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
The Walk
Imogen Heap Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stop that now
Because you and I were never meant to meet
I think you better leave
It's not safe in here
I feel a weakness coming on
Alright then (Alright then)
That's where this ends
No mistakes, no misbehaving
Oh, I was doing so well
Could we just be friends?
I feel a weakness coming on
[Chorus]
It's not meant to be like this
Not what I planned at all
I don't want to feel like this, yeah
No, it's not meant to be like this
Not what I planned at all
I don't want to feel like this
So that makes it all your fault
Inside out, upside down twisting beside myself
Stop that now
you're as close as it gets without touching me
Don't make it harder than it already is
I feel a weakness coming on
[Chorus]
Big trouble
Losing control
Primary resistance at a critical low
On the, on the double gotta get a hold
Point of no return
One second to go
No response on any level
Red alert this vessel's under siege
Total overload
All systems down
They've got control
There's no way out
We are surrounded
Give in, give in
And relish every minute of it
Freeze
Or make it forever
I feel a weakness coming on
It's not meant to be like this
Not what I planned at all
I don't want to feel like this
No it's not meant to be like this
It's just what I don't need
Don't make me feel like this
It's definitly all your fault
Be like this
La la la la la la la la
It's all your fault
(Feel like this)
La la la la la la la la
It's all your fault
(Feel like this)
La la la la la la la la
It's all your fault
(Feel like this)
La la la la la la la la
It's all your fault
The lyrics to Imogen Heap's "The Walk" describe a tumultuous relationship and the singer's desire to leave it behind. The opening lines convey a feeling of disorientation and confusion, as the singer describes herself as "inside out, upside down" and "twisting beside" herself. She then tells her partner to leave, saying that it's not safe for them to be together. The repetition of the phrase "I feel a weakness coming on" throughout the song suggests that the singer is struggling to maintain control over her emotions, and that her relationship is taking a toll on her.
The second verse begins with the singer saying that she could "keep [her partner's] number for a rainy day," but ultimately decides to end things between them. She asks if they can still be friends, but repeats that she feels weak and overwhelmed. The chorus emphasizes the singer's disappointment and frustration with the way things have turned out, declaring that the current situation is not what she had planned and that she doesn't want to feel the way she does. She places the blame for her feelings squarely on her partner, saying "that makes it all your fault."
The final verse introduces more ominous language, with the singer describing "big trouble" and "primary resistance" being at a critical low. She urges herself to "get a hold" and avoid reaching the point of no return. The line "give in, give in and relish every minute of it" suggests that the singer may be tempted to give up and surrender to her emotions, but she ultimately decides to "freeze" instead. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, again placing blame on the singer's partner for the way she feels.
Line by Line Meaning
Inside out, upside down twisting beside myself
Feeling disoriented and confused, as if my inner world is turned inside out and upside down.
Stop that now
Trying to regain control and quiet the internal chaos.
Because you and I were never meant to meet
Realizing that this relationship was never meant to happen and feeling regret about it.
I think you better leave
Recognizing that it's time for this person to exit my life in order to restore balance and emotional stability.
It's not safe in here
Feeling at risk of emotional harm and danger in my current mental state.
I feel a weakness coming on
Sensing that my emotional resilience is dwindling and I'm vulnerable to further destabilization.
Alright then (Alright then)
Accepting what needs to be done to restore balance even if it is painful.
I could keep your number for a rainy day
Considering whether or not to keep this person's contact information in case I change my mind.
That's where this ends
Acknowledging that this relationship is not meant to continue and at an end.
No mistakes, no misbehaving
Being careful not to engage in behaviors that could rekindle the relationship or cause trouble.
Oh, I was doing so well
Feeling regretful that a moment of weakness allowed the relationship to continue.
Could we just be friends?
Contemplating if there's a way to remain friendly without romantic entanglements.
It's not meant to be like this
Feeling disappointed and frustrated that things didn't turn out as intended.
Not what I planned at all
Realizing that the outcome of the relationship strayed from my original intentions.
I don't want to feel like this, yeah
Disliking the current emotional state and wanting to change it.
So that makes it all your fault
Attributing blame for the situation to the other person.
you're as close as it gets without touching me
Describing the intensity and intimacy of the relationship without physical contact.
Don't make it harder than it already is
Asking the other person to respect the ending of the relationship and not make it more difficult than it already is.
Big trouble
Feeling anxiety about the situation and the potential danger.
Losing control
Feeling as if the situation is spiraling and I am unable to manage it.
Primary resistance at a critical low
Noticing that my ability to resist emotional temptation and instability is at an all-time low.
On the, on the double gotta get a hold
Trying to regain control and stabilize the situation before it becomes too much to handle.
Point of no return
Realizing that things have gone too far and there is no turning back.
One second to go
Feeling like time is running out and the situation could take a turn for the worse any moment.
No response on any level
Feeling emotionally numb and disconnected from the situation.
Red alert this vessel's under siege
Feeling like I am under attack emotionally and unable to resist the temptation to relapse into the relationship.
Total overload
Feeling overwhelmed with emotions and stimuli.
All systems down
Feeling like I have lost emotional control and energy to maintain stability.
They've got control
Feeling powerless to resist the other person's temptation and influence.
There's no way out
Feeling trapped and unable to find a solution to the current emotional state.
We are surrounded
Feeling like there is no escape or safe space from the situation.
Give in, give in
Feeling the urge to submit to the temptation and act on my emotions.
And relish every minute of it
Feeling the temptation to indulge in the relationship, despite the consequences.
Freeze
Trying to regain composure and stop the situation from spiraling out of control.
Or make it forever
Contemplating whether or not to give in fully to the temptation and accept the consequences of a longer relationship.
It's just what I don't need
Feeling like this situation is the opposite of what I need emotionally or mentally.
Don't make me feel like this
Asking the other person not to continue to influence me negatively and create emotional chaos.
It's definitely all your fault
Attributing blame for the current emotional state to the other person.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IMOGEN HEAP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind