Emeli Sande shines at the Royal Albert Hall

There must be another ‘British Invasion’ in music as lately a series of British artists have exploded on the music charts — Adele, Mumford and Son, Florence + the Machine, Jessie J, Muse, Taio Cruz just to name a few. Yes, indeed, it must the third British Invasion.

Yesterday, Kenz and I had the pleasure to support one of my favourite new artist, the Brit Award winner and singer-songwriter Emeli Sande at a charity concert for The Prince’s Trust (a great organisation) at the iconic Royal Albert Hall. I quickly became a huge fan of Emeli Sande after hearing her hit songs ‘Heaven’ and ‘Next to Me.’ Like everything else in London, I booked these tickets back in June, well ahead of the London Olympic Games where she performed in front of a global audience at both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, singing a beautiful rendition of ‘Imagine’ and her very own hit ‘Read All About it.’

Kenz and I were joined by my very good friend from high school who is in town for work and my 2011 BBC prom date (no not the high school prom, but the classical music festival held at the Royal Albert Hall each year). Little did we know, this concert was being recorded for a live album, set to be released in February 2013. As we watched her orchestra take their place with a row of back-up singers all clad in black, we knew we were in for a treat.

Beneath the gorgeous domed ceiling of this prestigious concert hall where so many big voices have performed in the past, Emeli Sande hit every note so beautifully to the sold-out crowd’s delight, showcasing her incredible talents as singer and an accomplished pianist. Her breathtaking vocals and impressive range is even better live. In a concert lasting for nearly two hours, she sang every song from her best-selling debut album “Our Version of Events,” dedicating each song to the nearest and dearest of friends and family including her sister, parents, her new husband, and “My Kind of Love” to the Prince’s Trust for which she serves as an Ambassador.

Two very special guests joined her on  stage, British rapper, Professor Green for his rap segment in “Read All About It” who got the crowd on their feet, and later Labrinth for their hit duet “Beneath Your Beautiful.”

Performing at the Royal Albert Hall is her biggest solo concert yet, and no doubt Emeli Sande will have an illustrious music career ahead of her, and this is just the beginning. She will indeed write her very own version of events.