Biography
Lulu Hughes, a Canadian vocalist, fuses empowering retro soul, blues-rock, and dance grooves, all elevated by her fervent vocals steeped in gospel traditions. After performing with Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir and various Quebec blues outfits, she issued her self-titled debut on the Musicomptor label in 2002, emphasizing blues-rock. High-profile contributions to Antoine Clamaran’s 2004 single “Feel It” further elevated her profile, while Crazy Mama! from 2006 explored vintage soul, dance-pop, disco, and kindred styles. Full immersion in retro territory arrived with Lulu Hughes & the Montreal All City Big Band in 2010. Continued dance collaborations sustained her visibility until Built Near the Water appeared as her next solo album in 2022; a Jay Vegas remix of “Feel It” brought renewed attention in 2024.
Born and raised in Quebec to musician parents, Louise Hughes counts siblings Rick Hughes and Dan Hughes, both long-term members of the metal band Sword. Her own trajectory began with attention-grabbing vocals inside Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir. Local performances followed throughout the next decade, among them fronting Soul What, where comparisons to Janis Joplin became frequent. Backup work encompassed Too Many Cooks and Barry White, and advertising campaigns for globally recognized brands regularly sought her voice-over talents. The 1999 casting as Marie-Jeanne in the David Bowie-inspired Starmania stage production launched her solo career, drawing label interest by the close of its two-year run.
Her 2002 full-length Lulu Hughes merged uplifting soul and energetic blues-rock. Additional exposure arrived via Clamaran collaborations “Release Yourself” (2002) and “Feel It” (2004), supported by numerous extended remixes that reached club audiences. Acting credits during this period included supporting parts in the 2006 drama La rage de l'ange and the 2009 drama Suzie.
Crazy Mama!, released mid-2006 on Sphère Musique, expanded her blues foundation into classic soul, disco, and other ardent idioms. Further dance singles with Clamaran included 2007’s “Give Some Love (Part 1)” featuring Mario Ochoa. Retro-soul shaped the June 2010 collaborative effort Lulu Hughes & the Montreal All City Big Band. Clamaran reunions continued with 2011’s “A Deeper Love” alongside David Esse. A 2014 bundle of “Release Yourself” remixes by Marco Santoro and Leeroy Daevis preceded the 2016 Clamaran track “Hallelujah” featuring Hughes.
Sphère Musique delivered Built Near the Water in October 2022, her first solo album in sixteen years, refracting familiar influences through a mature perspective. Early 2024 brought Jay Vegas’s Jay Vegas Classic House Mix of “Feel It,” and touring with Too Many Cooks occupied her schedule that year.
Born and raised in Quebec to musician parents, Louise Hughes counts siblings Rick Hughes and Dan Hughes, both long-term members of the metal band Sword. Her own trajectory began with attention-grabbing vocals inside Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir. Local performances followed throughout the next decade, among them fronting Soul What, where comparisons to Janis Joplin became frequent. Backup work encompassed Too Many Cooks and Barry White, and advertising campaigns for globally recognized brands regularly sought her voice-over talents. The 1999 casting as Marie-Jeanne in the David Bowie-inspired Starmania stage production launched her solo career, drawing label interest by the close of its two-year run.
Her 2002 full-length Lulu Hughes merged uplifting soul and energetic blues-rock. Additional exposure arrived via Clamaran collaborations “Release Yourself” (2002) and “Feel It” (2004), supported by numerous extended remixes that reached club audiences. Acting credits during this period included supporting parts in the 2006 drama La rage de l'ange and the 2009 drama Suzie.
Crazy Mama!, released mid-2006 on Sphère Musique, expanded her blues foundation into classic soul, disco, and other ardent idioms. Further dance singles with Clamaran included 2007’s “Give Some Love (Part 1)” featuring Mario Ochoa. Retro-soul shaped the June 2010 collaborative effort Lulu Hughes & the Montreal All City Big Band. Clamaran reunions continued with 2011’s “A Deeper Love” alongside David Esse. A 2014 bundle of “Release Yourself” remixes by Marco Santoro and Leeroy Daevis preceded the 2016 Clamaran track “Hallelujah” featuring Hughes.
Sphère Musique delivered Built Near the Water in October 2022, her first solo album in sixteen years, refracting familiar influences through a mature perspective. Early 2024 brought Jay Vegas’s Jay Vegas Classic House Mix of “Feel It,” and touring with Too Many Cooks occupied her schedule that year.
Albums
