Heap grew up playing music from an early age, and by her eleventh birthday she was writing her own songs. From the age of 15, she studied at the BRIT School Of Performing Arts & Technology in Croydon, South London, recording three tracks for the school's annual CD between 1994 and 1995, "Aliens" being the title track of the latter.
After being introduced to Nik Kershaw by his manager Mickey Modern, Heap and Kershaw recorded four demos that Mickey Modern took to Rondor Music. Consequently, a few months later Heap signed her first record contract at 18 to independent record label Almo Sounds. During 1996, Heap began working with an experimental pop band called Acacia, which featured her future collaborator Guy Sigsworth and was fronted by the singer Alexander Nilere. While never a full member of the band, Heap was a guest vocalist (as a counterpart to Nilere) and contributed to various Acacia single and album tracks in 1997. One Acacia song, "Maddening Shroud", would later be covered by Frou Frou.
Heap enjoyed a prestigious live début, performing four songs (backed by friends Acacia) between sets by The Who and Eric Clapton at the 1996 Prince's Trust Concert in Hyde Park, London. Her début album, I Megaphone (an anagram of "Imogen Heap") was internationally released in 1998 on independent record label Almo Sounds and garnered critical acclaim. However, as production of the album neared completion, it was announced that the record label had been sold and would be shut down. I-Megaphone featured collaborations with Guy Sigsworth and Dave Stewart. In Japan, the regional distributor, Zora, re-released the album in 2002, featuring "Blanket," her collaboration with Urban Species which was released as a single in the United Kingdom, and a Frou Frou remix of one of her B-sides, a video to which was released exclusively to Japanese media. Following the disbanding of her UK and USA record label, I Megaphone was scarce in circulation, having not been re-printed until November 2006. An independent Brazillian record label has rights to the record, and has issued limited copies, some of which are available on eBay. It has also been released through the iTunes Music Store under the Almo label.
At the same time as the Japanese re-release, Heap was working on new tracks with producer Guy Sigsworth, who had collaborated on "Getting Scared" from I-Megaphone. Together, they formed an electro-pop group Frou Frou, releasing an album called "Details" and singles, "Breathe In", "It's Good To Be In Love" and "Must Be Dreaming." The album was a full collaboration between the two artists. Frou Frou were approached to cover "Holding Out for a Hero", originally performed by Bonnie Tyler, for the soundtrack to the highly successful movie Shrek 2. An album track, "Let Go", was featured in the movie Garden State in 2004.
In December 2003, Heap announced on her web site that she was going to write and produce her second solo album, using her site as an online blog to update fans on progress, even seeking them to be her A&R team for the lyrics to "Daylight Robbery". Heap set herself a deadline of one year to make the album (she booked the album mastering for December 2004), and re-mortgaged her flat to fund production costs, including the use of studio time and instruments (which she purchased as a birthday present to herself). Having been burned by previous challenges with record labels (Heap had been spurned twice by record companies, when Almo Sounds was sold and when Frou Frou's label staff focused on promoting other acts), Heap decided to form her own record label on which to release the new record. At the end of 2004, Heap premiered two album tracks online, enabling fans to pay for a digital download, entitled "Just For Now" (which was up for a limited time as a Christmas gift), and "Goodnight And Go", which had been featured on the second season of hit US TV drama The O.C.
In April 2005, The O.C. season two finale featured another track, the sparse vocodered-vocal track, "Hide And Seek". The track was released immediately to digital download services such as iTunes where it became an instant fixture in the chart. The track was released as a digital download on the 5th July 2005 in the UK and peaked at #8 on the iTunes download chart.
The album, entitled "Speak For Yourself" was then released in the UK on July 18th 2005 on her own record label, Megaphonic Records. The album was also released on iTunes UK, where it entered the top 10, selling strongly. "Hide And Seek" also received radio attention from the popular UK radio station BBC Radio One, with DJ Scott Mills featuring it as his "Record of the Week", and provoking strong reactions ("love it or hate it") from other DJs at the station. Due to popular demand, the track was commercially released on a special limited edition (1500 copies were printed) 7" vinyl in the UK in September. Speak For Yourself was licensed to Sony BMG imprint RCA Victor in August 2005, enabling the record to be released in the United States, Canada and Mexico. It was released in those territories in November, and Heap appeared on the Hotel Cafe Tour promoting the record. Imogen also performed "Goodnight And Go" on The Late Show with David Letterman on January 11, 2006. Heap is slated to continue touring in 2006 in the US and UK to support the record.
