she felt they weren’t representative of the artist she wanted to be. In interviews, she has spoken about how she was still finding her voice during the early years of her career, and it’s likely that some of these tracks were written at a time when she was still figuring out who she was as an artist.
There’s also the simple fact that not every song an artist writes can make it onto an album. Even for an artist as prolific as Adele, there are only so many tracks that can be included on a record. It’s not uncommon for artists to write dozens of songs for an album, only to narrow them down to a select few that best represent the theme or message they want to convey.
The Legacy of Adele’s Early Work
Though these early unreleased tracks may never have seen the light of day in an official capacity, their influence on Adele’s later work is undeniable. Listening to these songs, you can hear the seeds of what would later become her signature sound—emotional, raw, and deeply personal. Many of the themes she explores in these early tracks—love, heartbreak, self-discovery—would become central to her later albums.
In many ways, these unreleased songs feel like the foundation upon which Adele built her career. They are the building blocks of her artistry, the raw materials that she would later refine and perfect. And while they may never have been released to the public, they hold a special place in the hearts of die-hard Adele fans, who see them as a glimpse into the artist’s creative process and personal growth.
One of the most fascinating aspects of these early tracks is how they reveal a different side of Adele—a side that is less polished, more experimental, and more vulnerable. They offer a rare opportunity to hear an artist in the process of becoming, before the fame and the accolades, when the music was still just about self-expression.
Looking Forward: What’s Next for Adele?
As Adele continues to evolve as an artist, one can’t help but wonder if these unreleased tracks will ever be officially released. In recent years, there has been a growing trend of artists releasing “lost” albums or collections of unreleased material, giving fans a deeper insight into their creative process. If Adele were to release these early tracks, it would undoubtedly be a momentous occasion for her fans, offering a rare glimpse into her early career.
But even if these songs remain hidden, their legacy is secure. They are a testament to Adele’s talent, her creativity, and her ability to connect with listeners on a deeply emotional level. They remind us that even the greatest artists start somewhere, and that sometimes, the songs that never make it onto an album are just as important as the ones that do.
In the end, Adele’s early unreleased tracks are more than just curiosities for superfans—they are the hidden gems that shaped her into the artist she is today. And while we may never hear these songs in their final, polished form, they remain a vital part of Adele’s musical legacy, a reminder of the power of raw emotion, vulnerability, and the journey of self-discovery.
For Adele, it was never just about making hits—it was about creating music that resonates, music that tells a story. And in these early, unreleased tracks, we can hear the beginnings of that story—a story that continues to captivate and inspire listeners around the world.
