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
Minds Without Fear
Imogen Heap Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Plucking on the string of everything
That could have been
Such unrescued treasure fractals of her lives
Tham ja murh ja naseeba
Kahaan le aaye naseeba
If you move like lightning
Charging through the angry skies
And intercept on the arrow of time
Kahaan le aaye naseeba
But we just might make this up
With our heads held high
So this story continues with
Minds without fear
Baadal lehraaye maat ka jo
Ban jaa bijli baadal ko cheer tu
Rooh ko kar de yun roshan
Bas mushqil hai naamumkin toh nahi
Ban jaa bijli naseeba
Kahaan le aaye Naseeba
If you move like lightning
Charging through the angry skies
And intercept on the arrow of time
Kahaan le aaye naseeba
But we just might make this up
With our heads held high
And this story continues with
Minds without fear
Jhi jhi re jhi jhi re jhi jhi re jhi jhi re
Jhi jhi re jhi jhi re jhi jhi re jhi jhi re
Jhi jhi re jhi jhi re jhi jhi re jhi jhi re
Jhi jhi re jhi jhi re jhi jhi re jhi jhi re
Kahaan le aaye Naseeba
If you move like lightning
Charging through the angry skies
And intercept on the arrow of time
Kahaan le aaye naseeba
But we just might make this up
With our heads held high
So this story continues with
Minds without fear
The lyrics of Imogen Heap's song "Minds Without Fear" seem to encapsulate the idea of pushing boundaries and reaching for the impossible. The first stanza speaks of how every inch of us is on the line, plucking at the string of everything that could have been, suggesting the urgency of not letting go of our potential. The line "such unrescued treasure fractals of her lives" is a reference to the potential that we have within us, waiting to be explored and treasured. The other lines in the stanza are in Hindi, and they loosely translate to "stay or return, fate/destiny" and "where did fate/destiny bring us?"
The chorus of the song repeats the lines "If you move like lightning, charging through the angry skies, and intercept on the arrow of time, where did fate/destiny bring us?" This repetition emphasizes the idea of taking risks and seizing opportunities, even in the face of adversity. The second stanza speaks of turning darkness into light and making the impossible possible, indicating the power of perseverance and self-belief. The chorus reiterates this concept of taking control of our destiny.
Overall, the lyrics of "Minds Without Fear" encourage us to seize the moment and not be limited by fear or doubt. It speaks of the power of chasing our dreams and not letting go of our potential, even in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Nearly every inch of us on the line
We are fully committed and invested in this situation.
Plucking on the string of everything
We are exploring all possibilities and potential outcomes.
That could have been
Reflecting on past missed opportunities.
Such unrescued treasure fractals of her lives
There are many unexplored paths and potential futures.
Tham ja murh ja naseeba
Slow down and reflect on your fate.
Kahaan le aaye naseeba
Where has destiny brought us?
If you move like lightning
If you act quickly and decisively.
Charging through the angry skies
Pushing through difficult times with courage.
And intercept on the arrow of time
Seizing the moment and making the most of our limited time.
But we just might make this up
We have the potential to overcome our challenges and succeed.
With our heads held high
With confidence and pride in ourselves.
So this story continues with
Our journey is ongoing and full of possibility.
Minds without fear
We are unafraid of the unknown and ready for whatever comes our way.
Baadal lehraaye maat ka jo
Even in the midst of darkness, hope can shine through.
Ban jaa bijli baadal ko cheer tu
Be a force for change and transformation.
Rooh ko kar de yun roshan
Illuminate your soul with positivity and light.
Bas mushqil hai naamumkin toh nahi
It may be difficult, but nothing is impossible.
Jhi jhi re jhi jhi re jhi jhi re jhi jhi re
Repeating sounds without specific meaning, but conveying a sense of energy and movement.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IMOGEN JENNIFER JANE HEAP, SHEKHAR HASMUKH RAVJIANI, VISHAL DADLANI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sharmajidbeta
Naseeba (Oh fate / Destiny!)
