View source for Imogen Heap

{{Short description|English musician and producer (born 1977)}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = Imogen Heap
| image         = Imogen Heap at 2025 SXSW London.jpg
| alt           = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
| caption       = Heap at [[South by Southwest London|SXSW London]] 2025
| birth_name    = Imogen Jennifer Jane Heap
| alias         = Him Gone Ape
| birth_date    = {{Birth date and age|1977|12|9|df=y}}
| birth_place   = [[Romford, London]],  England
| education     = [[BRIT School]]
| occupation    = {{hlist|Musician|singer|songwriter|record producer|entrepreneur}}
| years_active  = 1995–present
| relatives     = [[James Paterson (painter)|James Paterson]] (great-grandfather)
| children      = 1
| website       = {{URL|imogenheap.com}}
| module        = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| genre         = {{hlist|[[Pop music|Pop]]|[[electropop]]|[[art pop]]|[[alternative rock]]}}
| works         = [[Imogen Heap discography|Discography]]
| instrument    = {{hlist|Vocals|piano|keyboards|[[keytar]]|Mi.Mu gloves}}
| label         = {{hlist|Megaphonic|[[Almo Sounds|Almo]]|[[RCA Records|RCA]]|[[Sony Records|Sony]]|White Rabbit|[[Epic Records|Epic]]}}
| current_member_of = [[Frou Frou (band)|Frou Frou]]
| past_member_of = 
}}
}}

'''Imogen Jennifer Jane Heap''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɪ|m|ə|dʒ|ə|n|_|ˈ|h|iː|p}} {{respelling|IM|ə|jən|_|HEEP}}; born 9 December 1977) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and entrepreneur. She is considered a pioneer in [[pop music]], particularly [[electropop]], and in [[music technology]].

While attending the [[BRIT School]], Heap signed to independent record label [[Almo Sounds]] and later released her debut album ''[[I Megaphone]]'' (1998). It sold poorly and she was soon left without a record deal. In 2000, she and English record producer [[Guy Sigsworth]] formed the [[Electronic music|electronic]] duo [[Frou Frou (band)|Frou Frou]], in which she was the vocalist, and released their only album to date, ''[[Details (album)|Details]]'' (2002). Their song "Let Go" earned them wider recognition after being used in [[Zach Braff]]'s film ''[[Garden State (film)|Garden State]]'' (2004).

Heap produced, recorded, sang, arranged, mixed, and designed the cover art for ''[[Speak for Yourself]]'' (2005), her second studio album, on her own. It was self-released through her independent record label, Megaphonic Records. Its lead single "[[Hide and Seek (Imogen Heap song)|Hide and Seek]]" garnered success internationally after being featured in the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] television series ''[[The O.C.]]'' Her follow-up single "[[Headlock (song)|Headlock]]" went viral on [[TikTok]] in 2024 and became her first song to chart on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and her highest-charting entry on the [[UK Singles Chart]] the following year. Heap's third studio album, ''[[Ellipse (album)|Ellipse]]'' (2009), peaked in the top-five of the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart, produced the single "[[First Train Home]]", and made Heap the second woman after [[Trina Shoemaker]] to win the [[Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical]]. This was followed by her fourth studio album, ''[[Sparks (Imogen Heap album)|Sparks]]'' (2014), which topped ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''{{'}}s [[Top Dance Albums|Dance/Electronic Albums]] chart. Heap also found commercial success with her 2016 [[Children's music|children's song]] "The Happy Song" and collaborated with [[Clams Casino]] on the re-release of his 2011 [[cloud rap]] song "[[I'm God]]" in 2020.

Heap is known for her innovative musical approach, contributions to film and television soundtracks, independent success online, and devoted fanbase. She developed the Mi.Mu Gloves, a line of [[Wired glove|wired]] musical gloves, and, in the 2020s, became known for her work with and advocacy for [[Music and artificial intelligence|artificial intelligence in music]]. She composed the music for the play ''[[Harry Potter and the Cursed Child]]'', a sequel to the ''[[Harry Potter]]'' novels which premiered on the [[West End theatre|West End]] in 2016 and for which she won a [[Drama Desk Awards|Drama Desk Award]]. She has also been awarded the [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year]] for her production work on [[Taylor Swift]]'s 2014 album ''[[1989 (album)|1989]]'', an [[Ivor Novello Award]], and an honorary doctorate from [[Berklee College of Music]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vanni|first=Olivia|date=8 July 2019|title=SideTrack: Blue Man Group, "Big Brother" Corey Brooks & Fessy Shafaat... and more|url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/07/08/sidetrack-blue-man-group-big-brother-corey-brooks-fessy-shafaat-and-more/|access-date=24 March 2020|website=Boston Herald|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Early life==
[[File:The Round House, Havering-Atte-Bower (2024).jpg|thumb|Heap's childhood home, an 18th-century elliptical house in [[Havering-atte-Bower]] called [[The Round House (Havering)|the Round House]]. She purchased it in 2006 and converted its basement into a recording studio.]]

Imogen Jennifer Jane Heap<ref name="AllMusic">{{Cite web|title=Imogen Heap: Biography & History|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/imogen-heap-mn0000094792/biography|access-date=19 January 2021|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|language=en}}</ref> was born on 9 December 1977<ref name="guardianxizi">{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Caspar Llewellyn |title=Imogen Heap: 'I've just done a poll with YouGov to find out about my fans' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2012/feb/23/30-minutes-with-imogen-heap |website=The Guardian |access-date=28 December 2020 |language=en |date=23 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Celebrity birthdays for the week of Dec. 6-12 |url=https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-celebrity-birthdays-patrick-bauchau-lindsay-price-james-naughton-5db02399f8e24bb43bb18b10f70c816b |work=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=27 December 2020 |language=en |date=30 November 2020}}</ref> in [[Romford]], England.<ref name="OMHEll">{{cite web |last1=Murphy |first1=John |title=Imogen Heap - Ellipse |url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/imogen-heap-ellipse |website=[[MusicOMH]] |access-date=12 May 2025 |date=23 August 2009 |quote={{nbsp}}... but she could quite easily walk the streets of her native Romford unrecognised.}}</ref> She was named after British composer [[Imogen Holst]], as her mother wanted Heap to become a cellist like Holst.<ref name="metrosixty">{{Cite news|last=Williams|first=Andrew|date=23 October 2006|title=60 SECONDS: Imogen Heap|work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]|url=https://metro.co.uk/2006/10/23/60-seconds-imogen-heap-301429/|access-date=30 April 2008}}</ref> Her mother, an [[art therapist]], and father, a construction rock retailer, separated when she was twelve years old.<ref name="guardian2006">{{cite web |last1=Lynskey |first1=Dorian |title=Dorian Lynskey talks to singer Imogen Heap |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/mar/28/popandrock |website=The Guardian |access-date=11 February 2021 |language=en |date=28 March 2006}}</ref> Her maternal great-grandfather is the Scottish painter [[James Paterson (painter)|James Paterson]], a figure in the [[Glasgow School#Glasgow Boys|Glasgow Boys]] art movement. Her brother also works with construction rocks and her sister, Juliet, worked as a [[Surveying|surveyor]]; she died in November 2019 while abroad.<ref name="telfullconnect" /><ref name="newstatesman" /><ref name="metroh&s">{{cite web |last1=Kelly |first1=Emma |title=Imogen Heap on 'unimaginable' life of Hide and Seek from The OC to Normal People |url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/27/imogen-heap-life-hide-seek-oc-normal-people-enigma-12766099/ |website=Metro |access-date=6 December 2020 |language=en |date=27 May 2020}}</ref> Heap was raised in [[The Round House (Havering)|the Round House]], a [[Listed building|Grade II* listed]] elliptical house in [[Havering-atte-Bower]] near Romford built in 1792; she later bought the house from her father when it was put on the market in 2006, converting its basement, which had been her play room as a child, into a recording studio called the Hideaway.<ref name="BBCTalkShop">{{cite web |title=Talking Shop: Imogen Heap |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8315306.stm |website=[[BBC News]] |access-date=9 May 2025 |date=20 October 2009}}</ref><ref name="telfullconnect" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hayes |first1=George |title=Grammy-winner Imogen Heap plans The Round House repair works |url=https://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/news/24273723.grammy-winner-imogen-heap-plans-round-house-repair-works/ |website=[[Romford Recorder]] |access-date=27 May 2025 |date=24 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=This historic home turned residential studio can now be explored through its digital twin |url=https://matterport.com/blog/historic-home-turned-residential-studio-can-now-be-explored-through-its-digital-twin |publisher=[[Matterport]] |access-date=18 May 2025 |date=16 May 2021}}</ref> When she was one year old, she was diagnosed with [[osteomyelitis]] in her left leg.<ref name="TimesOWB" /> She played music from an early age, first learning to play her mother's piano at age two due to "wanting attention" as a middle child and realizing, according to her, that "it was something [she] could make a lot of noise with".<ref name="MTVDebut">{{cite web |last1=Kaufman |first1=Gil |title=Imogen Heap Gets Personal On Debut LP |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/400610/imogen-heap-gets-personal-on-debut-lp/ |website=[[MTV News]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119092408/http://www.mtv.com/news/400610/imogen-heap-gets-personal-on-debut-lp/ |archive-date=19 January 2022 |date=16 July 1998}}</ref><ref name="futuremusic1">{{cite magazine |last1=Barker |first1=Chris |date=Autumn 2009 |title=In The Studio: Imogen Heap |url=https://archive.org/details/FutureMusicAutumn2009/page/n27/ |magazine=[[Future Music]] |publisher=Future Publishing |access-date=1 December 2020 |issue=219 |pages=42{{hyphen}}48}}</ref><ref name="guardian2006" /> She has also stated that "everyone was playing music" in her family home growing up and that she rarely listened to the radio.<ref name="StandTimes" />

