Scottish soul and R&B singer Emeli Sande got her start like so many noteworthy artists -- as a songwriter...and a soon-to-be doctor. Before music became her full-time gig, Emeli was studying medicine at the University of Glasgow while keeping songwriting just a hobby. It was during her fourth year in school when she wrote the hook for a song called "Diamond Rings" and gave it to English rapper Chipmunk. With Sande's vocals on the track, the song became a top 10 hit, and after penning songs for Cher Lloyd, Susan Boyle and Cheryl Cole (to name a few), Emeli soon landed a record deal with EMI. Needless to say, medicine would have to wait.

Emeli's made her mark overseas already, having won the coveted Critic's Choice statue at the 2012 Brit Awards, but now it's time for you to get to know the "Heaven" singer. We sat down with Emeli, our PUSH artist of the week, and she opened up to us about her first U.S. album release, what she learned from writing for other artists before launching her solo career, and the importance of a hard day's work: "You always hope maybe [your music] can do well, but you never know. And so finally, to feel like the hard work has paid off, it's such a relief, and it was really encouraging to keep doing what I was doing." We're guessing 13-plus million views on her "Next To Me" video is a bit of a relief as well.

Emeli Sande's Our Version Of Events is out stateside June 5.

+ Grab a free download of Emeli Sande's "Daddy," watch her live performance of "Next To Me" below, and check out more interviews and videos after the jump.

Emeli Sandé on writing for others

Emeli Sandé on "My Kind Of Love"

Emeli Sandé on her U.S. album release

Emeli Sandé on hard work

Emeli Sandé, "Heaven (Live)"

Emeli Sandé, "Daddy (Live)"