Imogen Heap combines a powerful voice and innovative, electronica-tinged production to create pop music as unique as her name. The classically-trained pianist–who also works as one half of duo Frou-Frou–recently took a break from the studio to hit mtvU’s Hot Seat. She filled us in on hot tub shenanigans, The Bee Gees and more.
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Q: Tell us about your craziest touring experience.
A: Well, we have this saying when touring on a tour bus, “what happens on the tour bus stays on the tour bus. ” So of course all the really juicy things that go on I couldn’t tell you about….so, um…well, the last thing I can remember–how about that? Zoe (the artist who came on my last two US tours with me) and I at the Sundance film festival, a little tiddly, in the hot tub of our condo, running out into the snow and rolling around in it for longer and longer periods at a time then running back into the hot tub to recover. That doesn’t sound very crazy, does it?
Q: What type of college class would you most want to take and why?
A: English Language, possibly. I always find myself lost for words to really say what I want to say. I wish I were more articulate. When writing a song that suits me just fine, as I can take a whole month to spit out what I’m trying to say!
Q: What city in America is the most fun to visit and why?
A: I have to say I had a hell of a lot of fun in New Orleans last time I was there. A lot of bands have been bypassing the great city because of Katrina, so when bands do come through they really go mental! Of course, New Orleans always did but even more now. Everyone was so grateful. That was indeed a long, long night and our host (the owner of the club) showed us a great time. The city was alive with people still at 4 am and it was a weekday. Plus…we got a paddle steamboat ride the next day to work off our hangover.
Q: What’s some of the best advice you were ever given?
A: Always smile and be pleasant in tricky situations.
Q: What’s in heavy rotation in your mp3/CD player right now?
A: Milosh - Meme
Q: The last good book you read or TV show you’re addicted to.
A: The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami. I can’t remember the last TV show I was addicted to since maybe Neighbors when I was eight but I do love this show called The Green Wing, on in the UK. Very dark comedy that takes place in a hospital.
Q: What’s the first concert you ever saw? How was it?
A: The first concert was the Bee Gees. My best mate’s parents (we were eight or nine) had four tickets to see them at Wembley Arena. I remember getting excited when Staying Alive came on as that was the only song I really knew and getting up on my seat to dance only to be told to “get down and behave!”
Q: What are three items you can’t live without on tour?
A: The occasional swig of an alcoholic beverage, my laptop and miso soup paste (aside from the obvious gear etc. for the show and stuff).
Q: Who are your major musical influences?
A: I would say Michael Jackson. I listened to him pretty much all the time I was nowhere near a piano when I was a kid (which was not often because I was addicted to it!) When I was about 14 I really got into drum and bass which definitely influenced me a lot and in general all the classical music I played either for exams (piano, clarinet and cello) or studying at school. Things that influence me now are a bar of this, a bass line of that, a sentence in a book. More detailed things rather than one or two specific people.
Q: Any random messages or tips you’d like to give to mtvU watchers?
A: Do something today that puts a tick on your list.