She did not enjoy playing the music of [[Classical music|classical]] composers such as [[Johann Sebastian Bach|Bach]] and [[Ludwig van Beethoven|Beethoven]], and would instead attempt to play in their style to convince her parents she was practicing their music.<ref name="westword">{{cite web |last1=Roberts |first1=Michael |title=Imogen Heap |url=https://www.westword.com/music/imogen-heap-5091189 |website=[[Westword]] |access-date=4 December 2020 |language=en |date=7 December 2006}}</ref> As a child, she recorded music by recording herself playing piano on [[Cassette tape|cassette]], then recording herself again singing over it.<ref name="paperint">{{cite news |last1=Moen |first1=Matt |title=Imogen Heap: 'I've Never Been Burdened by Fame' |url=https://www.papermag.com/imogen-heap-profile-2635198880.html?rebelltitem=49 |website=[[Paper (magazine)|Paper]] |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=8 May 2019}}</ref> At around age 10, she composed [[Christmas carol]]s for her school's choir.<ref name="westword" /> She soon began taking lessons and became classically trained in several instruments, including piano, cello, and [[clarinet]], while attending [[Friends' School, Saffron Walden|Friends' School]], a private, [[Quaker]]-run boarding school in [[Saffron Walden]].<ref name="telfullconnect" /><ref name="timesint" /> She has stated that she was "everyone's worst nightmare" while there, spending much of her time smoking, drinking, and experimenting with drugs.<ref name="TimesOWB" /><ref name="hp" /> She performed frequently at school recitals in order to avoid being punished for bad behavior.<ref name="StandTimes">{{cite web |last1=Hiss |first1=Eric |title=Imogen Heap can reach for highest stars |url=https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/entertainment/local/1999/01/31/imogen-heap-can-reach-for/50548324007/ |website=[[The Standard-Times (New Bedford)|The Standard-Times]] |access-date=5 May 2025 |date=30 January 1999}}</ref>

Due to being placed a year above children her age, Heap has stated she did not get along with many people from the school and spent most of her time in the music room practising piano.<ref name="futuremusic1" /> She stated, "In boarding school{{nbsp}}... I was mocked about the clothes I wore, the way I looked, whatever. People there really did regard me as some kind of freak from the middle of nowhere."<ref name="hp"/> Her music teacher, whom she has said considered her "really irritating", would send her to the school's music technology room as punishment, where she taught herself how to [[Sampling (music)|sample]] music.<ref name="TimesOWB" /><ref name="guardian2006" /> At age twelve, she also taught herself how to use [[Steinberg Cubase|Cubase]] on an [[Atari_ST|Atari ST]] computer at Friends' School.<ref name="futuremusic1" /> By the age of thirteen, she had begun writing songs.<ref name="AllMusic"/> At age fifteen, she started using [[Reel-to-reel audio tape recording|reel-to-reel recording]] to record her music and using a home computer to program it.<ref name="paperint" /> She eventually got expelled from the school after cursing at her [[matron]] but, as they needed her to perform at the end-of-year concert, lived with the headmistress and played piano for the rest of the year.<ref name="TimesOWB" />

==Career==
===1995–1996: Almo Sounds and Acacia===
Heap started studying at the [[BRIT School]] for Performing Arts & Technology in [[Croydon]], [[South London]] at age 16 with plans to write orchestral music. There, she first began regularly singing and writing songs due to loneliness.<ref name="TimesOWB" /> There, she recorded her first song to feature her vocals, "Missing You", which was released on the BRIT School's ''Class of 1994'' album and earned her attention from manager Mickey Modern after he saw her performance at a talent showcase.<ref name="westword" /><ref name="futuremusic1" /> After being introduced to [[Nik Kershaw]] by Modern, Heap recorded demos which were taken to [[Rondor Music Publishing|Rondor Music]]. A few months later, Heap signed her first record contract, aged 18, with independent record label [[Almo Sounds]].<ref name="telfullconnect" /><ref>{{cite web|title=ALMO Sounds on A&M Records.com|url=https://www.onamrecords.com/labels/almo-sounds|access-date=5 May 2012|work=ALMO Sounds History|publisher=Leslie J. Pfenninger|quote=Imogen Heap's demo was given to Jerry Moss who offered a contract with Almo Sounds. She signed with the label in April.}}</ref>

In 1996, Heap began working with British [[experimental pop]] band [[Acacia (band)|Acacia]], which featured her future collaborator [[Guy Sigsworth]]. While never a full member of the band, she was a guest vocalist and contributed to various Acacia singles and album tracks.<ref name="abcprofile">{{cite web |title=Imogen Heap |url= https://www.abc.net.au/rage/guest/imogen-heap/9649240 |website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] |access-date=4 December 2020 |language=en-AU |date=16 June 2012}}</ref> Her first major live solo performance was as part of the line-up for the 1996 [[Prince's Trust]] Concert in [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]], where she played in between performances by [[Eric Clapton]] and [[the Who]].<ref name="xtra2006">{{cite web |last1=Percy |first1=Shane |title=Music: Imogen Heap |url=https://www.dailyxtra.com/music-imogen-heap-21573 |website=[[Daily Xtra]] |access-date=4 December 2020 |language=en |date=24 May 2006}}</ref><ref name="AgeReut" />

===1997–1999: ''I Megaphone''===
Heap's debut commercial single, "Getting Scared", was released in 1997 and included on the soundtrack for the 1998 horror film ''[[I Still Know What You Did Last Summer]]''.<ref name="sglist">{{cite web |last1=Farrell |first1=Margaret |title=The 10 Best Imogen Heap Songs |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2022304/imogen-heap-best-songs-playlist-frou-frou/lists/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=30 November 2020 |language=en |date=9 November 2018}}</ref> She released her debut album, the [[alternative rock]] record ''[[I Megaphone]]'', on 16 June 1998, through Almo, with its songs "Getting Scared", "Shine", and "Come Here Boy" released as singles in the United Kingdom.<ref name="nytmesmerize" /> The record was made with several producers, including Sigsworth, Kershaw, [[Dave Stewart (Eurythmics)|Dave Stewart]] of [[Eurythmics]], and [[David Kahne]].<ref name="hp" /> It featured personal lyricism and critics compared it heavily to the works of fellow female singer-songwriters [[Tori Amos]], [[Kate Bush]], [[Alanis Morissette]], and [[Fiona Apple]].<ref name="MTVDebut" /><ref name="hp">{{cite web |last1=Jackson |first1=Joe |title=The Heap Treatment |url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/the-heap-treatment-520597 |website=[[Hot Press]] |access-date=4 May 2025 |date=22 April 2001}}</ref> She toured the album in the US and Europe from 1998 to 1999, though Almo cut funding for her tour in the UK and used the money to promote ''I Megaphone''.<ref name="abcprofile" /><ref name="guardian2006" /> ''I Megaphone'' received airplay on various American radio stations but was a commercial failure, as Almo did little to promote it.<ref name="StandTimes" /> Soon after its release, Almo Sounds was acquired by [[Universal Music Group|Universal]], forcing its artists to either move to other labels or be released. Heap was dropped from the label, leaving her without a record contract.<ref name="westword" /><ref name="telfullconnect">{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/8061156/Imogen-Heap-fully-connected.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/8061156/Imogen-Heap-fully-connected.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Imogen Heap: fully connected |access-date=23 April 2016 |date=14 October 2010 |first=Naomi |last=West |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

