In terms of Adele, there have been a lot of emotions to process in the past few weeks. After teasing her new music, the soulful queen bombarded the world with a heart-wrenching new single and music video [1], a November release date for her next album [2], and even a brand-new interview [3]! Fans were more or less unable to cope with the sensory overload [4], and it would also appear that today's biggest music artists are struggling as well. In fact, four different musicians have announced plans to take a break in the past few months. Coincidence? We think not. Let's examine the evidence.
Taylor Swift
In her interview with Vogue Australia [5], Taylor admits that she thinks it's time for her to be out of the spotlight for a bit. "I'll feel like I'll need to give people a breather from me, because at a certain point they're going to get a little sick of hearing about me. So I'll need to go away for a while then, depending on my gauge on how sick of me they are, I'll decide when to put out the next album."
So, what she really means is, the new album is coming when people are tired of 25, right?
Ed Sheeran
In a chat with MTV [6], Ed Sheeran says he's going completely offline in the new year. "My plan is to get rid of my iPhone, get rid of Internet, get a Nokia 3310, and just go off into the wilderness somewhere for a bit. Even if it’s just a month without contact with other people."
So basically, he doesn't even want to hear about Adele's new album.
One Direction
In August, People reported that One Direction had decided to go on hiatus [7] and that they wouldn't be touring for their fifth album. "The group, which is now made up of Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan, has mutually agreed to take at least a year-long break from the band."
We're guessing they caught early wind of Adele's single — you know, because they're mostly British like she is — and decided to bow out in advance.
Sam Smith
Sam Smith spoke with Entertainment Tonight [8] about his decision to take a breather. "I've been going now for three years nonstop and it feels right for me to just go home and just live my life and be a 23-year-old. My love life, the downs and ups, it never stops, so I'm always inspired by stuff like that, but it'd be good to spend some time dating."
Isn't it a strange coincidence that it's been three years since Adele's last single?! Either Sam and Adele have some sort of deal worked out, or they're the same person. Like, they're both pretty soulful. Conspiracy theorists, discuss.