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Biography
When it comes to songwriting , getting started early is a must if you want to be taken seriously by your early twenties. However, most first attempts at songwriting while still in one’s preteens are usually composed in one’s bedroom, before being consigned to the front of a long-forgotten notebook, never to be looked at again. This was not the case for an eleven year old Adele Emily Sandé, who wrote her very first song expressly to be performed at a school talent show. This either shows some serious confidence or serious stupidity and thankfully enough, it turned out to show some serious, and well placed, confidence.
That very performance made her think that she might want to be a songwriter as a career, and fast forward five years she was on the verge of signing a record contract with Telstar records. However, those five years had moulded Sandé into a very smart young woman, and she turned it down in favour of going to university. I’m going to go out on a limb here, and guess that this was something which her father, a teacher at her secondary school, was pretty psyched about. Soon after that she studied a five year medicine course at the University of Glasgow, graduating with a degree in neuroscience.
By the time she graduated, Adrian Sykes, the same manager that she’d had at sixteen, had waited for her and together they began working on her career proper. Sandé very nearly made it all over again with her very first act after graduating, as her sister made a video of Sandé covering “Nasty Little Lady” on the piano and they sent it to Trevor Nelson’s BBC Urban Music Competition. Of course, Sandé won the show and was offered a record contract soon afterwards, but the deal unfortunately fell through.
Not to be deterred, Sandé and her whole family got to work promoting her music to anyone who would listen, and some of her first radio play on Ras Kwame’s BBC radio show got her a concert right in the heart of Soho. It was at this concert where she met a writer and producer named Shahid Khan, otherwise known as Naughty Boy. The two of them hit it off and began writing songs for other artists together, with tracks going to everyone from Tinie Tempah to Cheryl Cole and Professor Green. After these tracks proved popular, Sandé herself signed a solo contract with Virgin Records, and by 2011 was signed to EMI as well.
Truth be told, Emeli Sandé was a dead cert from the start, and when her first single “Heaven” was released in August 2011, it went straight to number two on the U.K singles chart in its first week of release. Her debut album “Our Version Of Events” went to number one when it was released in February 2012, and later became the biggest selling album of that year in the U.K, with over a million copies sold. Since then, Earth has become Sandé’s world, we just live in it. She performed at both the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2012 London Olympics, sang for President Barack Obama at The White House and four of her six singles peaked in the top five of the UK charts.
With her masterful songwriting skills and even better performances, we’re going to be seeing a lot of her in the near future, and we should all be very grateful for that. Highly recommended.
Live reviews
Pop songstress, Emeli Sandé, certainly puts on a polished show. Her 2013 performance at London’s KOKO arena was no exception. Sandé has enjoyed immense popularity, dubbed by some critics as ‘overexposure’, since the release of her debut album, ‘Our Version of Events’ in 2012. Despite (or perhaps because of) her aptitude for delivering chart-topping tunes, it is fair to say that Sandé lacks edge: she’s a distinctly safe pair of hands.
Nonetheless, Sandé knows how to work an audience. The crowd screamed as Emeli strutted onstage, sporting her striking bleached-blonde quiff. She proceeded to treat her fans to an early performance of her first hit, ‘Heaven.’ The song’s high-energy drum and bass soon got everyone moving. The strength of Emeli’s performance lies in her rich and powerful vocals, showcased in her soulful rendition of Labrinth’s ‘See Beneath Your Beautiful.’ While Sandé is normally responsible for this track’s chorus, she gave an accomplished solo version.
At times Emeli’s safe pop renditions got a little samey. However, when Pro Green joined the singer onstage for ‘Read All About it’, a little much-needed edge rubbed off and Sandé produced a real crowd-pleasing number.
Emeli Sandé and band provided the London crowd with one smooth arena gig.
Han93
It is fair to say that British singer/songwriter Emeli Sandé had a large amount of expectation for her career after she collected the Brits' Critics Choice Award in 2012 following on from pop aficionados Adele, Florence + the Machine and Ellie Goulding. Luckily the feisty Scot more than proved herself with a soulful, versatile vocal that spanned the genres of pop, R & B and even dance.
