Entertainment Gists
Easy On Me – Is Adele’s Comeback Single A Hit Or A Miss?
After a slow-burning PR campaign, Adele’s first new music in six years has arrived.
Easy On Me, a spare and emotional piano ballad, was released at midnight UK time, offering fans the first glimpse of her “divorce album”, entitled 30.
That will be her follow-up to massively successful albums 19, 21 and 25.
Easy On Me sees Adele explaining her decision to walk away from her marriage in 2019, while asking her son and ex-husband for understanding.
“I changed who I was to put you both first,” she sings, “but now I give up”.
That moment, so naked and unvarnished, sends shivers down your spine.
Adele’s voice is full of regret, but also resolve.
In the accompanying music video, director Xavier Dolan chooses this moment to transition from black and white to full colour – making clear that this is the sound of a woman who has dismantled her entire world, realising that she needn’t feel guilty for putting herself first.
Adele addresses the chorus, “go easy on me”, to herself as much as her family – and she accepts it’s too soon for them to see her point of view.
“I had good intentions / And the highest hopes / But I know, right now / It probably doesn’t even show.”
The song was apparently the first track written for Adele’s forthcoming album, and dates back to the year of her separation. The immediacy of those emotions is apparent in her vocal, simultaneously strong and vulnerable.
But there’s also a generosity to the song. Adele is reaching out to the people she’s hurt, but Easy On Me is also a big woolly blanket wrapped around the loneliness and pain of anyone who’s been through a core-shaking break-up.
Fans around the world stayed up to hear Easy On Me as soon as it premiered – with 299,000 people watching its debut live on YouTube.
It comes just five weeks before her new album – which was first teased in a global marketing campaign that saw the number 30 projected on to buildings and billboards in Brazil, Mexico, Dubai, Italy, Germany, Ireland, the US and the UK.
Fans correctly guessed the release date of 19 November when Taylor Swift moved her forthcoming album forward by a week, apparently to avoid a clash with Adele.
Like her previous three albums the title is a reference to a specific age in Adele’s life.
Thirty is the age at which she married her long-term partner, Simon Konecki, and then left him.
The star has said the album was recorded to help her nine-year-old son understand their divorce the following year.
“I wanted to explain to him through this record, when he’s in his 20s or 30s, who I am and why I voluntarily chose to dismantle his entire life in the pursuit of my own happiness,” she told Vogue magazine.
“It made him really unhappy sometimes. And that’s a real wound for me that I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to heal,” she added.
30 – November 19 pic.twitter.com/vp6ornlda2
— Adele (@Adele) October 13, 2021
Speaking to BBC Radio 2’s Zoe Ball, the singer said the album “was bloody hard work to make”.
“I was singing things I didn’t even realise I was feeling or thinking,” she said, adding that it was important for her to share those emotions with the world.
“I feel like I can’t unlock a door for my own mental health and take the key with me. I’ve got to leave it in the door for everyone else – and I’m in a strong place now where I feel like I can put that vulnerability out.
“I’m in a strong place now where I feel like I can put that vulnerability out.”
@adele is BACK and chats to @zoetheball about the journey she’s been through behind her new album ❤️
Listen live this Friday morning, from 8.10am on @bbcsounds ✨ pic.twitter.com/9tKw2py2GO— BBC Radio 2 (@BBCRadio2) October 15, 2021
In a separate interview with BBC Radio 1’s Greg James, she admitted that her friends hadn’t been too impressed by Easy On Me when she played them the demo.
“I sent a snippet of it, as I was writing it, to three of my closest friends,” she said.
“One didn’t like it, one was like, ‘keep trying’, and the other was like, ‘I’m busy working’. So that was the perfect response.”
Once it was finished, however, “they loved it”.
“And I don’t do any music in my time off. It’s not a muscle that I exercise – writing or singing,” she added.
“So most of the time, even just for my best friends and my manager, their first reaction, no matter what the song is, is, ‘it’s just nice to hear you sing’.”
New sounds
While Easy On Me is very much a traditional Adele ballad, there have been hints that the rest of the album will showcase a more experimental side to Adele’s music.
According to Vogue, one track features her vocals “sampled and resampled over a hypnotic beat”, that is reminiscent of electro-pop act Goldfrapp.
She has also worked with London-based producer Inflo – responsible for the retro R&B sounds of Michael Kiwanuka and Little Simz – as well as the Oscar-winning composer of the Black Panther score, Ludwig Göransson.
Radio 2 DJ Jo Whiley, who has been played a handful of the songs, said there are “all kinds” of sounds and genres on the album.
“There’s one that I listened to and it just made me feel incredibly sad,” she added. “She really does pour her heart out and her voice, I think, has never sounded better.
“I was really surprised by the heights that she reaches – and the power and the resonance within her voice is amazing.”
However it sounds, 30 is certain to be a shot in the arm for the UK music industry.
Only one British album released since the start of 2020, Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia, has sold the 300,000 copies required to be awarded a platinum disc.
It took her 10 months to achieve that feat. By contrast, Adele’s last album, 25, went platinum in its first 24 hours.
It went on to become the UK’s 14th best-selling album of all time, with sales in excess of 3.6 million.
Embarrassment of riches
Sony, her new record label, will be hoping to match those sorts of sales heights – although the CD market has declined precipitously since 2015; and Adele’s streaming numbers don’t yet match those of her peers.
She currently has 22 million monthly listeners on Spotify, compared to Ed Sheeran’s 75 million and Taylor Swift’s 46.5 million.