During her time as an unsigned artist, Heap appeared on two singles: "Meantime", a track written by her former [[Acacia (band)|Acacia]] colleagues, Sigsworth and Alexander Nilere, for the soundtrack to the independent British film ''[[G:MT – Greenwich Mean Time]]'',{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} and "Blanket", a 1998 collaboration with British [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] band [[Urban Species]]. "Blanket" was Heap's first charting single, reaching number 56 on the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name="WhoIsUK">{{cite web |title=Who is Imogen Heap? |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/1700/imogen-heap/ |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=16 June 2025}}</ref> The song would later appear in a 2005 sex tape of [[Limp Bizkit]] frontman [[Fred Durst]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Golby |first1=Joel |title=Keep rollin': a look at Fred Durst's directorial 'masterpieces' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/aug/27/a-look-at-fred-dursts-directorial-masterpieces-the-fanatic-john-travolta |website=The Guardian |access-date=4 December 2020 |language=en |date=27 August 2019}}</ref>

===2000–2004: Frou Frou===
{{Main|Frou Frou (band)}}

[[File:Guy Sigsworth.jpg|thumb|upright|In 2000, Heap formed the musical duo [[Frou Frou (band)|Frou Frou]] with record producer and frequent collaborator [[Guy Sigsworth]] (''pictured in 2007'').]]

In 2000, Heap and Sigsworth formed the [[Electronic music|electronic]] duo [[Frou Frou (band)|Frou Frou]], with plans to record an album featuring a different singer, rapper, or poet on each song.<ref name="guardian2006" /><ref name="abcprofile" /> She described the formation of the duo as "very organic and spontaneous".<ref name="news.ucwe.com" /> Heap also appeared as a featured vocalist on two songs{{em dash}}"Dirty Mind" and "Rollin' and Tumblin'"{{em dash}}from the 2001 album ''[[You Had It Coming]]'' by English guitarist [[Jeff Beck]] and on the American rock band [[Rustic Overtones]]' 2001 album ''[[¡Viva Nueva!]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Harrington |first1=Richard |title=Jeff Beck: Still Moving Forward |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2001/03/16/jeff-beck-still-moving-forward/bf73c809-2ee8-4917-824d-382ff4b5b648/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=5 December 2020 |language=en |date=16 March 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Dillon |first1=Charlotte |title=Rustic Overtones Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/rustic-overtones-mn0000218949#biography |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=14 May 2025}}</ref>

Frou Frou released their first and only album, ''Details'', through [[Island Records]] and [[MCA Records]] on 15 July 2002, with no plans for a sophomore album.<ref name="NewEnBB">{{cite magazine |last1=Williams |first1=Sophie |title=Imogen Heap on Viral 'Headlock' Success, AI and Ariana Grande: 'There's a New Type of Energy This Time' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/imogen-heap-headlock-success-ai-and-ariana-grande-1235886471/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=5 May 2025 |date=29 January 2025}}</ref><ref name="BtLSpeaking">{{cite web |last1=Galvin |first1=Peter |title=Speaking for herself |url=https://pridesource.com/article/speaking-for-herself |website=[[Between the Lines (newspaper)|Between the Lines]] |access-date=5 May 2025 |date=12 January 2006}}</ref> Its lead single "Breathe In" was described as their breakout hit and its song "Let Go" became popular after being used on [[Garden State (soundtrack)|the soundtrack]] for [[Zach Braff]]'s 2004 film ''[[Garden State (film)|Garden State]]'', which won a [[Grammy Award]].<ref name="UtRSfY">{{cite web |last1=Hyman |first1=Nick |title=Imogen Heap: Speak for Yourself (RCA) |url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/imogenheapreview.html |website=[[Under the Radar (magazine)|Under the Radar]] |access-date=5 May 2025 |date=11 May 2008}}</ref><ref name="sglist" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Jacobs |first1=Matthew |title='You Gotta Hear This One Song': The Oral History of the 'Garden State' Soundtrack |url=https://www.theringer.com/2024/07/24/movies/garden-state-soundtrack-album-music-20th-anniversary-zach-braff |website=[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]] |access-date=5 May 2025 |date=24 July 2024}}</ref> By 2009, ''Details'' had sold 284 thousand copies.<ref name="FastTrack" /> It received positive reviews from ''[[Drowned in Sound]]'' and [[AllMusic]].<ref name="DeetDiS">{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Andy |title=Frou Frou: Details |url=http://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/4372 |website=[[Drowned in Sound]] |access-date=4 May 2025 |date=15 July 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726032609/http://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/4372 |archive-date=26 July 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Henderson |first1=Alex |title=Details Review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/details-mw0000659189 |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=5 May 2025}}</ref> The album received minimal marketing from Island and sold poorly, prompting Island to drop Frou Frou from the label, though they offered Heap a solo deal. She turned it down, stating in 2006, "If you had taken a shirt into a dry cleaners and they burned it, would you then go, 'Thanks very much. I'll bring in my other dry cleaning tomorrow'?"<ref name="guardian2006" /> The two disbanded the group but briefly reformed to recover a cover of "[[Holding Out for a Hero]]" for the 2004 film ''[[Shrek 2]]''.<ref name="VultShrek">{{cite web |last1=Brodsky |first1=Rachel |title=How Shrek 2 Blew My Band Up |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/frou-frou-guy-sigsworth-shrek-interview-holding-out-for-a-hero.html |website=[[Vulture (magazine)|Vulture]] |access-date=6 May 2025 |date=12 April 2024}}</ref>

Heap recorded a rendition of the song "I'm a Lonely Little Petunia" for the seventh episode of the [[List of Six Feet Under episodes#Season 4|fourth season]] of the [[HBO]] drama series [[Six Feet Under (TV series)|''Six Feet Under'']], which premiered in August 2004.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Teti |first1=John |title=Six Feet Under: "The Dare" |url=https://www.avclub.com/six-feet-under-the-dare-1798181576 |website=The A.V. Club |access-date=4 December 2020 |language=en-us |date=6 August 2014}}</ref> Her rendition later appeared as the album closer for the 2005 soundtrack album ''[[Six Feet Under, Vol. 2: Everything Ends]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dahlen |first1=Chris |title=Various Artists: Everything Ends: Six Feet Under OST Vol. 2 |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/7896-everything-ends-six-feet-under-ost-vol-2/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=4 December 2020 |language=en |date=26 June 2005}}</ref> In September 2004, she performed at Time for Change, a [[benefit concert]] advocating for [[Americans in the United Kingdom|Americans living in the United Kingdom]] to submit [[absentee ballot]]s for the [[2004 United States presidential election]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Poe, Hitchcock Rock For Votes |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/poe-hitchcock-rock-for-votes-66293/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=5 May 2025 |date=30 September 2004}}</ref>

===2005–2006: ''Speak for Yourself''===
[[File:Imogen Heap Bush Hall 2005 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Heap performing at [[Bush Hall]] in 2005]]

After Frou Frou were dropped from Island Records, Heap had accrued £10 thousand in credit card debt.<ref name="guardian2006" /> She was denied bank loans due to not being employed and, afraid of signing another record deal, she [[remortgage]]d her flat in [[Waterloo, London]] to finance the making of her next studio album.<ref name="AgeReut" /> Her property surveyor had been a fan of Frou Frou and offered to provide her the money she needed. Heap used the money to book a session to master the album one year ahead of its recording, to rent a studio at Atomic Studios in [[Bermondsey]], London that had previously been used by [[Dizzee Rascal]],<ref name="FastTrack" /> and to purchase all of the equipment to make it.<ref name="RecSOS">{{Cite web|title=Imogen Heap: Recording Ellipse|url=https://www.soundonsound.com/people/imogen-heap-recording-ellipse|access-date=19 January 2021|website=Sound on Sound}}</ref><ref name="TimesOWB">{{cite web |last1=Davis |first1=Johnny |title=One woman band |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list/profile/article/one-woman-band-vnngh22860r |website=[[The Times]] |access-date=5 May 2025 |date=3 June 2006}}</ref> Partly in response to her frustration with being considered "just the singer" in Frou Frou, Heap aimed to create the album without any outside assistance. She also maintained a blog on her website to chronicle the making of the album.<ref name="guardian2006" />

