Influenced by Nina Simone, Massive Attack, and Joni Mitchell, jazz-soul artist Emeli Sandé regularly provided guest vocals for several of the U.K.'s most successful grime artists before eventually embarking on her own successful solo career in 2010. Born Adele Sandé in Aberdeen, she was encouraged to hone her musical talents, which included playing the clarinet and piano, and writing and performing her own songs, by her Zambian choirmaster father. While studying medicine at Glasgow University, she signed a publishing deal with EMI and, following a meeting with producer Naughty Boy, the pair began working together on a number of songs, including Chipmunk's Top Ten hit "Diamond Rings," which she also featured on, and "Boys," which was later recorded by Cheryl Cole as the B-side to "3 Words."