Freya Ridings dedicated her New Artist award at Women In Music 2019 to “all the little shy girls who write their own destiny”.
The Lost Without You singer received the award from Good Soldier boss Christian Tattersfield, who said Ridings “has the talent and personality to do whatever she chooses”.
Ridings is signed to Good Soldier for records and Good Soldier Songs for publishing. Lost Without You has 978,743 sales, according to the Official Charts Company. Ridings’ self-titled debut album has 47,945.
The singer follows in the footsteps of last year’s New Aritst winner and fellow Music Week cover star Ms Banks.
“I first met Freya three years ago in January,” a beaming Tattersfield told a packed room at the sixth Women In Music Awards last week. “Needless to say, I was completely blown away by her voice. From first knowing her, I saw her application for what she does, her belief in her art, her kindness, generosity, [she’s] a courageous human being.”
The label boss described Ridings as “a real pleasure for us at Good Soldier to work with”.
He continued: “From the first show at St Pancras Church to the first time I heard Lost Without You, she’s obviously got off to a flyer. A Top 3 album, 400 million streams, she’s Top 20 ariplay in eight countries at the moment… It’s all good.”
Before he handed over the trophy and Ridings took the mic, Tattersfield said: “The bottom line is, she’s really at the beginning and she has the talent and personality to really do whatever she chooses. It’s an honour to work with you, well done on the award and thank you to everyone.”
Now, read on for Ridings’ acceptance speech in full:
“This is for the shy little girls who write their own destiny” New Artist winner @FreyaRidings #MWWIM #freyaridings pic.twitter.com/hnIyofD6i4
— Music Week (@MusicWeek) November 8, 2019
"Thank you so much to the Women In Music Awards and PRS. This is one of those moments you dream about as a little girl learning to play guitar for the first time. I’d really like to thank the army of people that stand behind me at every stage. Thanks to Christian Tattersfield and the whole Good Soldier family for believing in me when my ballads were very uncool. To Joe Munns, my incredible manager for believing in me and championing me. To all the incredible women that I am in awe of on a daily basis, thank you for working with me, I love you all dearly.
I'd really like to thank the army of people that stand behind me at every stage
Freya Ridings
This is for all the shy little girls who are championed by people to write their own destiny, I’m very glad, so thank you!"
Music Creative winner Camille ‘Kamille” Purcell called for bravery in her acceptance speech, while Emily Eavis, Annie Mac and more starred at an action-packed show.
Read an interview with Freya Ridings in the new issue of Music Week. Subscribers can read it online here. To subscribe and never miss a music biz story, click here.
PHOTO: Paul Harries
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