Heap wrote and provided additional vocals on the [[Britney Spears]] song "Over to You Now", a bonus track from her 2005 [[extended play]] (EP) ''[[Britney & Kevin: Chaotic]]'', which was released to accompany her [[Britney and Kevin: Chaotic|reality television series of the same name]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stern |first1=Bradley |title=Outta This World: Britney Spears' Japanese Bonus Tracks Through the Years |url=https://popcrush.com/britney-spears-japan-japanese-bonus-tracks/ |website=PopCrush |access-date=12 June 2025 |date=30 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Donnell |first1=Kevin |last2=Greenblatt |first2=Leah |title=Every Britney Spears Song, Ranked |url=https://ew.com/article/2016/09/01/every-britney-spears-song-ranked/ |website=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=12 June 2025 |date=1 September 2016}}</ref> She co-wrote the song with [[Robyn]] and Sigsworth, who produced it, and its lyrics are about anal sex.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sheffield |first1=Rob |author1-link=Rob Sheffield |title='Over to You Now' (2005) |url=https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/every-britney-spears-song-ranked-37865/over-to-you-now-2005-37993/ |website=[[Rolling Stone|Rolling Stone Australia]] |access-date=12 June 2025 |date=7 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Adolphus |first1=Emell |title=Listen: The 10 best bops celebrating the joys of backdoor fun |url=https://www.queerty.com/listen-the-10-best-bops-celebrating-the-joy-of-anal-sex-20230809/ |website=[[Queerty]] |access-date=12 June 2025 |date=9 August 2023}}</ref> In May 2005, Heap released "[[Hide and Seek (Imogen Heap song)|Hide and Seek]]", the lead single from her forthcoming album, with a music video directed by Peissig. The song began gaining traction in the UK when it received praise from radio DJs [[Jo Whiley]] and [[Zane Lowe]].<ref name="TimesOWB" /> It brought her to fame internationally after it was used to soundtrack the [[The O.C. (season 2)|season two]] finale of the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] [[teen drama]] television series ''[[The O.C.]]'' on the same day as its release; it was also included as the closing track of ''The OC Mix 5'', a soundtrack album for the series released by [[Warner Records|Warner Bros. Records]] in November 2005.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clarke |first1=Betty |title=Imogen Heap |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/feb/10/popandrock |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=5 May 2025 |date=10 February 2006}}</ref><ref name="paperint" /><ref>{{cite web |title=The OC Mix 5 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/09/29/the-oc-mix-5 |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=5 May 2025 |date=29 September 2005}}</ref> Its appearance in the series caused it to become especially popular on the [[iTunes Store]] and it peaked in the top-40 of the ''Billboard'' [[Digital Songs]] chart, eventually receiving a [[RIAA certification|gold certification]] from the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA) and a silver certification from the [[British Phonographic Industry]] (BPI).<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Brandle |first1=Lars |date=10 November 2007 |title=In Synch: U.K. Labels Cross Atlantic For Film, TV, Ad and Game Placements |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xw4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA21 |language=en |page=21 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |location=London |access-date=5 December 2020 }}</ref><ref name="RIAAcert">{{cite web|title=Gold & Platinum|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=Imogen+Heap#search_section|access-date=3 November 2018|publisher=Record Industry Association of America}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=British single certifications – Imogen Heap – Hide and Seek |url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/17143-5567-1 |publisher=[[British Phonographic Industry]] |access-date=23 June 2025}}</ref><ref name="guardian2006" /> A ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' [[SNL Digital Short#The Shooting|parody of the scene]] in 2007 that featured the song brought it to further prominence and made it into a [[Internet meme|meme]] online.<ref name="H1FT">{{cite magazine |last1=Zellner |first1=Xander |title=Hot 100 First-Timers: Imogen Heap Scores First Entry Ever, Thanks to 2005 Song 'Headlock' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/imogen-heap-headlock-hot-100-first-timers-1235880012/#:~:text=35%20on%20the%20Hot%20R%26B,21%3B%202014). |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=7 May 2025 |date=21 January 2025}}</ref> It also received critical praise, with [[Kelefa Sanneh]] calling it "the best thing" on her second studio album for ''[[The New York Times]]'' and Margaret Farrell of ''[[Stereogum]]'' listing it as Heap's best song in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |author1=[[Kelefa Sanneh|Sanneh, Kelefa]] |title=Reggae's Bootleg Respect and a Hit for the Text-Message Set |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/20/arts/music/reggaes-bootleg-respect-and-a-hit-for-the-textmessage-set.html |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=5 May 2025 |date=20 November 2005}}</ref><ref name="sglist" /> It went on to be sampled in the 2009 song "[[Whatcha Say]]" by American singer [[Jason Derulo]], which topped the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].<ref name="bbcsample">{{cite web |title=8 sampled tracks behind some of the biggest tunes |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5M1LctGZFMR54Pp4SxflyfB/8-sampled-tracks-behind-some-of-the-biggest-tunes |publisher=BBC |access-date=5 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Gratutious Rock Starlet Shot (87446208) (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|left|Heap at the [[Recher Theatre]] in 2006]]
Heap self-released her second studio album, ''[[Speak for Yourself]]'', through her newly-formed independent record label Megaphonic Records on 18 July 2005. The album was entirely written, produced, recorded, mixed, and arranged by her.<ref name="RecSOS" /> Except for a guitar riff played by Beck on the album track "[[Goodnight and Go]]" and trumpet played by [[Arve Henriksen]] on several tracks, she also played all instruments on the album and designed its packaging and artwork.<ref name="TimesOWB" /> [[RCA Records]] later licensed the album to be released on 1 November 2005 in the US, where it peaked at number 145 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] album chart in February 2006 and had sold more than 120 thousand units by May of that year, while [[Sony Records]] licensed its release throughout Europe.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Griffin |first1=Myles |title=Listen Up: Imogen Heap |url=https://www.goupstate.com/story/news/2005/09/16/listen-up-imogen-heap/29770610007/ |website=[[Spartanburg Herald-Journal]] |access-date=5 May 2025 |date=16 September 2005}}</ref><ref name="AgeReut">{{cite web |title=Praise heaped on download diva |url=https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/music/praise-heaped-on-download-diva-20060502-ge28ey.html |website=[[The Age]] |access-date=8 May 2025 |date=2 May 2006}}</ref><ref name="EWSfY" /><ref name="westword" /> By 2009, ''Speak for Yourself'' had sold 431 thousand copies in the US, where it was certified gold, and 39 thousand in the UK.<ref name="Caillat">{{cite magazine |last1=Caulfield |first1=Keith |title=Colbie Caillat's No. 1, Miley Crashes Party On Billboard 200 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/colbie-caillats-no-1-miley-crashes-party-on-billboard-200-267524/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=13 May 2025 |date=2 September 2009}}</ref><ref name="FMSample">{{cite web |last1=Seabrook III |first1=Robby |title=French Montana & Travis Scott's 'Jump' Samples An Imogen Heap Song |url=https://genius.com/a/french-montana-travis-scott-s-jump-samples-an-imogen-heap-song |website=[[Genius (company)|Genius]] |access-date=16 May 2025 |date=15 July 2017}}</ref><ref name="FastTrack">{{cite magazine |last=Sutherland |first=Mark |date=20 June 2009 |title=On the Fast Track |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wBeEDJhw110C&pg=PA24 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |location= |publisher= |access-date=11 May 2025 |pages=24–26}}</ref> It was also certified gold in [[Music Canada|Canada]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Canadian album certifications – Imogen Heap – Speak for Yourself |url=https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?_gp_search=Speak+for+Yourself%20Imogen+Heap |publisher=[[Music Canada]] |access-date=23 June 2025}}</ref> ''Speak for Yourself'' has been described as her breakout album.<ref name="H1FT" /> It received mostly positive reviews from critics, with particular praise for Heap's voice, songwriting, and innovation.<ref>Praise for ''Speak for Yourself''{{'}}s vocals, songwriting, and innovation:
* {{cite web |last1=Perlaki |first1=Mark |title=Imogen Heap - 'Speak For Yourself' |url=http://gigwise.com/contents.asp?contentid=7914 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060628010051/http://gigwise.com/contents.asp?contentid=7914 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2006-06-28 |website=[[Gigwise]] |access-date=5 May 2025 |date=28 June 2006 |quote=Her second solo album, ''Speak for Yourself'', displays talented songwriting and an expressive voice{{nbsp}}... it's in the lyrics and voice that Imogen truly shines.}}
* {{cite web |last1=Reid |first1=Dave |title=Imogen Heap - 'Speak for Yourself' |url=https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/imogen-heap-speak-for-yourself |website=[[The Skinny (magazine)|The Skinny]] |access-date=5 May 2025 |date=16 April 2006 |quote=Heap [has] ethereal vocals{{nbsp}}... there is fine song writing and production craft at work throughout{{nbsp}}... The entire work is infused with Imogen's personal style that sounds like nobody but herself.}}
* {{cite web |last1=Hyman |first1=Nick |title=Imogen Heap: ''Speak for Yourself'' |url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/imogenheapreview.html |website=[[Under the Radar (magazine)|Under the Radar]] |access-date=5 May 2025 |date=11 May 2008 |quote=Heap's song structure and production showcase intense passion ... [she has] a damn compelling voice.}}
* {{cite web |last1=Vrabel |first1=Jeff |title=Imogen Heap: Speak For Yourself |url=https://www.popmatters.com/heapimogen-speak-2495933861.html |website=[[PopMatters]] |access-date=5 May 2025 |date=19 December 2005 |quote=... through it all, though, her vocals remain a sweet, stirring center ...}}
* {{cite web |last1=Luerssen |first1=John D. |title=Speak for Yourself Review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/speak-for-yourself-mw0000348343 |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=5 May 2025 |quote=The U.S. debut solo album by Frou Frou vocalist Imogen Heap is a captivating record that fuses innovative electronic soundscapes with a strong female voice.}}
* {{cite web |last1=Ridgway |first1=Julian |title=Album Review: Imogen Heap - Speak For Yourself |url=https://drownedinsound.com/releases/4156/reviews/12726- |website=Drowned in Sound |access-date=5 May 2025 |quote=However, at its core, 'Speak for Yourself' is inventive and genuinely captivating. |date=18 July 2005}}
</ref> However, some criticized its production for sounding too polished and overornate.<ref name="SFGQuiz" /><ref>Criticism for polished/overornate production:
* {{cite web |last1=Perlaki |first1=Mark |title=Imogen Heap - 'Speak For Yourself' |url=http://gigwise.com/contents.asp?contentid=7914 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060628010051/http://gigwise.com/contents.asp?contentid=7914 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2006-06-28 |website=[[Gigwise]] |access-date=5 May 2025 |date=28 June 2006 |quote=... the beats can be somewhat overbearing and distracting at times{{nbsp}}...}}
* {{cite web |last1=Heawood |first1=Sophie |title=Imogen Heap, Speak for Yourself |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/aug/12/popandrock.shopping1 |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=5 May 2025 |date=12 August 2005 |quote=However, Heap's expert production skills are her downfall: her voice is so well sculpted here that its natural shine can get lost{{nbsp}}...}}
* {{cite web |last1=Raposa |first1=David |title=Imogen Heap: ''Speak for Yourself'' |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/4025-speak-for-yourself/ |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=5 May 2025 |date=31 October 2005 |quote=This record is produced within an inch of its life, sounds on top of sounds topped off with a gauzy candy-coated sheen that's, at times, too much to bear{{nbsp}}... sometimes, she gets lost within her own round-robin multi-tracking trickery.}}
* {{cite web |last1=Liss |first1=Sarah |title=imogen heap |url=https://nowtoronto.com/music/imogen-heap/ |website=[[Now (newspaper)|Now]] |access-date=5 May 2025 |date=12 January 2006 |quote=... the sanded-off production of Speak For Yourself lets it fade into pleasant aural wallpaper more often than not.}}</ref> "Goodnight and Go" was released in May 2006 through [[Sony BMG]] as ''Speak for Yourself''{{'}}s second single and debuted at number 56 on the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Oinonen |first1=Janne |title=Imogen Heap - 'Goodnight & Go' |url=https://www.gigwise.com/reviews/tracks/16568/Imogen-Heap---Goodnight--Go-SonyBMG-Released-080506/ |website=[[Gigwise]] |access-date=7 May 2025 |date=2 May 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Official Singles Chart on 14/5/2006 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20060514/7501/ |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=8 May 2025}}</ref> It was followed by "[[Headlock (song)|Headlock]]" in October 2006, which was released through White Rabbit, a sublabel of Sony BMG run by [[Nick Raphael]] that later merged into [[Epic Records|Epic Records UK]] in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sony BMG U.K. relaunches Epic |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/sony-bmg-uk-relaunches-epic-132868/ |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=6 May 2025 |location=London |date=27 March 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Renshaw |first1=David |title=Imogen Heap - 'Headlock' |url=https://www.gigwise.com/reviews/tracks/23031/Imogen-Heap---Headlock-White-Rabbit-Released-161006/ |website=[[Gigwise]] |access-date=5 May 2025 |date=2 October 2006}}</ref>

