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
Spooky
Imogen Heap Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When everything is getting kind of groovy
I call you up
And ask you if you'd like to go with me and see a movie
First you say no, you've got some plans for the night
And then you stop and say all right
Love is kinda crazy with a spooky little boy like you
You always keep me guessing
And I never seem to know what you are thinking
And if a girl looks at you
It's for sure you little eye will be a-winking
I get confused cause I don't know where I stand
But then you smile, and hold my hand
Love is kinda crazy with a spooky little boy like you
Maybe someday you decide to stop these games that you've been playing
I gonna tell you all the things my heart's been dying to be saying
Just like a ghost, you've been a-haunting my dreams
So propose, on Halloween
Love is kinda crazy with a spooky little boy like you
Love is kinda crazy with a spooky little boy like you
Spooky, Spooky
The lyrics of Imogen Heap's "Spooky" describe a relationship with a mysterious and unpredictable lover. The song opens with an invitation to go to the movies on a seemingly typical evening. However, the lover initially declines the invitation and then abruptly changes their mind, reflecting their unpredictable nature. The chorus describes the tumultuous nature of love with someone as "spooky" as the singer's lover, who keeps her guessing and always seems to know the right move to make.
The second verse paints a picture of the lover's magnetic and charming personality. The singer describes their ability to attract the attention of anyone with a little wink of their eye. This creates confusion for the singer, who doesn't know where she stands with the lover. However, the mystery is quickly dispelled when the lover holds her hand and smiles, indicating their affection towards her.
Towards the end of the song, the singer expresses hope that the lover will commit to the relationship and stop playing games. The lover has haunted the singer's dreams like a ghost, but she's ready to reveal her feelings and proposes on Halloween.
Overall, "Spooky" is a playful and flirtatious love song that captures the excitement and uncertainty of a new relationship. It's through the lens of a woman who is mesmerized by the shadowy character of her lover, who somehow keeps her on her toes while simultaneously making her feel desired.
Line by Line Meaning
In the cool of the evening
During a pleasant evening
When everything is getting kind of groovy
When everything is going well
I call you up
I contact you through phone
And ask you if you'd like to go with me and see a movie
I invite you to accompany me to watch a movie
First you say no, you've got some plans for the night
Initially, you refuse due to other commitments
And then you stop and say all right
Eventually, you agree to come along
Love is kinda crazy with a spooky little boy like you
Being in love with someone unpredictable like you is thrilling
You always keep me guessing
Your actions and thoughts are frequently uncertain
And I never seem to know what you are thinking
I can't predict your thoughts and feelings
And if a girl looks at you
When another girl gives you attention
It's for sure you little eye will be a-winking
You will certainly flirt back
I get confused cause I don't know where I stand
I become perplexed due to the lack of clarity in our relationship
But then you smile, and hold my hand
However, your affectionate behavior reassures me
Maybe someday you decide to stop these games that you've been playing
Perhaps, one day you will put an end to this playful behavior
I gonna tell you all the things my heart's been dying to be saying
I will express my deepest feelings for you
Just like a ghost, you've been a-haunting my dreams
You continue to occupy my thoughts like a haunting spirit
So propose, on Halloween
Therefore, propose to me on the spookiest day of the year, Halloween
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, Gillian Lesley Gilbert, Stephen Paul David Morris, Stephen E. Hague
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind