The 19-year-old British singer had her breakthrough in England with her first single "Chasing Pavements": The number entered the single charts even before the release of the record, solely through digital sales. The longplayer "19" shot straight to the pole position of the album lists. You don't need a crystal ball to predict that 2008 will be Adele's year! Born in Tottenham and raised in Brixton, the young lady began playing guitar, writing songs and singing at the tender age of 14. Her influences range from Billie Holiday to Dusty Springfield and Björk. Her first commercial single is bluesy, melancholic and soulful at the same time and prompted the Sunday Times to say "A Star Is Born", while Q Magazine stated "The voice of next year" The venerable BBC had also predicted it: "Adele is the British music critics' biggest up-and-coming hope for 2008". This was the conclusion of the "Sound of 2008 Poll", a traditional BBC expert poll of around 150 music journalists, critics and radio and TV producers. Previous winners of the poll include acts such as Mika (2007) and Corinne Bailey Rae (2006).