In August 2005, Heap appeared on the soundtrack for the 2005 romantic comedy film [[Just like Heaven (2005 film)|''Just Like Heaven'']], performing a cover of the song "[[Spooky (Classics IV song)|Spooky]]" by American band [[Classics IV]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Just Like Heaven Soundtrack On The Way |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/08/24/just-like-heaven-soundtrack-on-the-way |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506070456/https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/08/24/just-like-heaven-soundtrack-on-the-way |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 May 2023 |website=IGN |access-date=4 December 2020 |date=24 August 2005 }}</ref> In November 2005, Heap wrote and produced the song "Can't Take It In" for the [[The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (soundtrack)|soundtrack]] of the fantasy film ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe]]'', which was released one month later, after a soundtrack appearance by [[Dido (singer)|Dido]] fell through and the film's music supervisor needed a replacement.<ref>{{cite web |title=Imogen Heap Visits Narnia |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/11/17/imogen-heap-visits-narnia |website=IGN |access-date=4 December 2020 |language=en |date=17 November 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Singer/Songwriters Contribute To 'Narnia' |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/60486/singersongwriters-contribute-to-narnia |magazine=Billboard |access-date=4 December 2020 |language=en |date=1 December 2005}}</ref><ref name="guardian2006" /> The song was later nominated for the [[Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media|Grammy Award for Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media]] at the [[49th Grammy Awards]] in 2007, where she was also nominated as [[Grammy Award for Best New Artist|Best New Artist]], and for the [[World Soundtrack Awards|World Soundtrack Award]] for [[World Soundtrack Award for Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film|Best Original Song]] in 2006.<ref>{{cite web |title=Grammy winners |url=https://variety.com/2007/film/awards/grammy-winners-2-1117959011/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=5 May 2025 |date=11 February 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Goodridge |first1=Mike |title=Brokeback, Kong among World Soundtrack Award nominees |url=https://www.screendaily.com/brokeback-kong-among-world-soundtrack-award-nominees/4028328.article |website=[[Screen International]] |access-date=8 May 2025 |date=18 August 2006}}</ref> Also in November of that year, she performed at a benefit concert at the [[London Astoria]] for the [[Stop the War Coalition]], which was headlined by [[Rachid Taha]] and [[Brian Eno]] and also featured [[Nitin Sawhney]] and [[Mick Jones (The Clash guitarist)|Mick Jones]] of [[The Clash]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Listings: This week, don't miss... |url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/england/london-travel/listings-this-week-dont-miss-ns5kxhd50q9 |website=[[The Times]] |access-date=5 May 2025 |date=27 November 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Prasad |first1=Yuri |title=Nitin Sawhney: taking a stand against the war, lies and racism |url=https://socialistworker.co.uk/news/nitin-sawhney-taking-a-stand-against-the-war-lies-and-racism/ |website=[[Socialist Worker]] |access-date=5 May 2025 |date=26 November 2005}}</ref>

