Whitehaven-born producer behind pop's biggest hits

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 7 Nov, 06:08 · Archive

Brian Higgins, born in Whitehaven in 1966, has become a record producer and songwriter at the heart of British pop music. As the driving force behind production and songwriting team Xenomania, he has worked with Girls Aloud, Sugababes, The Saturdays and S Club 7. One defining moment of his early career came through his involvement in Cher's 1998 worldwide hit Believe.

Higgins credits his upbringing in Whitehaven with preparing him for his success. Speaking to the News & Star in 2022, he said: 'Coming from Whitehaven prepared me very well for my career.' He described the town as rough when he was growing up but noted that by the time he joined his first band at 16, there were 15 to 20 bands active in the Cleator Moor, Whitehaven and St Bees area. He said this 'little triangle of towns and villages created this amazing scene' and that 'that vibrancy and competitive nature stood me in great shape going forward.'

As a young musician, Higgins played keyboards in a band called Despatch before moving to East Grinstead in West Sussex. There he formed Anything You Want alongside fellow Cumbrian guitarist Dave Colquhoun. By the 1990s, Higgins was beginning to establish himself in the music industry as a songwriter and producer.

How it is being reported

• From Whitehaven to the stars - The Cumbrian behind some of pop's biggest hitsFrom the pubs and practice rooms of West Cumbria to producing some of the most recognisable pop records of a generation, Brian Higgins has come a long way.NW Evening Mail · 7 Nov, 05:00
• From Whitehaven to the stars - The Cumbrian behind some of pop's biggest hitsFrom the pubs and practice rooms of West Cumbria to producing some of the most recognisable pop records of a generation, Brian Higgins has come a long way.Cumberland News · 7 Nov, 05:00
• From Whitehaven to the stars - The Cumbrian behind some of pop's biggest hitsFrom the pubs and practice rooms of West Cumbria to producing some of the most recognisable pop records of a generation, Brian Higgins has come a long way.Westmorland Gazette · 7 Nov, 05:00
• From Whitehaven to the stars - The Cumbrian behind some of pop's biggest hitsFrom the pubs and practice rooms of West Cumbria to producing some of the most recognisable pop records of a generation, Brian Higgins has come a long way.Whitehaven News · 7 Nov, 05:00

In this story: Brian Higgins · Xenomania · Girls Aloud · Sugababes · The Saturdays · S Club 7 · Cher · Whitehaven

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log