Nearly every inch of us on the line
Plucking on the string of everything that could have been
Such unrest fractals of our lives
Tham jaa, mud jaa! Naseeba! (Wait, turn around! Oh fate!)
Kahaan le aaye, naseeba? (Where have you brought me to, oh fate?)
If we move like lightning, charging through the angry sky
And intercept on the arrow of time
Kahaan le aaye, naseeba? (Where have you brought me to, oh fate?)
Well we just might make this out with our heads held high
So this story continues with minds without fear
Baadal lehraaye maat ka jo (The mourning clouds gather)
Ban jaa bijli, baadal ko cheer tu (Transform into lightning, tear apart the clouds)
Rooh ko kar de yun roshan (Enlighten your spirit)
Bas mushqil hai, naamumkin toh nahi (It’s just difficult, but not impossible)
Ban jaa bijli, naseeba (Transform into lightning, oh fate!)
Kahaan le aaye, naseeba? (Where have you brought me to, oh fate?)
If we move like lightning, charging through the angry sky
And intercept on the arrow of time
Kahaan le aaye, naseeba? (Where have you brought me to, oh fate?)
Well we just might make this out with our heads held high
And this story continues with minds without fear
Jhi jhi re jhi jhi re (the phrase has no meaning, this is just a chant in the Marathi language)
Tune in to the ( )
Kahaan le aaye, naseeba? (Where have you brought me to, oh fate?)
If we move like lightning, charging through the angry sky
And intercept on the arrow of time
Kahaan le aaye, naseeba? (Where have you brought me to, oh fate?)
@OMGpandemic
Been in love with her and her voice for 12 years. ❤️
@AudioPervert1
Been in love with pop music in essence...
@omar24791
Imogen is an another level musician. I saw the bts n making of this song and she even used some non instrumental sounds in this song amd it feels so soothing
@AudioPervert1
Sponsored exotica ... Always a white better - Diva and local sponsor, host and random native people thrown about.
Does she remember any of the names of those children? Highly Unlikely...
@sharmajidbeta
Naseeba (Oh fate / Destiny!)
Nearly every inch of us on the line
Plucking on the string of everything that could have been
Such unrest fractals of our lives
Tham jaa, mud jaa! Naseeba! (Wait, turn around! Oh fate!)
Kahaan le aaye, naseeba? (Where have you brought me to, oh fate?)
If we move like lightning, charging through the angry sky
And intercept on the arrow of time
Kahaan le aaye, naseeba? (Where have you brought me to, oh fate?)
Well we just might make this out with our heads held high
So this story continues with minds without fear
Baadal lehraaye maat ka jo (The mourning clouds gather)
Ban jaa bijli, baadal ko cheer tu (Transform into lightning, tear apart the clouds)
Rooh ko kar de yun roshan (Enlighten your spirit)
Bas mushqil hai, naamumkin toh nahi (It’s just difficult, but not impossible)
Ban jaa bijli, naseeba (Transform into lightning, oh fate!)
Kahaan le aaye, naseeba? (Where have you brought me to, oh fate?)
If we move like lightning, charging through the angry sky
And intercept on the arrow of time
Kahaan le aaye, naseeba? (Where have you brought me to, oh fate?)
Well we just might make this out with our heads held high
And this story continues with minds without fear
Jhi jhi re jhi jhi re (the phrase has no meaning, this is just a chant in the Marathi language)
Tune in to the ( )
Kahaan le aaye, naseeba? (Where have you brought me to, oh fate?)
If we move like lightning, charging through the angry sky
And intercept on the arrow of time
Kahaan le aaye, naseeba? (Where have you brought me to, oh fate?)
@robynryan7473
I could listen to this type of music everyday it's so beautiful
@Mrnickstr89
“Tune into the bright lights within you
Become reveal and expand
Whizz past the visible universe
Come on!”
@thedrilldoctor.
*unrescued treasure fractals of her life.
@taramoon4822
Thank you for your efforts in translating this. Makes you appreciate the song even more.
@Worldwave
I would say "amazing as usual", but every single song of yours is exceptional.
Amazing talent.