[[File:Imogen Heap Coachella 2.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Heap performing at [[Coachella]] in 2006]]

After touring in promotion of ''Speak for Yourself'', she did a one-off show at [[Scala (club)|Scala]] in London in February 2006.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rigby |first1=Tony |title=Imogen Heap, Scala, London |url=https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/imogen-heap-scala-london-6109572.html |website=[[The Independent]] |access-date=13 May 2025 |date=9 February 2006}}</ref> She then performed at [[Coachella]] and went on a three-week-long tour of the US in May 2006.<ref name="TimesOWB" /> Heap recorded an [[a cappella]] cover of the [[Leonard Cohen]] song "[[Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen song)|Hallelujah]]" for the [[The O.C. (season 3)|season three]] finale of ''The O.C.'', which premiered in May 2006.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kelly |first1=Cara |last2=Lawler |first2=Kelly |title=The best covers of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2016/11/11/best-covers-leonard-cohens-hallelujah/93636800/ |website=USA Today |access-date=4 December 2020 |language=en |date=11 November 2016}}</ref> By mid-2006, Heap was one of the most popular musical acts on [[Myspace]], with more than one and a half million profile users.<ref name="TimesOWB" /> She was variously referred to in the media as the first "download diva" for her robust online presence and independent success online in 2006.<ref>Heap being referred to as a "download diva":
* {{cite web |title=Praise heaped on download diva |url=https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/music/praise-heaped-on-download-diva-20060502-ge28ey.html |website=The Age |access-date=8 May 2025 |date=2 May 2006 |quote=Hailed as one of the first download divas, British singer Imogen Heap{{nbsp}}... through a combination of Internet word-of-mouth, determination, desperation and a large slice of good luck{{nbsp}}... has revived a career that was going nowhere fast.}}
* {{cite web |last1=Oinonen |first1=Janne |title=Imogen Heap - 'Goodnight & Go' |url=https://www.gigwise.com/reviews/tracks/16568/Imogen-Heap---Goodnight--Go-SonyBMG-Released-080506/ |website=Gigwise |access-date=8 May 2025 |date=2 May 2006 |quote=Heap, dubbed a 'download diva' for her huge online profile{{nbsp}}...}}
* {{cite web |last1=Clarke |first1=Betty |title=Imogen Heap: Scala, London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/feb/10/popandrock |website=The Guardian |access-date=8 May 2025 |date=10 February 2006 |quote=Eccentric, emotive and deftly picking at the shiny bank of machines, Heap has the dubious honour of being the first download diva.}}
* {{cite web |last1=Dubrowa |first1=Corey |title=Imogen Heap: Ellipse |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/imogen-heap/imogen-heap-ellipse |website=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]] |access-date=12 May 2025 |quote=So-called 'Download Diva' continues musical exploration of the waking dream. |date=27 August 2009}}</ref> Heap's music was used as the soundtrack for ''Pool (No Water)'', a [[One-act play|one-act]] [[physical theatre]] play written by [[Mark Ravenhill]] and originally performed by [[Frantic Assembly]], which opened at the [[Drum Theatre, Plymouth|Drum Theatre]] in [[Plymouth]] in September 2006.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Benedict |first1=David |title=Pool (No Water) |url=https://variety.com/2006/legit/reviews/pool-no-water-1200512063/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=7 May 2025 |date=12 November 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=[[Mark Ravenhill|Ravenhill, Mark]] |title=In at the deep end |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2006/sep/20/theatre1 |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=6 May 2025 |date=20 September 2006}}</ref> At the 2006 [[MTV Woodies|MTVU Woodie Awards]], which was voted on by college students, Heap tied with [[Arctic Monkeys]] for the most nominations with three (for Best Emerging Artist, Most Original Artist, and Most Downloaded for "Hide and Seek"), though she won none.<ref name="HitsWoodie" /><ref name="BBWood" /> She wrote and performed the song "Glittering Cloud", which was based on the [[Plagues of Egypt#8. Locusts: Ex. 10:1–20|plague of locusts]], as part of an event called the Margate Exodus sponsored by [[Artangel]] in November 2006, where ten artists each performed one song based on one of the [[Plagues of Egypt]] in [[Margate]].<ref>{{cite web |title=4AD announces 'Plague Songs' |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/4ad-announces-p/ |website=BrooklynVegan |access-date=4 December 2020 |language=en |date=25 September 2006}}</ref> The songs were compiled in the 2006 album ''[[Plague Songs]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gray |first1=Louise |title=Plague Songs |url=https://newint.org/columns/media/music/2006/12/01/plague |website=New Internationalist |access-date=4 December 2020 |language=en |date=2 December 2006}}</ref> Heap toured the US in late 2006 with beatboxer [[Kid Beyond]], singer-songwriter [[Levi Weaver]], and electronic musician [[Pixelh8]], whom she found through Myspace, as opening acts.<ref name="metrosixty" /><ref name="AsonPaste">{{cite web |last1=Albertson |first1=Cory |title=Imogen Heap |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/imogen-heap/imogen-heap |website=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]] |access-date=8 May 2025 |date=30 May 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Shaffner |first1=Jason |title=Imogen Heap |url=http://beingtheremag.com/reviewlive.php?id=546&issue=21 |website=Being There |access-date=8 May 2025 |date=11 November 2006}}</ref>

===2007–2010: ''Ellipse''===
[[File:Pop!Tech 2008 - Live Performance by Imogen Heap.jpg|thumb|left|Heap performing at PopTech in 2008]]

By 2007, Heap's was the fourth most-friended Myspace profile throughout the UK, following [[Product Red]], [[Gorillaz]], and [[Bullet for My Valentine]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sweney |first1=Mark |title=MySpace UK breaks 10m barrier |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jul/10/digitalmedia.myspace |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=6 May 2025 |date=10 July 2007}}</ref> ''I Megaphone'' was re-released in late 2006 and, in February 2007, she performed two shows—one in Los Angeles and the other in New York City—of material from the album.<ref>{{cite web |title=Reviews: Week of December 14, 2006 |url=https://music.newcity.com/2006/12/14/reviews-week-of-december-14-2006/ |website=[[Newcity]] |access-date=6 May 2025 |date=14 December 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Imogen Heap playing NYC (The Box) & LA |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/imogen-heap-pla/ |website=[[BrooklynVegan]] |access-date=6 May 2025 |date=12 February 2007}}</ref> She was also featured as a guest during Beck's performance at [[Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club|Ronnie Scott's]] in November 2007 and appeared on two songs from its accompanying [[live album]], ''[[Live at Ronnie Scott's (Jeff Beck album)|Live at Ronnie Scott's]]'', released in 2008, and in its DVD, released in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Walters |first1=John L. |title=Jeff Beck |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/nov/29/popandrock |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=9 May 2025 |date=29 November 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Loar |first1=Christel |title=Jeff Beck: Performing This Week...Live at Ronnie Scott's |url=https://www.popmatters.com/jeff-beck-performing-this-week-live-at-ronnie-scotts-2496034643.html |website=PopMatters |access-date=8 January 2021 |language=en |date=5 April 2009}}</ref> Heap was featured on English band [[Temposhark]]'s song "Not That Big" from their debut 2008 studio album ''[[The Invisible Line]]'' and on Nitin Sawhney's song "Bring It Home" from his 2008 studio album ''[[London Undersound]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Serck |first1=Linda |title=Interview: Temposhark |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2008/05/22/temposhark_interview_feature.shtml |website=[[BBC News]] |access-date=9 May 2025 |date=22 May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Lockie |first1=Chris |title=10 London-Titled Albums Of Varying Quality |url=https://londonist.com/2014/06/10-london-titled-albums-of-varying-quality |website=Londonist |access-date=9 May 2025 |date=20 June 2014}}</ref> She also appeared on the 2008 compilation album ''[[Songs for Tibet: The Art of Peace]]'', which was made by the Art of Peace Foundation in support of the [[14th Dalai Lama|Dalai Lama]] during the [[2008 Tibetan unrest]] and released in August.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Finn |first1=Natalie |title=Sting, Matthews, Mayer Gamer for Tibet Than Beijing |url=http://uk.eonline.com/uberblog/b147502_sting_matthews_mayer_gamer_tibet_beijing.html |website=[[E! News]] |access-date=14 May 2025 |date=22 July 2008}}</ref> In late 2007, she recorded the song "Not Now But Soon" for the soundtrack of the [[NBC]] television series ''[[Heroes (American TV series)|Heroes]]'', [[Music of Heroes#Heroes: Original Soundtrack|the album of which]] was released in March 2008 by the [[NBCUniversal|NBC Universal Television, DVD, Music & Consumer Products Group]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rudolph |first1=Raj |title=Sneak Peak Of Imogen Heap's 'Not Now But Soon' for Heroes! |url=https://eqmusicblog.com/sneak-peak-of-i/ |website=[[EQ Music]] |access-date=13 May 2025 |date=3 December 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Nordyke |first1=Kimberly |title=Songs, videos keep 'Heroes' alive |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/songs-videos-keep-heroes-alive-105781/ |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=13 May 2025 |date=28 February 2008}}</ref> In October 2008, Heap gave a musical performance in the anti-[[human trafficking]] documentary and [[Concert film#Rockumentary|rockumentary]] film ''[[Call + Response]]'', directed by Justin Dillon.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shannon |first1=Jeff |title="Call + Response": A rough but impassioned call to end human trafficking |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/movies/call-response-a-rough-but-impassioned-call-to-end-human-trafficking/ |website=[[The Seattle Times]] |access-date=8 January 2021 |language=en |date=9 October 2008}}</ref>

