Brian Freshwater and Jacqueline Hughesset up Freshwater Hughes Management in 2001, each having had extensive careers in the music industry, primarily working with British soul acts. Their aim is to represent artists of the highest quality and to take them to the world marketplace. They are primarily motivated by singers with outstanding, unique voices and by the art of classic songwriting.
BACK IN THE DAY...
JOSS STONE
Their first signing to the newly formed company was JOSS STONE, whom they signed when she was just 13 years of age. From the moment they heard her sing they both believed passionately that she was going to be a huge international artist, and that she was a major talent. Their first move was to pull her out of the TV talent show they had spotted her on and the second was to change her name to Joss Stone and then set her upon her natural musical direction of soul music.
Just over 5 years later, Joss has sold some seven and a half million albums worldwide, and is one of the most talented live performers to have come from the UK in a long time. Her management agreement with Freshwater Hughes expired in 2004 on a very amicable basis - and Jackie and Brian continue to follow closely the career of the hugely talented artist of whom they are so fond and so very proud to have had as their first signing. read more...
THE HERE AND NOW...
FOY VANCE
Second signing to Freshwater Hughes Management was Bangor born soulful singer/songwriter FOY VANCE. Firstly they jointly set up Wurdamouth Records with Foy and released his widely acclaimed debut EP ‘Live Sessions And The Birth Of The Toilet Tour’, which was promoted by a series of gigs supporting acts as diverse as KT Tunstall, Pete Townshend and Taj Mahal in 2005. These shows amassed a dedicated fanbase and gained Foy support and admiration from his peers, including the nine times Grammy Award winning Bonnie Raitt, who invited him to join her as her ‘Special Guest’ throughout her 21 date UK/European tour in April ’06.
Two of Foy’s tracks, ‘Homebird’ and ‘Gabriel And The Vagabond’ were subsequently featured in cult US networked TV drama Grey’s Anatomy, which led to demand for ‘Gabriel And The Vagabond’ to be released as a download in the US and to ‘Homebird’ being included on Grey’s Anatomy 2 Original Soundtrack album. June last year saw the release of Foy’s second limited edition EP ‘Watermelon Oranges’, which was supported by various live dates including the Wireless and Oxegen Festivals, a support slot with Dave Mathews and an appearance with Pete Townshend and Martha Wainwright at Joe’s Pub in New York as part of Pete and Rachel Fuller’s ‘In The Attic’ launch.
Foy recently wowed a sell-out crowd with a stunning collaboartive performance with the 70 peice Ulster Symphony Orchestra when he played at the Waterfront in Belfast alongside Duke Special, which was broadcast live on BBC Radio Ulster. read more...
CONNER REEVES
CONNER REEVES is the most recent signing to Freshwater Hughes. Both Brian and Jackie have been huge fans of Conner’s writing and vocal talents since hearing ‘My Father’s Son’ and initiated Conner’s co-writing of 3 songs for Joss’ ‘Mind Body & Soul’ album. Conner has been collaborating with Future Cut, production team behind the Lily Allen album, on tracks for his own album and the first fruits of their work together, ‘The Welcome To The Future’ EP was released in the UK at the beginning of 2006, to great critical acclaim. Conner is returning to the studios imminently, with Future Cut, to complete his album, which is scheduled for UK release end of 2007. read more...
PETE VALE
Brian managed the songwriting team of Leeson/Vale for some 14 years and now Freshwater Hughes represents Pete Vale. Probably best known for writing the triple Ivor Novello award winning ‘Would I Lie To You?’ for Charles & Eddie, other massive hits include ‘My One Temptation’ for Mica Paris, the recent Lemar smash ‘If There’s Any Justice’ and the co-written 9 million selling ‘Love Will Keep Us Alive’ recorded by The Eagles. Pete has just produced his co-write of ‘After You’ for the forthcoming album by Beverley Knight.
DEREK BRAMBLE
Derek has been represented by Brian Freshwater for some twenty years and Derek has written for Anastacia, Whitney Houston, Faith Hill, Will Smith and many others. Derek has recently produced the American Idol 5 encores album.