Have you been to a lot of festivals?
No, but I did a lot of camping when I was young, so when I first went to a festival – it was T In The Park, about four years ago – everyone was looking to me to make sure we had everything. I think Paolo Nutini was playing, but I mostly remember the atmosphere, being with my friends from uni and having a great time. I remember being in the tent and it raining. Everyone was in a bad mood, but we managed to turn it around, probably with drinking. And suddenly the rain didn't matter.
Because you have to expect it to rain at a UK festival …
Yes! One big thing to take is plastic bags. They're like gold dust. You can use them when it starts raining to cover up your hair, or wear them on your feet. Everything eventually gets covered in mud, so plastic bags are a big one. You also need a good pair of shoes. Comfort is important, more so than looking good.
Which festivals are you looking forward to most this year?
I saw Robyn perform at Lovebox last year, and I'm really looking forward to being back there – it seems like a cool, carefree vibe. At Bestival I can't wait to see Florence + The Machine play before I do. Then there's the Hackney Weekend, because that's where I live. It's going to be great just being part of the community there, getting out of bed and going to perform.
Pro Green's also on the bill for Hackney, so can we expect to see you doing Read All About It together?
I haven't been asked to play with anyone yet, I'm waiting for the call! It would be great to be on stage with Professor Green …
Do you have anything special planned for your festival sets?
It would be great to put in a cover or try to mix it up a bit. The beauty of festivals is that you can be more spontaneous. I love to improvise, because it means you're really connecting with the audience.
Have you played any gigs recently where you've really felt that connection with the crowd?
Playing at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in LA in March was one of those shows – it was in this beautiful, atmospheric building, lots of stained glass windows and all these famous people buried outside. Everyone was sitting down, it was really intimate. The first time I played in Ireland was at the Sugar Club, again really intimate and candlelit. It felt like I was performing in my living room. I heard stories from the audience about what the songs meant to them and it brought new meaning to my performance. One guy had heard me do Next To Me on Jools Holland and he said it made him think of someone who'd passed away. When I went on stage, I was able to mention this guy and tell his story rather than mine. I love being able to do things like that.•
Emeli Sandé plays T In The Park, V, Bestival, Lounge On The Farm, Lovebox and Radio 1's Hackney Weekend
