British pop-electronica musician Imogen Heap has offered insights into her two-decade career, discussing her independent album creation, collaborations with legendary guitarist Jeff Beck, and her perspectives on artificial intelligence. Heap also shared personal details about her ADHD and autism diagnoses, which she believes have shaped her creative approach.
Key Takeaways
- Imogen Heap independently financed her album Speak For Yourself by remortgaging her flat.
- She collaborated with Jeff Beck at age 19, unaware of his fame at the time.
- Heap developed 'The Happy Song' with scientists to uplift babies.
- Diagnoses of ADHD and autism explain her drive for constant innovation.
- She views AI as a collaborative tool for music creation, not a threat.
Independent Music Creation and Early Challenges
Twenty years ago, creating and promoting an album was a significant challenge for independent artists. Imogen Heap experienced this firsthand with her album, Speak For Yourself. She relied on limited traditional media coverage before her songs gained traction through television and radio placements.
Heap noted that platforms like TikTok, which offer widespread free promotion today, did not exist then. However, she believes the slower pace of recognition allowed her to make different life choices, which she does not regret.
Did You Know?
Imogen Heap financed her album Speak For Yourself by remortgaging her two-bedroom flat in Waterloo. She had purchased it for £120,000, and its value increased by £100,000 in a year.
Financing an Album Without Label Support
After a challenging experience with Island Records for her Frou Frou album, which never recouped its costs, Heap decided to independently produce her next project. Banks were unwilling to lend her money. She then realized the increased value of her flat and used it as collateral.
This decision proved successful. Recently, after 25 years, she received her first royalties from the Frou Frou album, a testament to the long-term impact of her work.
Collaborating with Jeff Beck
Imogen Heap's collaboration with legendary guitarist Jeff Beck occurred more than two decades ago when she was 19. She met him at a songwriting camp in the Dordogne, France, hosted by The Police manager Miles Copeland.
"I was sitting outside playing guitar very badly to myself and Jeff said: 'Let me show you some shapes.' I said: 'Wow, you’re good!'"
— Imogen Heap, recalling her first encounter with Jeff Beck
Heap was initially unaware of Beck's fame. A week after their meeting, her manager informed her that the renowned guitarist wanted her to sing on his record. She contributed vocals to his song "Nadia" and performed several shows with him.
Heap described Beck as a kind and humble individual, appreciative of his long career. She observed that many artists from his generation maintained small egos despite their significant fame.
Background on Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck (1944-2023) was an English rock guitarist. He was one of the three influential guitarists, alongside Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page, who played with the Yardbirds. Beck was known for his innovative guitar playing and his contributions to rock, blues, and jazz fusion. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice.
The Listening Chair and Autobiographical Music
Heap's song, 'The Listening Chair,' is a unique autobiographical piece designed to be updated every seven years with an additional minute of music. She sought audience input while developing the song, asking what themes resonated with different age groups.
- Ages 0-7: Single-word answers like "cat" or "piano."
- Ages 7-14: Themes of fun.
- Ages 14-21: Focus on self-identity and wanting to be themselves.
- Ages 28-35: Concerns about job satisfaction and relationships, such as "I’m in the wrong job and that maybe I shouldn’t be with my partner."
Heap explained that she paused the project at the 35-42 age bracket due to the death of her sister. She is now preparing to release the final 13-minute piece, titled "I Am," which explores her current identity.
The song includes personal anecdotes, such as the line "Wonderbra thrown around the German classroom… I’ll never live it down." This refers to a childhood incident where her friend threw her padded bra through a classroom window, causing her significant embarrassment.
Creating 'The Happy Song' for Babies
Imogen Heap also created 'The Happy Song,' a piece of music specifically designed to cheer up babies. This project was initiated by the baby milk company Cow & Gate. Heap collaborated with scientists, psychologists, and 50 babies to develop the music.
She iteratively adjusted musical elements based on the babies' reactions. Her then two-year-old daughter, Scout, contributed some of the melodies. The song incorporates sounds and themes from Scout's experiences, such as "bing bing on the bicycle, beep beep in the car," inspired by a visit to the Transport Museum.
The song begins with the sound of Scout laughing at a friend's cat. 'The Happy Song' is popular with children and also helps to calm stressed parents.
Personal Diagnoses and Creative Drive
Heap reflected on her school years, acknowledging some rebellious behavior, including being expelled for telling a matron to "F-off." She found boarding school to be incredibly boring.
Her recent diagnoses of ADHD and autism have provided her with a new understanding of her past actions and her continuous desire for innovation. She believes these conditions explain her inclination to "shake things up" and pursue new creative endeavors.
Hair and Body Image
Heap discussed her past struggles with body image, which influenced her appearance choices. She often wore leg warmers to make her legs appear less skinny and elaborate costumes with feathers. For a long time, she back-combed her hair into a large bush because she felt her head was too small.
She stated that she only began to appreciate her hair in the last six years, realizing it simply needed layers.
Future Music and AI Integration
It has been 11 years since Imogen Heap's last traditional album. Since then, she has worked on the Harry Potter album, The Music of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – in Four Contemporary Suites, and a double album for an Audible podcast called Climate of Change. For the podcast, she collaborated with zoologist and filmmaker Dan O'Neill, using sounds like insects croaking underground.
Heap admitted to growing tired of traditional song structures but is now excited about freestyling and creating lyrics in the moment. She feels she has spent too much time confined to the studio and missed out on life experiences.
A new record, representing the "final piece of that old world," is expected soon. However, she is more enthusiastic about real-time music creation.
Audience Engagement and Taylor Swift
In 2014, Taylor Swift invited fans to her home to preview her album 1989. Heap, who collaborated with Swift on the closing track "Clean," believes this reflects a shared appreciation for fan reactions. Heap also frequently invites people to her studio to listen to new music, finding it rewarding when her work resonates with others.
She has hosted numerous fan events at her home and believes Swift's fans are as supportive as her own.
AI in Music: A Collaborative Future
Heap is actively exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance her live performances. Despite concerns from some fans, she views AI as a collaborative tool rather than a replacement for human creativity.
"When people think of AI they maybe think of this conscious brain making all the music while I’m sitting there being a puppet. I see it as a collaboration."
— Imogen Heap, on her perspective of AI in music
She envisions AI identifying natural rhythms or keys from ambient sounds, such as dog barks or bus noises in a park. This would allow her to focus more on the human element of performance. Heap believes that in a world facing significant challenges, AI could be the "next stage of evolution" to help humanity make sense of its existence.
She asserts that AI is not inherently negative and that she will continue to create music with its assistance.
Impact of 'Whatcha Say' Sample
Jason Derulo's sampling of Heap's song "Hide and Seek" in his multi-million selling track "Whatcha Say" brought her unexpected success. Heap is not possessive of her music and appreciates when others give her tracks a new life.
While she might not personally listen to "Whatcha Say," she does not find it offensive. The success of the sample helped pay for her mortgage. Heap describes her career as having "tentacles into hits" rather than direct hits, allowing her to enjoy widespread recognition without losing her anonymity.