Emeli Sandé (GB)

About

Also known as: Adele Emeli Sandé, Emile Sandé, Emili Sande, Emili Sandé

Emeli Sandé had already proven herself as a songwriter for artists like Chipmunk, Professor Green, Cheryl Cole and Tinie Tempah before her own debut even landed. When it did, it hit hard: Our Version of Events spent ten non consecutive weeks at the top of the UK albums chart in 2012 and became the best selling UK album of that year, shifting a million copies domestically. She also performed at both the opening and closing ceremonies of the London Olympics that same year, which is about as high profile as it gets. Her soulful, R&B rooted sound connected immediately, with singles like 'Next To Me', 'Read All About It' featuring Professor Green, and 'Beneath Your Beautiful' with Labrinth all reaching the top of the UK charts. The 2013 Brit Awards handed her Best British Female Solo Artist and British Album of the Year. Her second album, Long Live the Angels, debuted at number two in the UK in 2016, and she picked up another Brit Award for Best British Female Solo Artist the following year.