Imogen Heap's iBlog

Tweeting from China / Bhutan / India until 23/12/11. New songs released from my 4th solo album as I complete them. 4 out already! More at www.imogenheap.com var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-9584332-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();

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Have you got your ticket for Imogen's one-off #Seattle benefit show this week? "It's the first time I'll be performing new songs with an orchestra. I've chosen a couple of favourites from #Sparks to perform with the choir and orchestra. 'Neglected Space' and 'You Know Where to Find Me' (with 4 pianos no less!). Also 'Hide and Seek' with a choir. Hope a few of you can make it. I'm really looking forward to it!"

Buy tickets now!

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If you have pre-ordered the 'Sparks' deluxe box set you have one week left to upload your footprints and join Imogen on the the album cover!

The upload deadline is Monday 21st October, so if you haven't uploaded your prints yet, just click on the link in your confirmation email to upload them.

If you haven't pre-ordered and still want to be part of the album cover, you can order now and pay over 3 monthly instalments.

Here's a re-cap of what the box set includes:

Sparks album on CD

A special ticket that grants you access to a sound check on Imogen's 2014 world tour

Your footprints on the album cover across all formats (if you order before 21st Oct)

10 inch 'Sparks' double gatefold vinyl album

12 DVD data discs with lossless versions of each Heapsong inc HD making-of videos of each song, packaged in beautiful case bound books with 16 page colour booklet

Making of the album DVD featuring all box set material

120 page photo book telling the story of 'Sparks'

Deck of 52 playing cards that unlock exclusive web content

Important: The deluxe box set will still be available to pre-order after 21st Oct and you will still receive a ticket to meet Imogen at a sound check, you just won't be able to upload your footprints after this date.

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Read about what Imogen has been getting up to in the #Sparks deluxe blog! http://imogenheap.com/deluxeblog

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Are you following Imogen on Spotify? 

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Imogen is giving away 5 Imogenized Custom Blendtec Blenders!

To enter, pre-order her new deluxe box set for her 4th solo album 'Sparks' and you'll be entered into the prize draw!

Also: you can now pay for the box set over 3 monthly instalments! Go to http://imogenheap.com/deluxeboxset to purchase.

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Imogen's new album deluxe box set

Pre-order the new deluxe box set now: http://www.imogenheap.com/deluxeboxset. I'm very excited to tell you about this Deluxe Box set for my new album Sparks! It was the only way I could fit in the whole story of what's been going on these past 2 1/2 years. There will only 2,500 ever made. If you pre-order now and help me to the finish line, your actual footprints will accompany mine on the album cover: http://www.imogenheap.com/deluxeboxset.

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Prepping to demo #TheGloves and then make shapes 'n'sing #MeTheMachine with them at #wired2012 yikes!! Xx

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In 5 hours I will be live blogging from this piano as today is release day for #YKWTFM - join me? immi.fm/YKWTHO

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Beginnings of score writing process for @HappiestFilm :) (Taken with Instagram)

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Robur.tv over filming for #YKW2FM video. I'm adding in the piano at home in with the boat and 12 Edinburgh peep's pianos. Sounding lovely. The missing piano was at home all along :) (Taken with Instagram)

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At home, trying ideas out for Deluxe Album package with @3DiCD (soon to become @Streemliner). Making all the #Heapsong digital releases a physical reality! Xx So exiting to see and feel it come to life! (Taken with Instagram)

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Like my new hair cut? Killing time in the wonderful conservatory at the Barbican before the 50years of Bond exhibition. Great exhibition! (Taken with Instagram)

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Visit Original Link

Hello there! x

This is the sound of everyone who sat in or sent in ideas for The Listening Chair all together :)  

I'm currently sitting in the cafe consort at the Royal Albert Hall with 8 hours and counting until stage time for the premiere of The Listening Chair. Six months ago, Eric Whitacre asked if I'd like to be a part of his BBC Prom. There was no hesitation, what an incredible honour to have a song arranged by Eric, not to mention premiering it at the Proms with such an awesome group of musicians including the BBC singers choir, soprano Hila Plitmann and The Ensemble Bash backing me up on body percussion. 

