Heap: A pile of good music

"It will be the first time in my professional life that I will be able to pay off everything," states Heap over the phone from her Knoxville, Tennessee hotel room.

Released late last year, Speak for Yourself reveals the incredible stylistic variety this British singer/songwriter produces, ranging from the distorted robotic vocals of Hide and Seek (used on The OC soundtrack) to the top 10 pop chorus of The Walk.

As work on the album was nearing completion, Heap was racked with indecision, so she reached out to fans via her blog. "I posted various song scenarios with a short description of each and asked people to vote on them.

"Every day I wrote on my blog what I wanted to do the following day. This way I felt people were watching over me, waiting for me to do something. It really helped. It's funny how you get so much more work done when you think somebody's watching you."

One of the tracks, Goodnight and Go, features legendary rock guitarist Jeff Beck. "I met him six years ago at a writers' retreat and we kept in touch. I sang on a Muddy Waters song, Rollin & Tumblin', for him [on his You Had It Coming album]. When I was putting my record together, he dropped by my studio for a listen and then offered to play on it."

On stage, the one-woman show surrounds herself with her laptop, electronic equipment and a large mbira (African finger piano), "the size of a suitcase." For several songs, Heap will be joined by cellist Zoe Keating, the opening act. "I hope people come early because she's great!"

Imogen Heap
With Zoe Keating
At La Tulipe, May 28

 
 

		Write your comment on this article!

Get Serious x2     So even though I have heard not the best of things about her live show, (computer mishaps and freeze/sound locks), Imogen Heap is by far one of my favourite artists for the year of 2005-2006.The woman is talented, with the ability to enchant anyone who can thoroughly enjoy a sweet yet ominous voice. For those who have never heard of her, think Siren meets her less sinister side. Honestly, this girls music is incredible; in my opinion anwyays. To the O.C and beyond, she is going places. And fast.
Angelina Gallo	{9 votes}	May 31st, 2006
Hide & Seek     I first started listening to Imogen Heap because of a friend of mine. We are both big fans of the television program The O.C. and she heard the song Hide & Seek on it and instantaneously fell for them. If you like soft voices and chill music you would enjoy this band. I heard great reviews about her concerts and I would love to check it out for myself.
Alexandra Del Corpo	{15 votes}	May 29th, 2006
Top of the Heap?     Whoa, not to take umbrage Mr. Massoud, but when did ya see Imogen Heap open for Tori Amos?...because although she was supposed to open for her in Montreal several months back, she never quite made it. Shame too, because her wispy, though haunting voice is very much akin to that of a young Tori Amos...only glad that she's finally wending her way here so that I can see what all The O.C. fuelled hype is all about.
Mark St Pierre	{27 votes}	May 28th, 2006
(((My Two Cents))) - An Angelic Voice     If you want to listen to something absolutely beautiful, I would recommend listening to Imogen Heap. Tori Amos specifically brought her on tour with her because she wanted the world to be made aware of the perfection of Imogen Heap's voice. The music is calm, it is serene, and it will surely make you feel great. I had the oppurtunity of seeing her open for Tori Amos and I was extremely enthralled by her. I would surely put her in the same category as Feist for example. Please, spare 10 minutes of your day and give this woman a listen. I bet you will not regret it!
Zachary Masoud	{25 votes}	May 26th, 2006
Imogen rocks     I first noticed Imogen when she was singing with Frou Frou, on the song Let Go on the Garden State soundtrack. I absolutely loved that song. And now that she has gone solo, the material just gets better and better! The songs Headlock and The Walk are amazing, and the rest of the album is also incredible. I can't imagine the format of the live show, but I'm sure it will be great because if anyone can pull it off, it's her.
Ruth Nissan	{16 votes}	May 25th, 2006
Someone Diffrent     I started to listen to Imogen Heap when my brother told me about "Hide and seek" and when it was on the O.C. I started to listen to more of her music and it's great. Her voice is soft and the lyrics can't get any better. The song "Hallelujah" and "Speeding Cars" are two of my favorites that were featured on the recent season finale of the O.C. Her music turn better since she left Frou Frou. She is diffrent then the others her shows are unique and completly worth the money. I'm pretty sure you all agree with me when I say Imogen Heaps new material is great. Her song "Leave me to love" is hard and soft mixed together and it sounds great. Nobody else can put too very diffrent types of music together like Imogen Heap.
David Pour		June 18th, 2006
A slap on the wrist...     Looks like yet again, I have been punished for reading the Hour a few days too late, having read this a few hours after the end of the show. Maybe this will teach me to wait till the weekend to do the bulk of my reading.
Larissa Dutil	{13 votes}	May 29th, 2006

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