I earned £250 a month at the co-op and now I sing for the Pope, says EMELI SANDE

Scottish singer-songwriter Emeli Sande, 37, has won four Brit Awards and had two UK number one singles and a number one album, titled Our Version Of Events, writes Peter Robertson.

Her latest single, Roots, is now available on her own label, Venus Records.

Born in 1987 to a Zambian father and English mother, Emeli grew up with her sister Lucy in Aberdeenshire.

He received an MBE in the 2017 Birthday Honors for his services to music.

Divorced, she lives in east London with her partner, the classical pianist Yoana Karemova.

Emeli studied medicine at the University of Glasgow but abandoned the course to pursue a musical career. Yesterday he performed for the Pope at the Vatican.

What did your parents teach you about money?

Neither of my parents grew up with money, so they were careful with it. Mom was always proud to find a bargain and

Savings were praised. Zambia was a different world for my dad. Education helped him improve his life and he trained as an engineer. We have been developing a village in Zambia and he found groundwater, built houses, installed electricity and solar energy and started farming there. I go once a year.

What was your first pay packet?

My first job was at the co-op in my town, Alford, when I was 16, doing everything from the cash register (which my mother also did) to turning all the cans. I got around £250 a month and at the time I thought I was rich. The manager is still there, so if I come in I say hello.

Have you ever struggled to make ends meet?

My family made many sacrifices for me. They didn’t have much, so they saved up for me to have piano lessons and spent a lot of money on petrol to get me from Aberdeen to London.

When I was 15, Choice FM invited me to London to take part in their Rapology competition, and MTV presenter Richard Blackwood took me to the Camden studios to sing gospel.

My move to London in 2009 was a big risk. I did a show for BBC Radio 1Xtra and met Naughty Boy, who went on to produce rapper Chipmunk’s song Diamond Rings, which we co-wrote and I sang on. I knew I could afford to live in London for a year and that motivated me to work hard. I signed a deal with Virgin Records in 2010 and another with EMI in 2011. So I was a few years into my music career when I started making money from it.

Have you ever been paid silly money?

I felt this way the first time I made money from music, as it was something I had done for free my entire life. It’s an honor to play at events like the Olympics and the Pope’s Christmas concert, but I performed at a residency last week and that was one of the highlights of my year because I was able to connect with people.

What has been the best year of your life financially?

It was 2012-13 when my first album, Our Version Of Events, came out. It reached number one four times in 2012 and became the biggest selling album in the UK that year, having sold 1,393,000 copies in the UK alone.

Are you a spender or a saver?

I am a spender. But I don’t have a flashy life. The studio equipment is a weakness. I am fascinated by music technology and there is always something new to offer.

What is the most expensive thing you bought for fun?

I have never bought a car. But last year I bought a cool electric bike from a friend who was moving to Dubai. It goes as fast as a car, so I have to be careful.

What is the best monetary decision you have ever made?

Investing in my music. When you’re not on a label, you don’t have financial support. I made an album during the Covid lockdown where I invested in myself. It’s risky since streaming music doesn’t make a lot of money, but it gave me artistic freedom. I’ve also been putting together my own record label this year. I hope to continue allowing myself to run it as it gives me autonomy.

Do you have a pension?

I think so! I have an accountant and I trust him to keep things afloat.

Do you have any property?

I have a house in London in a fantastic location. It used to be a carpentry warehouse so it is quirky. It has two bedrooms and looks like a country house even though it is in the center of the city.

Do you donate money to charities?

I save money to help projects I’m working on, like the one in Zambia. I also work with Nordoff and Robbins, who train music therapists to help provide music therapy to vulnerable people in society.

What would you have done if the music hadn’t worked?

I probably would have finished my medical studies in Glasgow and been a doctor, or maybe a psychiatrist or therapist. Sometimes I also think: ‘Would I have gone back to university to study music?’

If you were chancellor, what would you do?

It would increase the salaries of doctors, nurses and teachers, who are the backbone of this country. I would also invest a lot more in the arts and remind people how important they are for our mental health.

I try to stay up to date with politics. When I performed at the White House in 2013, I went with my makeup artist to have tea with people who make global decisions. President Obama said, “My daughters really like your music.” It will remain in my memory.

What is your greatest indulgence?

Every month or so I receive readjustment massages from a former singer and chiropractor. She is teaching me how the body affects the voice. I want it to be relaxing but she says, ‘No, you’re going to have to feel some discomfort if you want to realign your body.’ So it’s a love/hate thing.

What is your number one financial priority?

Being able to take care of my loved ones and being in a position where I don’t stress about finances. If that means downsizing and simplifying life, so be it.

Money stress can prevent you from doing what you want. It will probably be harder to be an artist as you get older. But music is ageless and hopefully people will listen to it. Annie Lennox, also from Aberdeen, is still going strong (at 69). The older we get, the wiser we become and we have a lot to say.

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