For those that don't know what the dickens I'm talking about… The Listening Chair project is a classic designer egg-chair I had retrofitted with audio/visual equipment to capture passer-byes thoughts to the question 'What is the song that still needs to be written?' The crowd-sourced video responses are uploaded to the chair's website along with videos sent in via the web. 

From the Sydney Opera House to the Royal Albert Hall, both The Chair and I have interacted with hundreds of people of all ages in 6 different locations and those curious and willing to engage, helped hatch the song that will be premiering tonight!

I was half hoping for one common 'song void' but alas no, that would have been too easy! I only knew this song was to be A Cappella.  The 'spark' happened on the train over to the hills of Snowdonia, three weeks prior to tonight (cutting it fine as always, nothing like a deadline to kick the Heap into action) where I was to walk, scribble and sing this song into existence. As I watched the videos on my laptop, I noticed the thoughts I most deeply connected with were from those of my own age. Big searching questions! The ones that have you gazing out into the distance wondering 'How did I get here, Is this what I want?' kind of thing....Who'd have thought the listening chair would help me listen to a quiet voice in me. So thank you everyone for that! From there, I started seeing patterns of enquiry, or song wishes, emerge within other age groups. 

I decided I would write a piece that musically and lyrically looks at life in stages, from 'day dot' to death and how they interconnect and affect one another. Every minute representing a 7 year period. I've only experienced a part of that so it's five minutes long (inducing a few seconds of 'woosh' representing being in the womb!). 7 years from now, I'll write another minute and so on, continuing to look to The Listening Chair for parallels and inspiration. Keeping the project alive with enquiry and me continuously connecting to the different stages of my own life. Regrouping, seeing patterns, taking a wider angle view. I'd love to make a video where you see me from baby to old age singing the song. You see my ever changing face, grey hair take over, lines on my face emerge. I'd only do up to age 35 for now obviously but I like the idea of every seven years connecting to what I feel is a turning point in my own life, musically, visually, vocally, collaboratively. 

There are many references throughout this piece from people's suggestions. For example, a lullaby, so the first minute is written to be adapted by the parent or child when sung. Here are the lyrics.

(Italics to be personalised by the child or the parent by swapping 'i' for 'you')

Cat, blue, piano, 

Are just some of the things I like

So the more I can get of them in my day

The better I sleep at night

Mum, Dad, Giles, Lizzie + Juliet, Uncle James

Are just some of the people I love

So the more of all them I can get in my day

The better I'll sleep at night

I can moonwalk, build castles, play ping pong, talk to animals, hold my breath for a really long time... and tell the future

Are just 6 of the things I can do

And the more of these things I can fit in my day

The better I sleep at night

We'll film a more in depth 'making of' where i'll cite specific suggestions from people and reference how I weaved these into the song. For now though… I need to get on and practice! On my demo recording of this song all the vocal parts are sung by me but for this special performance, Eric Whitacre has expanded it for choir. It's a whole different ball game singing with a choir and a conductor! What I thought I'd rehearsed to perfection suddenly flies out the window when I rehearse with them. Hoping it'll be alight on the night. You can tune in and hear for yourself as it'll be broadcast live 10.15pm BST tonight as part of Eric Whitacre's Prom (no.62) very soon. Eek! Wish me luck! I'm on in the first 15 minutes and after that I'm going to take a seat next to my loved ones I've just sung about and enjoy the rest of the concert! You should too because his pieces were sounding absolutely glorious in the Royal Albert Hall today. Made me want to write a whole different piece altogether but there we go. Perhaps I'll do that for my own Prom one of these days ;) x 

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Singing in the staircase at the Royal Albert Hall - 9 hours to kill before tonight's performance!

Singing in the staircase at the Royal Albert Hall - 9 hours to kill before tonight's performance! (mp3)

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Pacing around the Royal Albert Hall corridor/ trying out words

Pacing around the Royal Albert Hall corridor/ trying out words (mp3)

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A piano! Nobody at rehearsals yet :)

A piano! Nobody at rehearsals yet :) (mp3)

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Fun on the drums/arm workout/out of practice!

Fun on the drums/arm workout/out of practice! (mp3)