Oscar-winning singer Adele only feels confident with her new material when it has "really moved" her and leaves her needing a moment alone to compose herself.

"In order for me to feel confident with one of my songs it has to really move me," she told The New York Times.

"That's how I know that I've written a good song for myself -- it's when I start crying. It's when I just break out in f***ing tears in the vocal booth or in the studio, and I'll need a moment to myself," she said.

The 27-year-old crooner admits she used to "drown" in her emotions when writing her second album "21" but loved the "drama" of "falling apart".

"I just used to let myself drown. If I was sad, if I was confused -- which I would say were the running themes for most of my records so far -- I'd just go with it," she recalled.

"I'd let myself fall apart, and I'd sit in darkness, and I'd feel sorry for myself, and I wouldn't accept any help to get out of it, in terms of going out with my friends to cheer me up, or staying busier.

"No! I loved the drama of it all," she added.

But the "Someone like you" hitmaker said she never wants to bring herself so low again, because of her responsibilities to her partner Simon Konecki and their three-year-old son Angelo.

"I haven't got time to fall apart. I'm the backbone for my kid, and I want to be there for him. And I want to be there for my boyfriend as well, and I don't want to bring them down with me for my art," she added.