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Artists like Adele — and the music that made them

Soul Pop · 2008-present
Soul-stirring voice that transforms heartbreak into universal anthems
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins is a British singer-songwriter whose powerhouse vocals and emotionally raw ballads have dominated global charts since 2008. Her ability to channel personal pain into deeply relatable songs has made her one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with albums named after her age at the time of writing.
Essential tracks
Someone Like You
Rolling in the Deep
Hello
Did you know
She was the first artist to have three albums sell over 3 million copies in their first week in the US
Her album '21' spent 24 consecutive weeks at number one in the UK
She turned down a collaboration with Beyoncé because she was too nervous to meet her
“Powerhouse vocals meet heartbreak with timeless soul and modern pop sensibility.”
2
generations
of influence
Influence tree
Trace Adele's roots back through history
Every sound has a source. Click any node to hear the connection.
Adele
2008-present
Etta James
1955-2012
cited
Lauryn Hill
1993-present
cited
Roberta Flack
1969-2014
sonic
Aretha Franklin
1956-2018
movement
Carole King
1958-present
sonic
Dusty Springfield
1958-1999
movement
↑ Click any influence node to see the connection and where to start listening.
What makes the sound
Sonic elements
Gospel-influenced melismatic vocals
Piano and string orchestration
Confessional songwriting
Vintage soul production aesthetics
Start with these tracks
Someone Like You
Rolling in the Deep
Hello
Set Fire to the Rain
If you like Adele, try these
Amy Winehouse
Raw emotional delivery with retro soul production and confessional lyrics.
2000s · Neo-Soul
Duffy
Vintage-inspired soul vocals with contemporary pop appeal and romantic themes.
2000s · Soul Pop
Joss Stone
Young British artist with powerful voice rooted in classic soul traditions.
2000s · Neo-Soul
Alicia Keys
Piano-driven ballads showcasing vocal range and emotional vulnerability.
2000s · R&B
John Legend
Contemporary soul with piano accompaniment and romantic lyrical content.
2000s · Neo-Soul
Sade
Sophisticated soul ballads with understated elegance and emotional depth.
1980s-2010s · Smooth Soul
About this page

Music like Adele — Adele Laurie Blue Adkins is a British singer-songwriter whose powerhouse vocals and emotionally raw ballads have dominated global charts since 2008. Her ability to channel personal pain into deeply relatable songs has made her one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with albums named after her age at the time of writing.

Artists like Adele today include Amy Winehouse, Duffy, Joss Stone, Alicia Keys. If you enjoy Adele, these artists share similar sonic qualities, influences, and emotional range.

Bands like Adele and songs like Adele are among the most searched music discovery queries — rootz.guru goes deeper by tracing the roots of the sound itself, not just surface-level similarity.