A University of Glasgow medical student has been signed by one of the biggest labels in the music industry.

Emeli Sande, who is about to start her 4th year in medicine at the end of this month, has been signed by Stellar Songs, part of the EMI publishing group. She is the first female artist to be signed by the label and the deal follows her nomination for a prestigious MOBO music award last week.

Miss Sande is the only Scot to be shortlisted for a MOBO. She has been nominated in the best song category for Chipmunk's Diamond Rings, which she co-wrote and provided vocals for. The MOBO awards celebrate the best of urban music and the results will be announced at the SECC in Glasgow on September 30.

This weekend the 22-year-old from Aberdeen will perform at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden as part of a Time Out Festival.

Speaking of her continued success Miss Sande said: "The summer has been incredible. I am over the moon about the MOBO nomination and the record deal. However, I am committed to finishing my degree. I’ve really enjoyed studying medicine at Glasgow and am looking forward to the new term – although I do plan to take a few evenings off to perform." 

One of those perfomances, she hopes, will be at the MOBO awards ceremony itself.

"It's brilliant timing for me that they chose this year of all years to change the venue of the awards and host it in Glasgow, as it means my family and friends can all come along and hear me perform," she added.

Miss Sande, who recently completed an intercalated degree in neurology, wrote the chorus of Diamond Rings with her song-writing partner, the producer “Naughty Boy”, last summer. The song went into the music charts at No 6 and prompted a number of high profile singers and musicians, including Cheryl Cole of Girls Aloud, to approach her to write music for them.

She continued: “A few people got in touch with us after they heard Diamond Rings. So far all I can say is that I’ve written a song for Cheryl [Cole] and hopefully it will be included in her solo album. It would be amazing if it did.”

For more information please contact Eleanor Cowie, Media Relations Officer at The University of Glasgow, Tel 0141 330 3683 or Email e.cowie@admin.gla.ac.uk

To find out more about the Mobo Awards please see http://www.mobo.com/

First published: 4 September 2009

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