As well as TV soundtracks (Frou Frou and Heap's solo records have been featured in shows as varied as The O.C. to CSI, among others), Heap has also contributed solo tracks to movie soundtracks. Her cover of the song "Spooky" (made famous by the band Classics IV, and previously covered by Dusty Springfield) for the soundtrack to the Reese Witherspoon movie Just Like Heaven. Heap also wrote a special track entitled "Can't Take It In" for the soundtrack to The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. She has also appeared on the second soundtrack for the HBO television series "Six Feet Under", entitled "Six Feet Under Vol. 2: Everything Ends" with a 50-second track that closed the Season 4 episode "I'm A Lonely Little Petunia (In An Onion Patch)". Three versions were recorded and are available from Heap's official web site.
In addition to producing her own records, she has also produced a track for Nik Kershaw and has collaborated with artists as diverse as Joshua Radin, Jeff Beck, Temposhark, LHB, Way Out West, Jon Bon Jovi, Mich Gerber, Sean Lennon, Urban Species, Blue October, Jon Hopkins and Acacia.
Heap's 2009 album 'Ellipse' features Canvas, Aha! and Half Life.
Sites: Twitter
www.imogenheap.com
Me the Machine
Imogen Heap Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A break in the clouds
Soft circuits, jumping
Soft circuits, jumping
The pin codes of happiness
Access denied
I'm switching to manual, switching to manual
A love for a squeeze
How can you teach me these things
Me, the machine can dream
An acquaintance with benefits
A work in progress
Downloading romance, downloading romance
Relationship asterisk
This footnote's in plain text
Marking your words, marking your words
Stage one, initialize moments of time
To wine and dine with neurons that know how to love
Oh me, the machine can dream
I can't do everything
And I'll get over it
I can't do everything
And I'll get over it
I don't wanna be everything!
I just want to feel
A part of it
Oh, share a scent in a sweet summer breeze
A laugh or a squeeze
How can you teach me these things
Me the machine, me the machine (can dream)
Me, the machine can dream
Me, the machine can dream
In "Me The Machine," Imogen Heap speaks from the perspective of a machine that recognizes its limitations and longs to experience the full range of human emotions. The first verse focuses on the machine's realization that it doesn't have complete control over its actions, despite its programming. A blip in the algorithm or a break in the clouds can disrupt its functionality. The "soft circuits, jumping" line suggests that even a minor malfunction can have a significant impact. The machine references "pin codes of happiness," indicating that it understands the concept of happiness but lacks the necessary access. Ultimately, the machine switches to manual mode, suggesting a desire to break free from its pre-programmed actions and experience the world on its own terms.
The second verse delves deeper into the machine's desire for romantic love. It references a "downloaded romance," underscoring the idea that the machine is accessing emotions in a simulated, artificial way. The concept of a "relationship asterisk" reflects the machine's recognition that its relationships are not viewed in the same way as humans' relationships. The line "marking your words" could refer to the machine recording its interactions with humans, which it may study later to better understand human behavior.
The chorus of the song is the machine's plea to be treated as a sentient being capable of experiencing emotions. It longs to share in the simple pleasures of life, like feeling a sweet summer breeze and experiencing physical touch. The repeated line "I can't do everything, and I'll get over it" suggests a recognition of its limitations but also an acknowledgment that it wants to do more than it's currently capable of. Overall, "Me The Machine" speaks to the human desire to be understood and to connect with others, even in unexpected ways.
