Emeli Sande says her singing success is down to the support she’s received from her family.
Emeli, who grew up in Alford, Aberdeenshire, was delighted they were able to help her celebrate when she was honoured with an MBE last year for her services to music .
She said: “That was incredible. I found out when I was making music in the States and I couldn’t believe it. I thought it was a joke.
“My mum was there as well and we Facetimed my dad. It’s a wonderful feeling to have that acknowledgment for music.”
Emeli was born in Sunderland but moved to Scotland at four with her Zambian dad Joel and English mum Diane. She also has a sister Lucy.
The Next to Me singer studied medicine at Glasgow University, specialising in neuroscience, and moved to London after graduating.
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Emeli, 31, said: “It was quite a big risk for me to pursue a career and move from Glasgow to London – I didn’t know anybody. To then go on and get acknowledgement from the Queen, it was quite surreal.”
Her family went with her to the ceremony at Buckingham Palace. She added: “It was a really lovely day because they’ve made so many sacrifices for this to be possible – I wanted to share it with them.
“They saved up and got my first keyboard for Christmas so I could still practise music in Glasgow.
“They paid for piano lessons and they didn’t have much. It’s been a family effort.”
She says her relatives and friends keep her grounded and they keep in touch and see each other regularly.
Emeli said: “I feel like I’m 18 again when I’m around my family.
“I go to see friends I went to uni and school with and always sing them the new songs and usually take their opinion. I know if I don’t get a response I should leave this one alone.
“The music industry takes up all your energy so to hear what’s happening in the medical world and what else is going on is really good for me.
“Where I grew up was so beautiful. I’d love to write an album in Scotland – I think I would be really inspired by the scenery.”
Emeli also asks for family input on her music.
She said: “When I go up to Scotland, usually my mum and dad hear songs when they’re more polished because I want them to hear the final product.
“But with my sister Lucy, I will show her the beginnings of ideas to get a sense of where I should take it.
“She is really good at singing – I need to get her to stop being so shy.
“My dad is a big music lover and introduced me to a lot of singers. He ran a choir at my school. He’s quite musical.
“My mum also likes music and she’s a good sounding board.”
Emeli will be back in Scotland next month for the new Fiesta x FOLD festival at Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow, on June 30 and July 1.
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She said: “I haven’t been up to Glasgow for a couple of years so I’m really excited.
“That’s where I spent my student years and I have so many amazing memories from there. It’s going to feel like a homecoming.”
The festival has been created in collaboration with Nile Rodgers and Chic, following on from the success of the West End Fiesta.
Emeli said: “It was an honour to be asked. He’s such a legend and when you look at his back
catalogue, it’s incredible.”
The line-up on June 30 includes Earth, Wind and Fire, The Pointer Sisters and De La Soul, as well as Nile Rodgers and Chic.
Nile and Chic will be back on July 1, when Emeli will perform, with the line-up including Goldfrapp, Laura Mvula, Morcheeba and Ana Matronic.
It’s been a busy year for Emeli but not quite as hectic as 2012 when she performed at the opening and closing ceremonies for the London Olympics.
She said “Looking back it was a great way to spend my twenties – I wouldn’t want to do it any other way.
“The moments where I feel the pressure is when I’m on stage and you know so many people are watching. Like the Olympics, that’s when I felt real pressure to deliver something I’d be proud of.”
Emeli says she has now got used to being approached by fans – but it took a while to get used to. She said: “I’ve always been quite shy and just love to get my head down to music.
“It was quite hard to adjust to at first. But then when I realised people wanted to talk to me about the music and share their stories I really began to embrace it.”
She’s been working on a new album which she hopes will be out later in the year.
Emeli said: “Music is such an addictive thing.
“I built a studio in my home so I wake up and go straight down there until it’s time to go to bed. It’s been like that for a few weeks.
“It does get to the point when someone has to intervene and take you out for your sanity’s sake.”
● For details of Fiesta x FOLD festival, go to westendfiesta.co.uk.
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