The spotlight on this Scottish singer and songwriter is burning BRI(gh)T right now*. Having written hits for half of the pop charts – as well as herself – will Emeli Sandé’s debut album deliver in the same way as singles Heaven and Daddy have? Hattie Collins finds out.

Artist: Emeli Sandé
Album: Our Version of Events
Label: Virgin/ EMI
Tracks: 14
Release Date: 13 February 2012

Well, the BRITS Critics Choice winner might not please everyone with this record, but she’s certainly kept RWD happy. While the previously mentioned singles are two of a small handful of upbeat tracks on the album, there’s plenty of heartbroken slow-jams for fans of Adele and Ed Sheeran to appreciate. Unconcerned with being ‘cool’, the 24 year-old plays to her strengths and sings insistently and convincingly about love, heartbreak, disappointment and hope. My Kind Of Love is utterly brilliant; searing, spine-tingling, eye-watering and empowering, Sandé sings the hell out of the song that could be a follow up to . The Alicia Keys collabo doesn’t disappoint either; team two talents like those two and you get Hope, a socially conscious, uplifting slice of soul that will no doubt appeal both sides of the Atlantic.

Third single Next To Me, dangerously close to God-bothery, steers clear of schmaltzy spirituality with its tribal percussion and sweeping strings. In fact a dedication to her love of music rather than a higher power, the Craze & Hoax created composition should give the Scot her next top 3 hit. Dolly Parton gets a Sandé remix on the amazing country and western flavoured Suitcase, a track recent dumpee’s will be hitting repeat to while sobbing into their chardonnay-soaked tearstained pillows. Lovers of a great lyric will appreciate River while Professor Green fans will be interested to hear Read All About It [Part III], a stripped back version of the original and one that we can’t wait to see performed live. Other excellent moments include Maybe and the brilliant Breaking The Law. With this, as with much of Emeli’s songwriting, everything is not quite as it seems. Metaphorical meanings lurk underneath her writing, making the listening to her songs an in-depth experience. Sit back and enjoy or try to crack the deeper meanings, if you choose. At the end of the day, they’re a joy to listen to, either way.

There are small missteps – Lifetime is both a bit twee and sonically mismatched with the rest of the record, though saying that, it has the potential to bag Naughty Boy’s musical Mrs. another huge hit with the teen market. And yes, the album will no doubt be criticised for being somewhat slower than the first two singles might have suggested. But essentially this is a pop-soul album; it’s an A Minor, a 19, a Get Lifted a Floetic for 2012. It’s not trying to be cool. But what stands out, and also stands up to the hype, is the incredible songwriting on display. Epic sounds underpinned by a global sensibility, Our Version… is likely to skyrocket Sandé’s around the world. This is music that millions will love.

Naughty Boy, Craze & Hoax, Mojam and Emile Haynie (Kid CuDi, Tinie Tempah) provide the production Emeli needs to showcase her incredible vocal and astute lyrics. This is an album that deserves all the success it will no doubt receive.

Rating: 4 out of 5

*Sorry, we were trying to do something clever with BRITS and bright. It needs work, we know this.

Words by Hattie Collins

While the world regroups after his Earthquake at the top of 2010, Labrinth has got more damage planned for 2011, so we got him in for the cover of our 120st issue.

We’ve got a copy of the respected production software ACID Pro 7 to giveaway to one lucky winner.

ACID Pro 7 is a DAW powerhouse that combines full multitrack recording and mixing, MIDI sequencing, and Sony Creative Software’s legendary ACID looping functionality for a seamless music-creation and post-production environment. More creative partner than production tool, ACID Pro 7 software inspires like nothing else. With its Transparent Technology™ design, ACID Pro 7 software removes typical barriers to the creative workflow so you can effortlessly transform ideas into real results.

To be in with a chance of winning a copy of the ACID Pro 7 software, simply answer the question on our Welcome/ Comps page of facebook.com/RWDmagfans.

Another big tune to drop courtesy of Digital Soundboy, taken from the Grand Funk Hustle EP, it’s time to zone out…

Jess Mills covers classic Gabriel in her own special sultry way ahead of the release of the Pixelated People single bundle on 14 February which the cover features on.

Jess Mills – Gabriel by Jess Mills

Ace Hood hooks up with Rick Ross to argue why they’re both the realest…

Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino has garnered the affection of the music critics on both sides of the pond which as an established known comedian, actor and writer is pretty difficult. After selling out both London tour dates almost straight away Nardene Scott met up with the multi talented man to talk UK music, being compared to Drake, juggling the music and comedy worlds and what to expect at the Camp show.

So what have you been up to since you landed in London?

Yeah this is my first time in London. Josh Osho and I recorded some stuff for then I woke up Monday and was here all day yesterday from nine on doing interviews. I love it!

You sold out both your shows here already, like straight away. How do you feel about that? Where you surprised?

I had a feeling as I always get tweets from people from here (laughs) so when the first show sold out in a couple minutes, we made another and that sold out quickly too. I guessed from the tweets, people were like ‘do a show in Manchester’.

The support is across the board too, you’ve got The Times and NME Magazine and us talking about it… Do you make your music to crossover?

Nah I think it just happens intrinsically because I grew up with all that stuff and liking all that stuff. And that’s the thing most kids do now – It wouldn’t be crazy for a kid to say ‘I listen to Adele AND Dizzee Rascal’. No one is going to be like ‘WHAAAT!?’. Everybody listens to everything. So its not that crazy growing up listening to a bunch of stuff but its really fun to come over here because in America, they see me as a comedian first.

