Adele is reportedly back in the recording studio and working on new music, almost two years after telling fans she planned to take a lengthy break from her career.
The Rolling In The Deep singer is said to have returned to London from her home in Los Angeles, where she has been writing and recording at the famous Church Studios in north London.
According to reports, Adele has spent the past week in and out of recording sessions and is expected to continue working at the studio over the coming days.
The reported studio return marks a significant development for fans, as the singer has not released a new album since 2021's 30, which featured chart-topping hits including Easy On Me.
The record was inspired by her divorce from Simon Konecki and became one of the biggest-selling albums of the year.
Interest in the sessions has intensified after several well-known musicians were spotted in the area.
Justin Vernon, the frontman of indie folk band Bon Iver, was photographed outside the studios last week, while singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams was also seen nearby filming a music video.
There is no indication that either artist is collaborating with Adele, but their presence has fuelled speculation that her next project could feature guest appearances.
Such a move would be notable, as Adele has largely avoided collaborations on her four studio albums to date.
Gracie Adams was spotted filming a music video in London. Joe Seer, Shutterstock
Church Studios has long been associated with Adele's career. The facility is owned by acclaimed producer Paul Epworth, who worked closely with the singer on a number of her biggest successes, including the Oscar-winning James Bond theme Skyfall. Parts of her 2015 album 25 were also recorded there.
Sources quoted in reports claim Adele chose to return to London because she feels comfortable working at the studio and wanted to spend time creating music in familiar surroundings.
Industry insiders have suggested the move could also influence the direction of her next album.
While 30 was largely written and recorded during her years living in California, there is speculation that Adele wants to reconnect with the influences that shaped her earlier work.
Born in Tottenham, north London, before later living in Brixton and West Norwood, Adele frequently referenced her upbringing and life in the capital on her earlier records. Her album 25 included the song River Lea, named after the river that runs through her childhood neighbourhood.
The reports come after Adele publicly stated that she planned to step away from music following her extensive run of live performances, which included her hugely successful Weekends With Adele residency in Las Vegas and a series of stadium shows in Munich.
Speaking in 2024, she said she had no immediate plans to release new music and wanted to focus on other creative projects for a while.
Despite that, the singer has remained busy.
Earlier this year she travelled to Rome to film her acting debut in the upcoming drama Cry To Heaven, which reportedly features a star-studded cast including Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Nicholas Hoult and Thandiwe Newton.
While there is still no official announcement regarding a fifth studio album, Adele's return to the recording studio is likely to excite fans eager for new music.
Since releasing her debut album 19 in 2008, Adele has become one of the world's most successful artists, winning 16 Grammy Awards and selling millions of records worldwide. Her albums 21, 25 and 30 all became major commercial successes and established her as one of the defining voices of her generation.
Whether the reported sessions lead to a new album in the near future remains to be seen, but they represent the clearest indication yet that Adele's self-imposed break may be coming to an end.