The last time she performed in London it was to a sell out crowd and allowed Emeli to really showcase her talents as an artist. The likes of 'Heaven' and 'Free' work well together despite being at two separate spectrums regarding tempo and style. Sandé's neo-soul stylings pull the whole setlist together and allow the likes of 'Clown' and 'Beneath Your Beautiful' to play wonderfully together. There are large cheers for commercial hit 'Read All About It, Part III' and the encore of 'Next To Me' goes down very well. Although she has proven herself commercially against her critic's choice predecessors, there is something rather robotic about Emeli's performance. Unfortunately she doesn't command the vocal prowess of Florence nor the emotional sincerity of Adele, so she has some clear work to do on her sophomore release.
sean-ward
I don't think words can describe what Emeli Sande did in the Olympia Theater this 18/3. She is absolutely stunning woman with such amazing energy on the stage, every song you could see how into herself she was in every song that she sang, singing with her soul, enjoy every moment and make the whole audience feel exactly the same energy.
Amazing band and amazing choir and an impressive moment when her guitarist got down from his place to sing with her "Beneath Your Beautiful" being him who sang Labrinth verses.
A show I never going to forget and I can't actually wait to see her again so, because is an artist who has all the worth to see her live as many time as is possible.
And even if you don't know all her songs, is a show you will enjoy anyway just with see the energy that Emeli and her Band projects.
avatarguille
Normally I love a gig at the Usher Hall because I feel you can never have a bad seat/view. However, I was wrong on this occasion - Emeli played a few songs at her piano, which was located on the far left of the stage so I couldn't see her.
I also struggled to hear her at times - the drums were too loud and drowned her out on the first few songs. However, she sang beautifully on the songs where it was just her and a piano or guitar. She has such an amazing voice and it was such a shame that the sound levels weren't right on the night.
Her support act, Ben Monteith, was entertaining and we enjoyed his music - we also went to meet him after his set and he was really friendly.
rosie-haswell
I would go all the way to Ireland to see Emeli Sande even though she's not the headliner. That's how much I love her. She performs straight to your soul. Better live than recorded. She's a natural performer who knows how to connect emotionally. It's powerful. I was bawling when she sang Suitcase.
I have never heard the headliner on this even so I'll have to check them out.
Emeli,
Please come back to the USA (HEADLINING OF COURST). TELL YOUR PEOPLE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
heather-hara-1
Even better than expected. Emelie looks and sounds amazing. Well worth travelling from Northumberland. Her backing group all had amazing voices. Unfortunately because lots of people were talking it was difficult to hear her little chats. Why do these people go to concerts? They should stay in the pub!
I'm glad we saw Emelie at a small venue. I could see her again and again . Thanks Emelie a concert to remember
annmaria-johnson
This was NOT an Emeli Sandé concert. She opened for a rock band that was not very good to my standards. Had I known this when I bought the ticket I would have never ever bought this ticket. I feel lied to by any one who promoted this show as an Emeli Sandé performance. I can not tell you enough how deceiving this was and how surprised I was when I found out AT the venue. Waste of money and time.
stacey-munoz
This was a great show, which confirmed 'live' what we had heard on disc.
The only disappointment was that the sound was too agressive. For an artist with such melodic songs this was not the best way to present her repertoire.
We would certainly go to see Emeli Sandé on another occasion, in the hope that we hear more of her (great) voice and less from the sound system.
s.day
We struggled with the first set of the show as we found the music far too loud, almost drowned out Emeli’s voice.
The set where she played and sang at the piano was wonderful. She then returned to the stage and we really enjoyed the final pieces. It seemed that the bass was more under control.
The backing group and the 3 guys playing brass were fabulous.
rosemarycannell
We enjoyed the show in Birmingham a lot! It was a great experience to finally see Emeli Sande live, especially in a smaller venue. The whole band, especially the drum player was great! The scene had beautiful lights according to songs. And obviously, Emeli was perfect, so kind and so strong at the same time. Epic voice! Thank you!
Kofolatte