That’s what I was gonna say, how do you juggle all your worlds? Which comes first?

I see them all as the same thing because they all come from the same place. All my music, the premise of it, its usually the same as my jokes. They’re all about race and girls. It’s not like I have to shut them off and do this.

What do you enjoy the most?

Right not, the music, right now. That’s because it move a lot faster than the jokes world.

Do you feel you have had to prove yourself more in music where as if you went from TV to film it would have been a lot easier?

Yeah, with music its something like acting – everyone has an opinion. I think I’ve done pretty well with music as its super easy for someone doing comedy or acting to do music and have people be like ‘this is total sh*t’. I don’t know who is big over here but if I a comedian started doing music, I know they’d have a bad time with it but because my music is very much like me, it’s been a little easier with the transition. That’s the thing – people think I’ve just started doing music… I’ve been doing it for 10 years! People think I’m doing it because I like myself a lot (laughs). A lot of actors do do that though. I don’t look at music that way. I think it’s a privilege I get to do music and do shows.

What can people expect from a Childish Gambino show?

It’s pretty hardcore. We’ve had fights (laughs). When I was younger, I didn’t like Hip Hop shows because I felt they were boring but I was probably going to the wrong Hip Hop shows.  I went to a Rage [of the Machines] show but I wasn’t going to Wu Tang shows or anything like that because my parents wouldn’t let me but I went to other shows… They weren’t that great as rap albums were the stuff you would listen to at home but rock was the opposite with not so good albums but the live shows were great. I always try and make my live shows a good experience, taking you through the peaks and valleys, starting with highs and then lows. The Camp Show takes place over a day of camping. It starts with setting up camp then it gets dark, gets crazy, then the sun comes back up. People who doubted me, people thinking this guy is just jerking off on stage, like when they see the show, they’re like they weren’t expecting that.

What about comparisons? Have you had any crazy ones yet?

I’ve had Odd Future, I’ve had Drake… Yeah Drake comparisons! It’s funny because you guys think differently. Over there, they have a huge comparison because he was a TV star too. It’s interesting. Over there, it’s funny, just something to grab on to.

Do you know of any artists this side of the pond? Tinie has been buzzing over there and obviously Adele.

Unfortunately I don’t know a lot… I know the big ones. I know Adele, I know Devlin. Josh Osho showed me Devlin and I was like… I was really… He destroyed a freestyle I saw. It made me feel the same way when I first saw Eminem with the anger. Dizzee, Amy [Winehouse] and who else? I don’t think he is big as he was but Mr. Hudson. He’s everywhere.

So before the album CAMP, what was you working on musically? Have you worked with any different producers? Artists? You mentioned you did some dates alongside Kendrick Lamar…

I am… It’s weird. One thing they brought up was that I don’t do a lot of collaborations and features, not because I think my stuff is better, I don’t, I just felt like I had to prove myself. I know a lot of people would think if I came out with an album with a load of features and a lot of producers, people will think ‘this guy needs help – obviously he can’t do it on his own’. I produced all the tracks myself but the next one will have features and I’ll do a mixtape before hand.

What sort of albums stood out for you when you were growing up and influence your music now?

I really liked The Cranberries when I was really young, how embarrassing. The Pharcyde stood out for me, Marshall Mathers, Life After Death from Biggie and erm… Those were the big ones. I use to listen to Anita Baker a lot. I didn’t realize how much Anita Baker, Funkadelic and Prince played a part in my childhood.

That’s a pretty eclectic mix do you think that’s why hip hop is changing so much and how do you think the sound is going to change?

I don’t know how it’s going to change necessarily but I think Hip Hop in general has become more ambient. Take Care for example. I didn’t put it in and was like ‘WHOA!’ but it was a grower and I think that’s what Hip Hop needed. It is a full album. Rock has that. You put on an Amimal Collective album to feel that way and then you may put in an Adele album to feel that way. Hip Hop never had that. I don’t know whether I want to keep playing into the ambient thing or do something different. I know I want to work with another producer on the next album like Missy Elliot. I haven’t heard tracks from her but she’s on Twitter (laughs).

Who else would you like to work with?

I love Missy Elliot, Fiona Apple – I guess I just grew up with her and she has that scary voice (laughs) I like scary voices. You don’t like scary voices!? It sounds creepy (laughs).

Make sure you follow @DonaldGlover on Twitter and go and cop CAMP

Music journalists JP & Hyperfrank have been flying the flag for the UK with their list of artists to look out for this year on The Source’s website.

As always lists are going to be controversial but this list seems to have had a good reaction so far. The likes of Lady Leshurr, Dot Rotten, Wretch 32, K Koke, Benny Banks and more have made the list. Who knows if this will boost their profiles stateside or not…check it out and find out for yourselves via JP & Hyperfrank

Look out for RWD’s lists hitting the site next week…

The super talented Emeli Sande tops our tips for 2012 + we let you know who else to look out for next year!!!

Is this the first stage of SkyNet’s eventual global campaign to takeover the world by hinting that your iPhone 4S has musical taste? No. But we’ll keep an eye on that situation anyway because the more we think about it, the more serious it sounds…

Is this the first stage of SkyNet’s eventual global campaign to takeover the world by hinting that your iPhone 4S has musical taste? No. But we’ll keep an eye on that situation anyway because the more we think about it, the more serious it sounds…

#brilliantbitoffootage

Spotted via freeonsmash.com