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

Scottish singer-songwriter Emeli Sande, 37, has won four Brit Awards and had two UK No.1 singles and a No.1 album, titled Our Version Of Events, writes Peter Robertson.

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

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

She was awarded an MBE in the 2017 Birthday Honors for services to music.

She is divorced and lives in East London with her partner, classical pianist Yoana Karemova.

Emeli studied medicine at Glasgow University but left the course to pursue a music career. She performed for the Pope at the Vatican yesterday.

What did your parents teach you about money?

Neither of my parents grew up with money, so they were careful with it. My mother always took pride in finding a bargain, and saving was praised. Zambia was another world for my father. Education helped him improve his life and he trained as an engineer. We developed a village in Zambia and he found underground water, built houses, installed electricity and solar energy and started farming there. I visit once a year.

What was your first pay package?

My first job was at my village co-op, Alford, at the age of 16, doing everything from the till (which my mother also did) to turning all the cans. I got about £250 a month, and at that point I thought I had enough. The manager is still there, so when I go in I say hello.

Have you ever struggled to make ends meet?

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

When I was fifteen, Choice FM invited me to London to take part in the Rapology competition, and MTV presenter Richard Blackwood invited me to 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 produced rapper Chipmunk’s song Diamond Rings, which we wrote together and I sang on. I knew I could afford to live in London for a year and that gave me the impetus to work hard. I signed a deal with Virgin Records in 2010 and another with EMI in 2011. So I was already a few years into my music career when I started making money from it.

Have you ever been given stupid money?

That’s how it felt when I first made money from music, because it was something I had done for free all my life. It’s an honor to play at events like the Olympics and the Pope’s Christmas Concert, but last week I performed at a care home and that was one of the highlights of my year because I was able to connect with people.

What was the best year of your life financially?

It was 2012-2013 when my first album, Our Version Of Events, was released. It reached No. 1 four times in 2012 and became the best-selling album of that year in Britain, selling 1,393,000 copies in Britain alone.

Are you a spender or a saver?

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

What’s the most expensive thing you bought for fun?

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

What’s the best money decision you’ve made?

Investing in my music. If you don’t have a label, you don’t have financial support. I made an album during the Covid lockdown that I invested myself in. It’s risky because streaming music doesn’t make a lot of money, but it gave me artistic freedom. I also put together my own record label this year. I hope I can continue to afford to run it because it gives me autonomy.

Do you have a pension?

I believe so! I have an accountant and I trust them to keep things running.

Do you have property?

I have a house in London in a fantastic location. It used to be a carpentry workshop so it’s quirky. It has two bedrooms and feels like a chalet, even though it is in the middle of the city.

Do you give money to charity?

I put money aside for projects I am working on, such as 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 music hadn’t worked?

I would probably have completed my medical training in Glasgow and become a doctor, or perhaps 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?

I would raise wages for 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 the arts are for our mental health.

I try to stay informed about politics. When I performed at the White House in 2013, my makeup artist and I had 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 biggest indulgence?

About every month I get adjustment massages from a former singer and chiropractor. She teaches me how the body influences the voice. I want it to be relaxing, but she says, “No, you’re going to have to experience some discomfort if you want your body to regain balance.” So it’s a love-hate issue.

What is your number 1 financial priority?

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

Money stress can prevent you from doing what you want. As I get older, it will probably become harder to be an artist. But the music is timeless, and hopefully people will hear that. Annie Lennox – also from Aberdeen – is still going strong (at 69). The older we get, the wiser we become, and we have so much to say.

This is the Money podcast