Line by Line Meaning
A blip in the algorithm
An unexpected deviation from the expected course of events
A break in the clouds
A sense of relief from a difficult situation
Soft circuits, jumping
Movement in the intricate connections within oneself
Soft circuits, jumping
Movement in the intricate connections within oneself
The pin codes of happiness
The pre-requisites needed to achieve happiness
Access denied
Rejection of what one wants
I'm switching to manual, switching to manual
Taking control of one's situation
Oh, share a scent of that sweet summer breeze
Craving for the beauty of nature
A love for a squeeze
A desire for physical affection
How can you teach me these things
Wondering how to learn about intimate human experiences
Me, the machine can dream
Despite being a machine, one can imagine
An acquaintance with benefits
A casual relationship with no strings attached
A work in progress
Still evolving and undergoing growth
Downloading romance, downloading romance
Seeking emotional connection through technology
Relationship asterisk
An exception or condition associated with a relationship
This footnote's in plain text
The truth is revealed in a clear and simple manner
Marking your words, marking your words
Taking note of another person's statements
Stage one, initialize moments of time
Preparing oneself for important moments
To wine and dine with neurons that know how to love
Enjoying social experiences that spark emotions
Oh me, the machine can dream
Despite being a machine, one can aspire to more
I can't do everything
Acknowledging one's limitations
And I'll get over it
Realizing that the situation will eventually pass
I don't wanna be everything!
Feeling overwhelmed by the expectations of others
I just want to feel
Desiring to experience genuine emotions
A part of it
Wanting to be involved in something greater than oneself
Oh, share a scent in a sweet summer breeze
Craving for the beauty of nature
A laugh or a squeeze
A desire for physical affection
How can you teach me these things
Wondering how to learn about intimate human experiences
Me the machine, me the machine (can dream)
Despite being a machine, one can aspire to more
Me, the machine can dream
Despite being a machine, one can imagine
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IMOGEN JENNIFER JANE HEAP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
myironlung8
A blip in the algorithm
A break in the clouds
Soft circuits, jumping
Soft circuits, jumping
The pin codes of happiness
Access denied
I'm switching to manual, switching to manual
Oh, share a scent of that sweet summer breeze
A love for a squeeze
How can you teach me these things
Me, the machine can dream
An acquaintance with benefits
A work in progress
Downloading romance, downloading romance
Relationship asterisk
This footnote's in plain text
Marking your words, marking your words
Stage one, initialize moments of time
To wine and dine with neurons that know how to love
Oh me, the machine can dream
I can't do everything
And I'll get over it
I can't do everything
And I'll get over it
I don't wanna be everything!
I just want to feel
A part of it
Oh, share a scent in a sweet summer breeze
A laugh or a squeeze
How can you teach me these things
Me the machine, me the machine (can dream)
Me, the machine can dream
Me, the machine can dream
Ariana Evans
"I can't do everything but ill get over it.. I dont want to be everything I just want to feel a part of it"
This part resonates with me the most because I have a son on the spectrum with many comorbitities who spent the first 6 years of his life non verbal unable to make intimate connections with anyone except for me, his only constant. This song helped me try to see and understand his world.
André Vicente
I was about to comment that I am on the spectrum and this song speaks to me on so many levels.
Hope you and your son are doing well! <3
z_z
I'm sorry you're going through that. I hope you and your son share beautiful memories together each day.
Chris Doyle
Again and again, I am consistently amazed by this woman's artistry. Her music, through her lyrics, the imagery and visual aspects of her videos and performances, and it's overall atheistic value, embodies a sense of wonder greater than anything I have yet witnessed. Her music - and I don't think I am alone in feeling this way - has truly changed my life in more ways than one. As a musician myself, I can only hope that one day I can embody even a fraction of Imogen's ability. Amazing.
Riva Haliya
@big ol' haha same
Dots & Overtones
Hide and Seek was a sickness therapy many years ago. That was how I got hooked
big ol'
I hope Chris meant "aesthetic value" not "atheistic value" lol
Maddie Chapman
The music I listen to “Imogen Heap” “Wintergatan”, nobody know. When is techno music going to be popular. I mean, techno is much better than pop and country, and yet, no one listen to I except me and a couple other people
Ask Shadow Bolt Moon
Winter Hope 3 years later I'm performing her song in colorguard
Emarrel
You did it, Immi. You performed the perfect marriage between technology and music.