North-east singing icon Emeli Sande aims be a role model for young women and an inspiration to take a “bold and unbeaten path”.
Chart-topping star Emeli is sending out a strong message – Be yourself. Be bold. Be happy.
For the Alford-raised superstar, a fundamental for any role model is honesty with yourself and others.
Which is why Emeli felt it was important to tell her fans when she fell in love and entered into a same-sex relationship with pianist Yoana Karemova.
Emeli will return to the north-east to perform at the Music Hall, Aberdeen on Sunday as part of the True North Festival.
She said: “I would love to be a role model for young women. To leave a legacy of being true to yourself and persevering.
“To inspire younger women and girls to be bold and take the unbeaten path is something I would love to do.
“You can only be yourself and that is what I want to inspire other people to be.
“It is more a case of just being myself as much as possible, and hopefully showing that you don’t have to conform to be successful.
“To have that connection with people who I share my music with I have to be real with who I am.
“I felt it was really important to share major things in my life.”
Celebrating the genius of a soul great
Emeli will take to the stage with soul superstar Mica Paris in the Granite City to celebrate the music of Aretha Franklin.
The evening is curated by Mica and will also include performances by other special guests.
Emeli said: “Mica asked me to come up for the show in Aberdeen. We will be signing there together which is really exciting.
“Mica has taught me a lot and her career so far has been fantastic.
“I wouldn’t be here if Mica had not been there before.”
Writing in the beauty and peace of Alford
The True North Festival marks a welcome return to the north-east for the multi-million selling chart-topping star.
The singer-songwriter was raised in Alford and admits the village offers a sanctuary from the spotlight of fame.
A two-time Ivor Novello award winner, Emeli’s debut album Our Version of Events was the best-selling album in the UK in 2012.
That year Emeli performed at both the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2012 Olympics in London, to a global television audience of billions.
Emeli said: “I get back to Alford as much as I can and when I’m in need of some peace.
“Alford is a nice place to write in as it is so beautiful and quiet amidst nature.
“It is also great to be around my folks and practise piano as well because there are no distractions.
“It is very grounding and humbling to be back where you grew up.
“Alford keeps my feet on the ground if I ever get too carried away in London.
“It is nice to remind myself of where everything started. My parents literally live across the wall from where I grew up.
“It is lovely to go back there.”
First time listening to Nina Simone
Emeli will celebrate musical legend Aretha Franklin when performing at the Music Hall on Sunday.
It was on the beachfront in Aberdeen where one of Britain’s most successful singers of the last decade first heard musical inspiration, Nina Simone.
Emeli recalls: “I was just opposite Codona’s in Aberdeen when I first heard Nina Simone.
“We were waiting for my mum to finish work. My dad played Nina Simone and I thought ‘what is this?’
“I was blown away. I was a teenager and felt so emotional as soon as I heard her.
“Nina Simone is a legend and inspiration.
“I remember when we went to see Alicia Keys in Glasgow there was a picture up of Nina Simone.
“I think she was going to be coming to Glasgow at some point but sadly she passed away. What a woman.”
Ed Sheeran, Kanye West and Tems
In May this year Emeli released acclaimed fourth studio album Let’s Say For Instance.
It was the follow up to 2019’s Real Life.
A collaboration with Chic legend Nile Rodgers, When Someone Loves You, was released during the summer.
Emeli will celebrate the music of soul great Aretha Franklin this weekend but which contemporary artists inspire her?
She said: “I’m a big fan of Ed Sheeran and the way he keeps popping out those pop genius songs is fantastic.
“He seems to be a really cool guy and I really like him.
“I love Kanye West, he is fantastic.
“Tems is a female artist who is inspiring me at the moment.
“There is so much fresh new talent.”
Stripping it down… 🎹🎹
Get the song: https://t.co/5vTFJQ5xEy @nilerodgers pic.twitter.com/1Utm1SpbAH
— Emeli Sandé (@emelisande) September 6, 2022
Branching out with presenting
Emeli is set to appear in the Channel 4 programme My Grandparents’ War.
The series explores celebrities’ grandparents’ extraordinary stories from conflicts that shaped the 20th Century.
Emeli revealed she aims to further develop her presenting and acting career in tandem with her music.
She said: “I feel I have a lot more control with the direction of my career.
“It is lovely to be able to branch out and do different things such as presenting and doing a little bit of acting.
“It has been really great to show other sides of my personality.
“That definitely makes a more genuine relationship with the audience.
“I love acting and would love to get more involved in that to see how I can express myself.”
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