Live Lounge month: Five questions for Emeli Sande

The unmistakable blonde quiff of Emeli Sande is back as she admits she's been "so impatient" to get new music out.

Hurts is the first new solo song from her in more than three years.

She she says it's been a "long journey" to get to the point where the follow up to Our Version Of Events is ready to go.

"The album title has changed, the songs have changed. When you write a new song, you have to decide what to take off."

She compared the album process to a game of Snakes and Ladders where "even if you fall eight steps, you're slowly climbing at the same time".

She came to BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra for a Live Lounge special.

Following her performance, we sat down with the singer to pose our five essential questions for every Live Lounge guest.

Which song by another artist do you wish you'd written?

"It has to be Joni Mitchell's A Case of You.

"It's such a genius lyric and it's a timeless song that's so open to interpretation.

"I used to take a lot of train journeys from London to Scotland before I moved down here and I always listened to her album Blue.

"It took me somewhere else. She paints such vivid pictures."

Listen to Joni Mitchell's A Case of You (may contain third party adverts).

Where was your first gig and how many people were there?

"It was in Aberdeen. The city used to have this organisation called Urban Scot.

"They used to put on these sessions so I sat there with a piano and played to about 50 or 60 people. I felt like I'd made it."

Emeli Sande made a welcome return to the Radio 1 and 1Xtra Live Lounge.

What's been your most surreal experience with a fan?

"I went to Zambia three years ago. It's where my dad is from.

"It's the first time I've met my family there so we went to a jazz bar. We started playing Next To Me and the whole place just started singing with me.

"For me to be across the world, that was amazing. I didn't know my music had travelled that far."

Victoria Falls in Zambia. Emeli's dad is from the African country.

When was your last day off and what did you do with it?

"My last day off was probably last weekend. I went to see my family in Aberdeen and I played my new album to them.

"Mum and dad have this Hobbit hut in their garden. It's like a little shed so we all sat there around a fire and listened to music.

"It's the best way to chill out and re-gather your energy.

"Things are a little bit different when I go up there. Everyone gets excited. We recently went up to Alford - where I'm from - and went to the Brig pub.

"I had my photo taken with people there. It's all love."

What is the one thing - apart from your phone or wallet - that you need to have with you at all times?

"The chain around my neck.

"It's my goddaughter's chain. She's the cutest little girl in the world so we've got matching chains.

"I always have to make sure I have it on me so that her powers are with me."

Watch all the performances from Live Lounge month here.

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