[[File:-heaptweetup - Imogen Heap IMG 0027 (3793817372).jpg|thumb|right|Heap with fans at her Heaptweetup event in London in 2009]]

Starting in February 2007, Heap began posting [[YouTube]] [[Vlog|video blog]]s at the request of a fan to document the making of ''[[Ellipse (album)|Ellipse]]'', her third studio album, eventually making a total of 40.<ref>{{cite web |title=Imogen Heap: Ellipse |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/sep/06/imogen-heap-ellipse |website=[[The Observer]] |access-date=13 May 2025 |date=5 September 2009}}</ref> She recorded the album in the basement of her childhood home, using sounds from around the house as instruments, while its name was inspired by the house's elliptical shape.<ref name="NPRKitchen">{{cite web |last1=Block |first1=Melissa |title=Imogen Heap: Even The Kitchen Sink |url=https://www.npr.org/transcripts/112440133 |publisher=[[NPR]] |access-date=9 May 2025 |date=1 September 2009}}</ref> Its lead single "[[First Train Home]]" premiered on ''[[Stereogum]]'' and was released to [[Adult album alternative|adult alternative]] and [[Adult contemporary music#Hot adult contemporary|hot AC]] radio stations through RCA Records in the US in July 2009.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Young |first1=Alex |title=Check Out: Imogen Heap - 'First Train Home' |url=https://consequence.net/2009/07/check-out-imogen-heap-first-train-home/ |website=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]] |access-date=9 May 2025 |date=16 July 2009}}</ref><ref name="FastTrack" /> Later that month, she released a black-and-white music video for the album's song "[[Canvas (song)|Canvas]]".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stosuy |first1=Brandon |title=New Imogen Heap Video – 'Canvas' |url=https://www.stereogum.com/81041/new_imogen_heap_video_-_canvas/news/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=13 May 2025 |date=23 July 2009}}</ref> After completing ''Ellipse'', she held a contest on [[Flickr]] for fans to submit photos to use as the album's artwork in exchange for a small cash prize.<ref name="G&MTweet">{{cite web |last1=Bascaramurty |first1=Dakshana |title=Imogen Heap's tweet sound of success |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/imogen-heaps-tweet-sound-of-success/article4284780/ |website=[[The Globe and Mail]] |access-date=9 May 2025 |date=1 September 2009}}</ref> In July, prior to the album's release, an advance [[Promotional recording|promotional copy]] was listed on [[eBay]]. After Heap tweeted about her frustration over it, the bidding price was raised to over £10 million by fans and the listing was soon taken down by eBay.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Porter |first1=Tom |title=Imogen Heap and Twitter fans halt eBay album leak |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/imogen-heap-and-twitter-fans-halt-ebay-album-leak-212510 |website=MusicRadar |publisher=[[Future plc]] |access-date=9 May 2025 |date=9 July 2009}}</ref><ref name="BBCTalkShop" /> The release date of ''Ellipse'' was pushed back multiple times; it was eventually released in the UK on 24 August 2009 through Megaphonic and [[Epic Records]] and in the US on 25 August 2009 through RCA.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lyndal Martin |first1=Eric |title=Imogen Heap: Ellipse |url=https://www.popmatters.com/109814-imogen-heap-ellipse-2496069364.html |website=[[PopMatters]] |access-date=12 May 2025 |date=24 August 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gill |first1=Andy |title=Album: Imogen Heap, Ellipse |url=https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-imogen-heap-ellipse-megaphonic-epic-1778134.html |website=[[The Independent]] |access-date=12 May 2025 |date=27 August 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Green |first1=Thomas H. |title=Imogen Heap: Ellipse, CD review |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/6056627/Imogen-Heap-Ellipse-CD-review.html |website=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |access-date=12 May 2025 |date=24 August 2009}}</ref><ref name="WWDGoS">{{cite web |last1=FitzSimons |first1=Amanda |title=Girl Of Summer: Imogen Heap |url=https://wwd.com/eye/lifestyle/girl-of-summer-imogen-heap-2217403/ |website=[[Women's Wear Daily|WWD]] |access-date=9 May 2025 |date=21 July 2009}}</ref> Like ''Speak for Yourself'', ''Ellipse'' was made largely alone by Heap, who wrote, produced, engineered, and mixed the album in its entirety, though it was mastered by [[Simon Heyworth]].<ref name="nytgeek" /><ref name="RecSOS" /> Describing the two-year-long process of recording ''Ellipse'' as laborious and "bordering on torture", Heap stated that it would be her "last album like this" and that her following album would involve making one song a month and releasing it soon after.<ref name="FastTrack" /> 

[[File:Imogen Heap Live Birmingham o2 13-02-2010 IMG 2215 (4356592160).jpg|thumb|left|Heap performing at [[O2 Academy Birmingham]] in 2010]]

