CHANCE TO SPARKLE; the Razz.

Byline: BEV LYONS; Cara Sulieman

A SCOTS medical student has been signed up to AEMI publishing after composing the Mobonominated Chipmunk record Diamond Rings.

Emeli Sande, who is about to start her fourth year of medicine at Glasgow University, signed a deal with the music giants on Thursday.

It comes after she penned the platinum-selling tune - while vacuuming her bedroom.

Emeli, who will be at the Mobo awards in Glasgow next month, told friends yesterday: "I am now a professional songwriter."

The 22-year-old has been writing and performing her own songs since she was 11 and is thrilled to finally have her songs used by other artists.

She said: "I have been working towards this since I was 11 and, 11 years later, here I am."

As well as Chipmunk, Cheryl Cole has recorded Emeli's song Boys for her upcoming solo project.

Aberdeen-born Emeli got her big break thanks to a chance meeting.

Emeli said: "I was doing a show in London for 1Xtra and I met this guy called Naughty Boy.

"He has been trying to build up his name as a producer and asked if I wanted to work with him.

"We got in the studio and we clicked work wise. I just really enjoyed listening to what he was doing - it was so different from other people's stuff.

"We just started writing, not necessarily for me. We just thought, 'Let's write a pop tune and experiment.'

"We wrote the Chipmunk track and I thought nothing of it. Naughty Boy sent it off to Chipmunk, who really liked it and wrote his stuff around it.

"It's just strange that some little song I wrote in my bedroom has had so much success and airplay. It's crazy."

But the performer is determined to make her name as a singer-songwriter, rather than standing behind the success of other people, and plans to release her debut single later this year.

She said: "About five months ago, I went to London to do showcases for about six different record companies.

"There's been different interest in signing me but I want to be in a stronger position, so that's why we decided to release a single independently.

"We're going to release the track Daddy and hopefully once that's out there and people know who I am, I'll be in a stronger position to say what type of music I do and I can choose who I want to be with."

Finishing her education is one of the most important things to Emeli, whose manager, Adrian Sykes, has been waiting patiently since she was 16.

She said: "Adrian respects that I want to get an education. My parents are keen that I finish university.

"It's really good having people behind you who aren't rushing you to do something or don't respect what you're trying to achieve.

"I've managed to pass my exams in medicine and make things happen in music, so the plan is to continue to try to balance it for the next two years."

In the meantime, her dulcet tones can be heard at www.myspace.com/emelisande

CAPTION(S):

HIT SONG: Emeli Sande