New music will undoubtedly boost those figures, however, even if Adele faces stiff competition from Sheeran, Swift, Abba and Coldplay, who will all release new material in the coming weeks.
Martin Talbot, chief executive of the Official Charts Company, described the pile-up as an “embarrassment of riches” that is almost unprecedented for the music retail sector – but he predicted Adele would emerge on top.
“It would be a brave man who predicted anything other than 30 being the biggest album of this Christmas,” he told the BBC.
“And, with certifications now also reflecting streams, as well as traditional physical and download sales, it is in with a strong chance of going platinum in its first week.”
RUAN-Badkid.96 is a Nigerian recording artist whose music refuses to live inside a single genre. Blending Afrobeat, Afrofusion, trap, hip-hop, melodic rap, R&B, and global influences, he creates records that move effortlessly between raw street energy, soulful storytelling, and infectious melodies. Whether delivering hard-hitting bars, emotional love songs, or rhythm-driven African records, his sound is defined by authenticity rather than limitation.
Inspired by both African culture and international music, RUAN-Badkid.96 embraces the confidence and ambition of global hip-hop while staying deeply connected to his roots. His lyrics explore love, heartbreak, betrayal, friendship, social injustice, hope, and the everyday realities of life. He doesn’t create music to follow trends, he creates music to reflect truth, emotion, and human experience.
Behind his fearless image is an artist who believes in kindness, equality, justice, and genuine human connection. His appearance may be intimidating, but his message is rooted in compassion and authenticity. Every record carries a piece of his journey, proving that strength and vulnerability can exist in the same voice.
For RUAN-Badkid.96, music is more than entertainment, it’s a language, a testimony, and a lifelong mission to connect with people through honesty, versatility, and unforgettable sound.
Entertainment Gists
Meet the Man Who Turned Hype Into a Science: Emmy Blaq, Nigeria’s G.O.A.T. of Hype
If you have ever been at a Nigerian event and found yourself on your feet before the main act even stepped on stage, there is a good chance a hype man was responsible. But not just any hype man. Emmy Blaq, born Ikechukwu Emmanuel Chima and raised in Auchi, Edo State, has spent the last few years quietly becoming the most talked-about name in that profession, and the Nigerian press has taken notice. Punch, Vanguard, The Guardian Nigeria, The Nation, and Independent Newspaper have all sat down with him, and every conversation leads back to the same thing: this man does not just make noise; he makes moments.
What makes Emmy Blaq different is the journey behind the energy. Before the stages, the collaborations with Waje on her “Waje 2.0” album, DJ Consequence, and DJ Kaywise on the massively streamed “Joor Party Mix” series, he was repairing generators, cutting hair, and sewing clothes in Auchi. His first professional hype gig happened at a local fast food spot called Valchi, and the crowd response that night changed everything. He told The Nation directly: “My passion for entertainment and desire to make people happy led me into the craft.” Punch also captured his bigger mission when he said that hype men deserve more than what they currently earn, a statement that sparked a real conversation across Nigerian entertainment circles.
With over 1.7 million TikTok followers, 23.6 million TikTok likes, a viral “Wife Material” challenge that landed on Pulse Nigeria’s top ten social media moments of 2021, and an international performance at the Cameroon International Music Festival that Cameroonian media described as electrifying, Emmy Blaq is not building toward something. He is already there. The G.O.A.T. of Hype is not a title he gave himself and hoped would stick. It is one the rooms keep confirming every single time he grabs the mic.
MANAGER PROFILE
Uncle Wisdom is a Lagos-based music executive and visionary leader known for blending structure, strategy, and creativity in artist management. With a background in Mathematics and Statistics from UNICROSS formerly, Cross River University Of Technology. He brings analytical precision into talent development, positioning artists for both creative excellence and commercial success.
CAREER JOURNEY
Began his career in 2017 as an event coordinator for Eksu Olofofo, where he gained foundational experience in live events and audience engagement. By 2018, he transitioned into full-time artist management, driven by a clear goal to build a more structured and results-oriented system within the music industry.
In 2019, Started working as a road manager for Barry Jhay, gaining hands-on experience in touring, logistics, and artist operations, a refined career and mental awareness coach . He was also instrumental behind Barry Jhay’s 2025 sold-out homecoming concert, a key moment that fueled momentum for a successful UK tour, including sold-out shows in London and Birmingham.
PHLOX MGMT
Founded from the ground up, Phlox Mgmt is a forward-thinking management company focused on Career coaching, A&R, artist development, and strategic positioning. The company is built on a clear philosophy:
Develop the sound. Define the brand. Position the artist to win.
Phlox Mgmt has connections with @Roadgod_of Roadgod Agency and connects artists with top-tier producers, engineers, and creatives, ensuring a refined sound and strong market presence. The company continues to grow as a trusted platform for emerging and established talent.
INDUSTRY NETWORK & COLLABORATIONS
Uncle Wisdom has built valuable relationships across the industry, working with and alongside talents such as:
Barry Jhay • Asake • Ceeza Milli • Berri Tiga • Laime • Spellz • and many others
LEADERSHIP APPROACH
John Wisdom operates with a long-term vision, focusing on structure, consistency, and execution. His approach goes beyond traditional management he builds systems around artists that support sustainable growth, strong branding, and global competitiveness.
CONTACT & SOCIALS
Instagram & X: @Johnwisdm @phlox_mgmt
TikTok: @unclewisdom7
Email: phloxentertainment@gmail.com
Phone: 08038448478 | 09015668027
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