Emeli Sandé has spirit, style and a voice so striking that she has caught the attention of big names in the music industry, like Adele and Jay-Z, after performing at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. It’s no wonder that she is the next big artist to hit the R&B scene!

Sandé grew up in Scotland with her Zambian father and English mother, putting her studies first while listening to jazz artists, like Nina Simone. She grew up singing and playing the clarinet and piano with help from her father who was a choir director. Although receiving a strong education was a priority to her, Sandé has said: “There has to come a point where you take the plunge.” College Gloss is so glad that she has! After moving to London, her debut album, "Our Version of Events," was the U.K.’s best-selling album of 2012, and now her career is about to get even bigger by breaking through the American music scene!

Read on for five reasons why College Gloss loves Emeli Sandé!



1. She has soul

At 25 years old, Emeli Sandé has more soul and emotion in her work than many other artists can boast throughout their entire career. She was inspired by artists like Joni Mitchell and Nina Simone, and her vocal range is unbelievable. Also, not only can she sing and play piano, she is an accomplished songwriter. Sandé has written for pop artists like Leona Lewis, Cheryl Cole and Susan Boyle.

2. She has style

Sandé is extremely fashionable, and her style is both girly and hip, with a chic rocker edge. As an up-and-coming artist, trying to break the fashion mold is important to Sandé. Sandé stated in an interview with NPR: “You want people people to recognize you instantly, and you want people definitely to have an image of you when they hear your music.”


3. She’s a down-to-earth star

Emeli Sandé is such an inspiration to CG, and her fan base is growing each day. But, some might be surprised to hear that when she was a kid, she didn’t see herself as a huge star because she was very shy. Instead, she wanted to write songs for artists that people could connect with emotionally. (Little did she know that one day she would be taking on Europe and the R&B scene internationally!) Today, she is married to Adam Gouraguine, and she travels and promotes her music with him by her side.

4. She’s unique ... and proud of it

Sandé isn’t the cookie cutter model of what it is to be a mainstream female singer in the entertainment business today. Her music is a cool mix of pop, soul and jazz. Also, growing up in a small town in Scotland, she always felt different because she was a part of the only mixed-race family. “I’ve always felt different, and when I was young it made me more of an introvert. But then as I grew older, I kind of began to embrace that feeling of being different. I really wanted to speak for people who feel different.”

5. She sings her heart out

Emeli Sandé is dedicated to her craft, and it is really paying off! Her success has had an impressive start in the U.K. with a No. 1 debut album and winning the “Critic’s Choice” award at the BRIT Awards. After performing at the 2012 London Olympics, she has caught the eye of many notable American artists. Jay-Z said, “she is going to be a big deal,” and Alicia Keys has complimented Sandé, saying she is a magnificent up-and-coming artist. She has also had recent guest spots on "The Late Show with David Letterman" and "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."

Emeli Sandé has a promising career ahead of her, and she isn’t letting anything stand in the way of her dreams. She’s so talented, and she offers so much variety in terms of jazz, pop and R&B singers in the music biz today. With her new popular single like “Next to Me,” and the uplifting track “River,” College Gloss is looking forward to many hits to come!

By: Mallory Feeney | Images: 1, 2, 3

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