Damon Albarn has spoken out against the reports that he is engaged in a feud with Adele, claiming that statements he allegedly made to the media have been misquoted, and that he did not brand the singer “insecure” nor call her music “middle of the road.”
Albarn stated back in September that he had worked with Adele on her upcoming album, which we now know to be 25, but he reportedly conceded that he doubted the majority of tracks he helped produce would wind up on the finished LP. The Sun (full article is hidden behind a paywall) published an interview with Albarn in which the Blur frontman reportedly said: “Adele asked me to work with her and I took the time out for her, and I’m not a producer, so… I don’t know what is happening really. Will she use any of the stuff? I don’t think so. Let’s wait and see. The thing is, she’s very insecure. And she doesn’t need to be, she’s still so young.” The tabloid also reported that the musician had branded what he’d heard of the album as “very middle of the road.”
Adele responded to Albarn’s reported marks, saying that though he was one of her “idols”, she regretted working with him. “None of it was right”, the singer said. “None of it suited my record… He said I was insecure, when I’m the least insecure person I know. I was asking his opinion about my fears, about coming back with a child involved — because he has a child — and then he calls me insecure?”
However, now Albarn has claimed that the comments attributed to him were false. Speaking to Time Out (via NME), Albarn refuted that he had made disparaging comments about the singer, saying: “I was Number Five on Twitter… I mean, how pathetic is that?”
“It’s not even true: it’s amazing how people will run with stuff that has no credence whatsoever and turn it into something and then watch the reaction.”
Albarn admitted that he was “used to” the negativity, adding: “Listen, I’m here because I love writing music and it’s a privilege”.
Adele released 25 on November 20th, with the album expected to break release records in the UK.
