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Imogen Heap
Imogen Heap
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As a rule, group efforts are something that come before a solo career--not after a solo career is in full swing. First, the artist makes a name for himself/herself as part of a group, then the artist leaves the group to become a full-time solo artist. That's usually how it works, but with Imogen Heap, it was the other way around; the British singer/songwriter (who is also a classically trained pianist) had been an established solo artist for a few years when she became half of the London-based duo Frou Frou. Although Heap now lives in London, she isn't a native of England's largest city. Born in the late 䀘70s, Heap lived in Essex, England as a pre-teen--and it was in Essex that she first studied European classical piano. Heap didn't really get into rock until she went off to boarding school as a teenager; eventually, she decided against being a full-time classical instrumentalist and realized that alternative pop-rock, Euro-pop and electronica would her main focus. In 1997--when Heap was in her late teens--she signed with Almo Sounds as a solo artist. I Megaphone, Heap's debut album, was released by Almo in 1998; the album's influences ranged from Kate Bush (a frequent comparison) to Annie Lennox and the Eurythmics to former Sugarcubes vocalist Björk. Some reviewers have compared Heap to PJ Harvey, although Heap has denied that Harvey is an influence. I Megaphone found Heap working with three different producers: David Kahne, Dave Stewart (of Eurythmics fame) and Guy Sigsworth (who has worked with major artists like Madonna, Björk and Seal). After I Megaphone, Heap and Sigsworth kept in touch--and in the early 2000s, they were reunited as the duo Frou Frou. Hearing the name Frou Frou, one might expect something bubble gum; one might expect some fun, frivolous Euro-pop along the lines of ABBA, Bananarama Fun Fun, Jemma & Elise or Aqua. But there is nothing bubble gum about Frou Frou, whose alternative pop-rock tends to be atmospheric, dreamy and ethereal. Frou Frou's work is very European-sounding, although not in a cutesy, bubble gum way. As Frou Frou, Heap and Sigsworth signed with MCA/Universal in 2001, which didn't mean that Heap was giving up her solo career -- Frou Frou was meant to be a part-time project. Details, the British duo's first album, was released in England and the United States in 2002. "Breath In" was released as the album's first single. In 2005, Heap resumed her solo career with the release of Speak for Yourself. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music GuideMore

Most Popular Music Videos (3)

Hide And Seek
(Duration: 4:26)
Jun 19th, 11:49pm
Goodnight and Go
(Duration: 3:37)
Jun 28th, 11:44pm
First Train Home
(Duration: 3:32)
Aug 18th, 6:17am
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Fan Comments

Aug 27th, 10:20am
Never hear of Imgen, until the movie Chronicles of Narnia. I was amazed at her song, and now with this new cd, I can't stop playing "Tidal".
Love it!!
I do hope I'm becoming a fan, and I'm excited about it.
Aug 25th, 11:37am
What are your favs from the new album? I am loving lil bird, Between Sheets, Bad body double, and aha! Honorable mentions are 2-1, Swoon, and Tidal.

I don't count Canvas and FTH since those aren't 'new new' and I've already fallen in love with them :)
Aug 24th, 10:34am
Holy moley I can't wait for the new album.
Aug 16th, 10:28pm
new video for "canvas" is really awesome! i guess it's not on here, but you can scope it on youtube...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXj0dF7LAyE&feature=channel_page
Jul 13th, 2:23pm
So excited for the new Imogen Heap album, Ellipse, to come out august 25th! for now, i'll settle with listening to first released song, "first train home" on stereogum
Jun 12th, 10:50pm
nice comment 13! ;)
May 4th, 9:36pm
I will always be your fan, Imogen Heap. You truly inspire me till this day; and as your ideal priority in the songs you create, you really did make me love music all over again.
Feb 1st, 5:06pm
I freaking love you Imogen! You've inspired me so much!
Dec 9th, 6:07pm