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EXCLUSIVE: Adele in the Studio

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Adele, the 22-year-old Londoner with the wiser-than-her-years voice and Best New Artist Grammy on her mantle, has been working on her second album (set for a September or October release) in Malibu, CA, with legendary producer Rick Rubin (Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers). SPIN got an exclusive invitation to visit the singer at Shangri-La Studios and get the first scoop on one of 2010’s most eagerly awaited efforts — watch the video interview below!

Adele says it’s been a thrill to work with Rubin (who’s also one of the head honchos at her U.S. label, Columbia), to whose advice she “can’t help but listen,” and to escape England for a while, even though she’s singing about experiences (including “a shitty relationship”) that happened in her hometown. “If I was in London, I’d get distracted and go out every night,” she says.

Plus America is home to some of her favorite songwriters. “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.” Adele names Raising Sand, Alison Krauss’ 2007 collaboration with Robert Plant and T-Bone Burnett, as a particular influence.

While writing the album, Adele worked with British producer Paul Epworth, best known for bringing to life the brash, urgent sounds of Bloc Party and Florence and the Machine, and also for producing and collaborating on Everything Is New, the sexy, soulful album from Adele’s buddy, Jack Peñate. “[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.

She admits that her new record isn’t going to be 19, Part Two, but is eager to have her fans come along for the ride. “I want people to get me, and I don’t think that they’ll be able to if I didn’t try to progress a little bit,” she says. “I just wanted to make good songs, and I think I’ve done that.”

Watch Adele’s video interview below, and tell us what you think of Adele’s second album plan in the comments.

WATCH: In the Studio with Adele

Interview by Gregg LaGambina | Filmed by Erik Voake | Edited by Eric Nowels