Introducing...Emeli Sande!
After working behind the scenes in the music industry for a number of years, Emeli Sandeis finally ready to step out of the shadows to become a fully-fledged artist in her own right.
The Scottish rising star has already penned songs for the likes of Cher Lloyd, as well as collaborating with Professor Greenand Tinie Tempah.
With debut single Wretch 32for this week's Official Singles Chart No.1, we caught up with Emeli to find out more about her quest for solo success…
Nicki Minaj. I just think she’s incredible. I would love to work with her and I would love to work with Andre 3000. I also think what Ed Sheeran’s doing is really exciting and Wretch 32 as well. There are heaps of people I would just love to collaborate with.
Q: What song can you see yourself making with Nicki Minaj?
A: I don’t know, I could like sing the chorus and have something that can match her rapping but I would want it to be something where we were both doing something as equally as good and just really owning each part of it. It would be just something brilliant.
Q: You have penned songs for so many different artists, was there one tune that you wish you had never given away and recorded yourself?
A: No, you just make that decision and you can’t turn back because you’ll always be bitter that you gave it away. I think you have to be confident that whatever you give away, you can always write something again that’s just as good or is more for you.
Q: We read that you recently wrote a song called Lifetime for Cher Lloyd, What was she like to work with? Did you meet her?
A: Yeah, she came to the studio and it was the day of The Royal Wedding, so I think she thought I was a bit of a weirdo because I was like “we need to watch this”, because she didn’t really care but she was a lovely girl and I really enjoyed meeting her. She just kind of got the song right away and she sang it really well. I just knew that it was for her and I’m excited to hear what people’s reactions will be.
Q: What do you make of the negative press Cher has received recently?
A: I don’t know, I mean I really loved meeting her and she’s herself – that’s what I respected about her. She really puts herself out there and doesn’t really care too much whether people like her and I just think that’s really great. She truly believes in what she’s doing and she’s putting herself out there for rejection and not many people chase their dreams. I respect her, some people like her and some people don’t, what are you gonna do?
Q: Cheryl Cole has also once recorded one of your songs called Boys for the B-side of 3 Words, did you get to meet her? How did it come about that she recorded your track?
A: That was kind of like an email job. Her A&R was in control of what she was doing and had heard that we write and wanted something from us. We had written a song that was quite pop and we thought it might suit her, so it kind of happened like that.
Q: Do you ever write songs with another artist in mind?
A: Not really, I think they can come out quite contrived if you do that so I just try and write the best songs I can and see if people like them. At least then, you have a batch and people can come and chose what they want.
Q: You have also collaborated with Tinie Tempah, what do you make of Tinie’s success in America?
A: I am super proud of him because he has got such a fantastic work ethic and I remember when Pass Out had just gone to No.1 and he wasn’t arrogant and he didn’t have this big ego around him, he was just so focused on the next move. Then his album went to No.1 and he always kept going and I’m just really happy for him, he totally deserves it.
Q: You feature on Pro Green’s new single, Read All About It, as well as working with him before on his debut LP, what can you tell us about the song?
A: We kind of worked the same as we have done before. It’s like a big anthem song and I don’t think we have done anything different; it’s just like a different type of song than we worked on before I guess.
Q: You recently said your proudest moment so far was when Susan Boyle recorded one of your tracks, what can you tell us about it? Did you especially write the song for Su-Bo?
A: Again we had just written a lot of songs and my background of writing is just by sitting at a piano at writing, so that’s why I just love classic songs and they really liked it, I don’t know if it was my actual proudest moment, but it was quite cool. I haven’t heard her sing the song yet, but I can’t wait.
Q: You have also written for X Factor star Leona Lewis and we read you got on quite well with her in the studio – would you like to work with her again?
A: Yeah, I would love to. We all got on so well and we had such a laugh and nothing was forced and it all came very natural, I would love to work with her again, she’s got an incredible voice and we have got a lot in common so it was very easy to write with her.
Q: Do you think you would have ever tried out for shows like The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent?
A: I don’t think I ever would of. I think I would have found it so hard that I didn’t have the complete freedom to write that would have been my main thing. It was never really an option and it never really crossed my mind to do it.
Q: Finally, seeing as you have done so much already, what do you see yourself doing by this time next year?
A: Erm, I don’t know. This is kind of a whole new world for me, being in the forefront of my own song and doing the whole things by myself. So, I want to get comfortable doing that and then hopefully my music is received well – that’s all I can hope for really.
By Joanne Dorken
