The name may not be familiar - but her work almost certainly is. Emeli Sande has quietly carved a niche for herself in the past few years as one of the UK's most exciting up and coming writers, having penned tracks for Leona Lewis, Cher Lloyd, Chipmunk, Susan Boyle and many more - as well as having guested on several huge chart hits.

Now striking out under her own steam with stunning debut solo single 'Heaven', we spoke to the Aberdeen singer about stepping into the spotlight, the backlash against Cher Lloyd, writing under the influence and her experience in a room full of dead bodies...

Hello Emeli. Was there ever a time when you wondered if you would ever break into the mainstream as an artist in your own right?
I had established myself as a writer but I really had to convince people when I wanted to keep a song for myself and include it on my album. There were times when I wondered if I should pack it all in, after all there's a lot of money to made in writing for big artists. It was incredible - I could make loads of money, make a reputation as a writer but you have to keep that faith in yourself. But there were definite low points, real dark moments when I thought it wasn't going to happen.

How does it feel seeing some random woman mime your vocals in a video for a track you've written and sung on?
It felt a little bit strange but it was how I got my first introduction to the industry and it made me feel like I had something to prove, and I thought that one day I'd be in control of all of this. I think there is a certain image that a lot of young artists need to portray, a certain glamourous lifestyle. I can be glamorous, just maybe not their sort of glamorous - with a giant weave on.

The clever money in music is behind the scenes. What made you want to step out into the spotlight?
It was always my intention, before I wrote for anybody, to do my own thing, because I know how my songs should be sung, how they should be delivered so I guess, taking control was the real appeal of doing it. A writer's lifestyle is really cool though - you can just sit in a room, stay up until whatever time you like, you don't need to care how you look - it's a very relaxed lifestyle, you get paid well. It's a good lifestyle to walk away from but there's just something about performing and gigging, that connection with people is what I really long for.

How do you know when you want to keep a song for yourself or when you are happy to give it away?
I just usually know, straight away, if the song is very personal to me and I know the way the lyrics are meant to be delivered - I'll want to keep it. I usually know as soon as I've finished whether it's for me or not.

The lyrics in 'Heaven' such as 'Will you recognise me / when I'm stealing from the poor' seem to have more resonance after recent UK riots. What is your take on the recent events?
It's so sad. I feel like there's a generation that has so much anger, and has no voice and these riots has been the only place they can have a voice and get some attention. But this isn't the way to do it.

Are there any songs you've written or been involved in that you wished you'd kept for yourself?
No. As soon as you give away a song to someone, it's theirs. And I never like to think about what could have been, I always just think: 'I can always write something just as good as that, or better'. You have to have that confidence, or you'd feel insecure about everything all the time.

What is the best song you've ever written for someone else?
There's a song i've written for Leona Lewis called 'Treble' which I really like, also for Cher Lloyd there's a song called 'Lifetime' and I'm really proud of the lyrics in that one. Those two are my favourites.

Why do you think Cher Lloyd has faced so much online criticism?
I think everyone is very anonymous online now, no one is accountable for what they do, so it is very easy to say exactly what you want to somebody who's trying. She's putting herself out there, she's working hard and it's very easy for people sitting on the couch, not following their dream to say what they want because no one is going to know who you are. Facebook and Twitter make this more common, but they also make supporting people easier, because it is easier to communicate with people who are enjoying your music.

Who would be your ultimate artist to work with?
I'd love to write with Alicia Keys, that would be amazing. I'd love to write with Nicki Minaj, Andre 3000, Ed Sheeran as well and I would have loved to have worked with Amy Winehouse.

You've written for Susan Boyle. How do you get into the mindset of writing for someone so unique in the music world?
I just knew I wanted to write a classic song that people of all ages would want to listen to. I wasn't really thinking 'I am Susan Boyle'. I just wanted to write a song that sounded classic, because that's the sort of song she sings. Writing for her was very different to everything else I've done, all the pop and mainstream stuff.

You recently mentioned on Twitter that you couldn't work with a writer who started before 10pm. Does this mean you're not a morning person?
I am rubbish in the mornings! If the sun is out, the songs I write are usually rubbish. The best time for me is between 10pm and 4am. The best songs come around 2am for me.

Adele recently said she wrote her 21 album drunk. Do you agree with this practice?
Oh definitely! It's essential! It helps you to loosen up.

You have a medical degree. Have you ever had some save someone's life?
No. Thank goodness. I was just learning so I never got to the point where I was ever responsible for someone's life. I am pretty well versed in first aid and I'm always diagnosing people when they come up to me saying 'Ow my arm is really sore'.

What's was the grossest part of your medical training?
Probably in the first year when they introduce us to all the cadavers, the dead bodies. It was such a weird thing to see that, I'd never seen a dead body before. Just to start exploring the body like that was a bit freaky. It took a while to come to terms with it, but because we were with professors it all become really fascinating. You desensitise to it after a while - apart from the few girls who passed out.

There's been a huge number of young urban males breaking through onto the UK music scene over the past few years, is it time for the girls to get some attention?
Yeah! I think so. I was thinking recently that there hadn't been many new UK females over the past few years and I think it's time but the music has to be of a certain quality. When females do start coming out and the music is really well thought out, then yeah - bring it on.

What can we expect from your debut solo album?
You can expect good lyrics. It's my main focus and priority that my lyrics represent me accurately. Without saying to much, I think it's a very honest piece of work and I hope it will speak to a lot of people.

How many songs on the album are as good as 'Heaven'?
I hope all of them! They don't all sound like Heaven but I've tried to keep the quality control on the album so I hope they're all on the same level as the single.

What else do you have planned for 2011?
There's a few things mapped out - the next thing I'm going to release is a song with Professor Green called 'Read All About It', then another single from me. The rest is just chance, lets see what comes along.

Thank you very much Emeli Sande. 'Heaven' is available now in the Orange Music Store.