Emeli Sande nominated for two Ivor Novello awards

Emeli Sande: Up for two Ivor Novello awards. Picture: Getty

• Emeli Sande nominated for two Ivor Novello awards

• Prestigious songwriting awards voted by songwriters and composers

• Sande up against Bat For Lashes and Coldplay for honours

Her track Next To Me is in the running to be named best song musically and lyrically after it was shortlisted along with Laura by Bat For Lashes and Jake Bugg’s Two Fingers.

The song is also shortlisted for most performed work along with Olly Murs’ Dance With Me Tonight and Coldplay’s Paradise.

The annual awards – in their 58th year – are highly valued by those nominated because they are voted for by songwriters and composers. Previous winners include Blur, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Van Morrison, Christina Aguilera and Adele.

The singer has already achieved massive commercial success with her debut album, Our Version of Events, in part helped by the global stage offered in performing at the Olympics.

The album, which sold 1.4 million copies in 2012, is the best-selling album so far this year.

The 26-year-old first came to public prominence when she appeared on rapper Chipmunk’s top-ten single Diamond Rings in 2009, though she was already working as a songwriter by then.

Brought up in Alford, Aberdeenshire, she had set aside musical ambitions to complete a degree in medicine at Glasgow University.

Resuming her career as a singer and songwriter, Sandé scored top-ten hits, including three number ones, received numerous awards, including the Brit Awards’ Critics’ Choice title and several Mobos last year, as well as penning songs for Leona Lewis, Susan Boyle, Alesha Dixon and Cheryl Cole.

The Scotsman’s music critic Fiona Shepherd said the nomination reflected the type of artist Sandé is: “She hasn’t come out of nowhere, she’s been working for years. I just think she’s taken her time, and she’s been allowed time to develop as a songwriter.

“She could have signed years ago, but she didn’t – she waited and built her career on her own terms.

“It doesn’t surprise me that she’s been nominated, as she’s a very conventional songwriter and Ivor Novello tends to reward, for want of a better phrase, the classic songwriter.”

Scottish DJ Jim Gellatly said the nomination reflected Sandé’s ability and hard work over the past year: “I don’t think the Olympics performances did her any harm in helping her career, but ultimately her success comes down to penning incredibly catchy tunes and hard work.”

Gellatly acknowledged that Sandé’s album and songs had risked “saturation” on TV and radio, but said that came with success: “It’s noticeable for me

as a DJ. I’ll find myself doing a four-hour stint and I’ll have played her a few times during that run. The fact is that people are still requesting these songs.”

The Ivor Novello awards ceremony takes place at the Grosvenor House hotel in central London on 16 May.

The nominations for the 58th Ivor Novello Awards are:

Best Song Musically and Lyrically

Laura - Bat For Lashes

Next To Me - Emeli Sande

Two Fingers - Jake Bugg

Best Contemporary Song

Fitzpleasure - Alt-J

Ill Manors - Plan B

Pelican - The Maccabees

PRS for Music Most Performed Work

Dance With Me Tonight - Olly Murs

Next To Me - Emeli Sande

Paradise - Coldplay

Album Award

An Awesome Wave - Alt-J

Every Kingdom - Ben Howard

Is Your Love Big Enough? - Lianne La Havas

Best Original Film Score

Anna Karenina - Dario Marianelli

Dr Seuss’ The Lorax - John Powell

Ill Manors - Plan B

Best Television Soundtrack

Lucian Freud: Painted Life - John Harle

The Mystery Of Edwin Drood - John Lunn

Upstairs Downstairs Series 2 - Carl Davis