Emeli Sandé is of Zambian descent, raised in Scotland, and currently enjoying her life as a performing singer-songwriter in Britain. A champion of education, Sandé considered a brief career as a doctor, but always fancied a way of getting into the spotlight on stage since she had been writing songs since she was eleven. In 2012, she married her boyfriend of several years, marine biologist Adam Gouraguine. In the meantime, Emeli Sandé is making a name for herself as the European Alicia Keys, whom she cites as a major musical influence and inspiration since seeing Keys perform when Sandé was sixteen. Her style is a range of soul inspired lyrics with R&B sounds and beats. Her debut studio album, Our Version of Events, saw international success, with critics and fans comparing her to the likes of Aretha Franklin to Annie Lennox. It hit number one on the UK Billboard Music charts and, for a brief time, replaced Adele's competing album, 21. During the 2012 London Olympics, she preformed during the Opening and Closing ceremonies.