Critics gave ''Ellipse'' mostly favorable reviews, with compliments toward its eclecticism, Heap's understated vocals, and for combining electronic music with natural, human elements,<ref>Praise for ''Ellipse''{{'}}s eclecticism and electronic/natural elements:
* {{cite web |last1=Phares |first1=Heather |title=Ellipse Review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/ellipse-mw0000823106 |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=12 May 2025 |date=21 July 2009 |quote=Ellipse is some of her most wide-ranging work, physically and musically speaking{{nbsp}}... Heap takes listeners on a tour of characters and attitudes far more eclectic than her previous albums{{nbsp}}... "Between Sheets"{{nbsp}}... mixes romantic bliss and bubbly electronics so completely, it suggests her bed might be on a spaceship.}}
* {{cite web |last1=Sullivan |first1=Caroline |title=Imogen Heap: Ellipse |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/aug/14/imogen-heap-cd-review |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=12 May 2025 |date=13 August 2009 |quote=Ellipse is questing and musically inventive, using electronics as its foundation, but fleshing out the bleeps and clicks with everything from the chirp of jayhawks (on Little Bird) to an Indian flautist (Tidal){{nbsp}}... An understated vocalist, Heap sounds by turns warm and inviting and mistily detached{{nbsp}}...}}
* {{cite web |last1=Liedel |first1=Kevin |title=Review: Imogen Heap, Ellipse |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/imogen-heap-ellipse/ |website=[[Slant (magazine)|Slant]] |access-date=13 May 2025 |date=24 August 2009 |quote=It is that exact lovestruck normalcy that makes Ellipse so endearing: Despite having a sound that seems as though it's been pieced together in a lab with microchips, Heap still wears a fuming, beating heart firmly on her sleeve.}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Modell |first=Josh |date=August 2009 |title=Imogen Heap - Ellipse |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xGaz0_gZPzIC&dq=%22ice%20and%20melancholy%20to%20an%20otherwise%20comforting%20brew%22&pg=PA89 |magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |page=89 |publisher= |access-date=12 May 2025 |quote=Heap grafts her gorgeous voice to such a seamlessly slick mix of synthesized (and organic) sounds that it's a wonder her words stick at all. Her third studio album{{nbsp}}... recall[s] the Postal Service's mix of the human and machinelike.}}
* {{cite web |last1=O'Hana |first1=Tristan |title=Imogen Heap - 'Ellipse' |url=https://www.gigwise.com/reviews/albums/52081/Imogen-Heap---Ellipse-Sony-Released-240809/ |website=Gigwise |access-date=12 May 2025 |date=12 August 2009 |quote=The initial feel of the music washes over you with a slightly odd mix of African tribal tunes and Enya-like vocals. If you can begin to grasp that, then you might be able to imagine just what an eclectic mix of style Imogen is capable of producing.}}</ref> but criticism toward its overall sameness and its lack of sonic deviation from ''Speak for Yourself''.<ref>Criticism for ''Ellipse''{{'}}s sameness and sounding like ''Speak for Yourself'':
* {{cite web |last1=Liedel |first1=Kevin |title=Review: Imogen Heap, Ellipse |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/imogen-heap-ellipse/ |website=[[Slant (magazine)|Slant]] |access-date=12 May 2025 |date=24 August 2009 |quote={{nbsp}}... Ellipse banally trips into regions already mined by ''Speak for Yourself''.}}
* {{cite web |last1=Gill |first1=Andy |title=Album: Imogen Heap, Ellipse |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-imogen-heap-ellipse-megaphonicepic-1778134.html |website=[[The Independent]] |access-date=12 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090829131628/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-imogen-heap-ellipse-megaphonicepic-1778134.html |archive-date=29 August 2009 |date=28 August 2009 |quote=Heap's musical style, meanwhile, hasn't progressed too much since 2005's ''Speak For Yourself''{{nbsp}}...}}
* {{cite web |last1=Murphy |first1=John |title=Imogen Heap - Ellipse |url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/imogen-heap-ellipse |website=[[MusicOMH]] |access-date=12 May 2025 |date=23 August 2009 |quote=Her third album, Ellipse, follows pretty squarely in the path of her previous releases{{nbsp}}...there are far too many songs which sound similar to each other, sticking to the same, plodding mid-tempo feel{{nbsp}}...}}
* {{cite web |last1=Young |first1=Alex |title=Imogen Heap – Ellipse |url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2009/08/album-review-imogen-heap-ellipse/ |website=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]] |access-date=12 May 2025 |date=23 August 2009 |quote=''Ellipse''{{nbsp}}... is a highly anticipated follow-up that shows an artist who is subconsciously afraid to depart too much from her most successful formula. [...] And seeing as much of this album sounds like it was plucked from her past discography{{nbsp}}...}}
* {{cite web |last1=Koski |first1=Genevieve |title=Imogen Heap: Ellipse |url=https://www.avclub.com/imogen-heap-ellipse-1798206794 |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |access-date=12 May 2025 |date=25 August 2009 |quote=The record's first two tracks{{nbsp}}... try to compensate for their blandness with the sort of twinkling, echoing effects that should be familiar to anyone who heard ''Speak For Yourself'' (or anything by Heap’s other outlet, Frou Frou){{nbsp}} ... there’s a monotonous stretch of sameness to obscure the album's scant life.}}
* {{cite web |author1=Knott- |title=Imogen Heap - Ellipse (album review 3) |url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/31983/Imogen-Heap-Ellipse/ |website=[[Sputnikmusic]] |access-date=12 May 2025 |date=19 August 2009 |quote={{nbsp}}... there's a nagging feeling that there's only so much Heap can do without reaching for something more ambitious and varied. [...] It's a welcome and impressive addition to her back catalogue; it's just a shame that it doesn't feel like much more than that.}}</ref> Critics also remarked that it had no moments comparable to "Hide and Seek"<ref>Critics remarking on lack of "Hide and Seek" moment on ''Ellipse'':
* {{cite web |last1=Phares |first1=Heather |title=Ellipse Review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/ellipse-mw0000823106 |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=12 May 2025 |quote=Ellipse might not have a single moment as arresting as 'Hide and Seek'{{nbsp}}...}}
* {{cite web |last1=Sullivan |first1=Caroline |title=Imogen Heap: Ellipse |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/aug/14/imogen-heap-cd-review |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=12 May 2025 |date=13 August 2009 |quote=This beguiling third album deserves to be her breakthrough moment, though the absence of an obvious Hide and Seek-style focal point may hinder its chances.}}
* {{cite web |last1=Fairclough |first1=Hayley |title=Imogen Heap - Ellipse |url=https://diymag.com/review/album/imogen-heap-ellipse |website=[[DIY (magazine)|DIY]] |access-date=12 May 2025 |date=24 August 2009 |quote={{nbsp}}... 'Ellipse' seems to lack a 'Hide and Seek'-like cult song{{nbsp}}...}}</ref> and others compared its sound to that of Dido.<ref>Comparisons of ''Ellipse'' to Dido:
* {{cite web |last1=Murphy |first1=John |title=Imogen Heap - Ellipse |url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/imogen-heap-ellipse |website=MusicOMH |access-date=13 May 2025 |date=23 August 2009 |quote={{nbsp}}... the same, plodding mid-tempo feel{{nbsp}}... sometimes bring[s] to mind a more inventive version of Dido.}}
* {{cite web |last1=Green |first1=Thomas H. |title=Imogen Heap: Ellipse, CD review |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/6056627/Imogen-Heap-Ellipse-CD-review.html |website=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |access-date=13 May 2025 |date=24 August 2009 |quote=Her third solo album is{{nbsp}}... at its most tedious when embracing Dido-esque balladeering.}}
* {{cite magazine |last1=Mason |first1=Kerri |title=Imogen Heap, 'Ellipse' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/imogen-heap-ellipse-1070984/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=13 May 2025 |date=14 August 2009 |quote=The opening track/lead single, 'First Train Home,' is her best shot yet at radio, with a dewy Dido electro-sheen but with more literate lyrics.}}</ref> It debuted at number five on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart, making it Heap's highest-ever entry on the chart after selling 48 thousand copies in its first week, and became her first appearance on the [[UK Albums Chart]], where it debuted in the top-40.<ref name="Caillat" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Nineham |first1=Laura |title=Back Full Circle - Imogen Heap |url=https://www.gigwise.com/features/53301/Back-Full-Circle---Imogen-Heap/ |website=[[Gigwise]] |access-date=13 May 2025 |date=4 November 2009}}</ref><ref name="WhoIsUK" /> Heap began touring in promotion of ''Ellipse'' in November 2009.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Comingore |first1=Aly |title=Imogen Heap Brings Ellipse to Lobero |url=https://www.independent.com/2009/11/06/imogen-heap-brings-ellipse-lobero/ |website=[[Santa Barbara Independent]] |access-date=13 May 2025 |date=6 November 2009}}</ref> It also debuted at number four in Canada.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Liss |first1=Sarah |title=Making connections |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/making-connections-1.801795 |publisher=[[CBC News]] |access-date=13 June 2025 |date=10 September 2009}}</ref> She received two nominations for the album at the [[49th Annual Grammy Awards]]: one for [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance|Best Pop Instrumental Performance]] for its song "The Fire", and the other for [[Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical|Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical]].<ref name="forbeshowardpt1">{{cite web |last1=Howard |first1=George |title=Imogen Heap's Mycelia: An Artists' Approach for a Fair Trade Music Business, Inspired by Blockchain |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/georgehoward/2015/07/17/imogen-heaps-mycelia-an-artists-approach-for-a-fair-trade-music-business-inspired-by-blockchain/?sh=67a35eca4969 |website=Forbes |access-date=4 December 2020 |language=en |date=17 July 2015}}</ref><ref name="nytgeek">{{cite web |last1=Pareles |first1=Jon |author1-link=Jon Pareles |title=A 21st-Century Geek Getting Her Loop On |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/04/arts/music/04heap.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=3 December 2009}}</ref> She won the latter award to become its second-ever female recipient, following [[Trina Shoemaker]]'s 1999 win for [[Sheryl Crow]]'s ''[[The Globe Sessions]]''.<ref name="nprpaint">{{cite web |title=Painting Her Songs in the Air, Imogen Heap Keeps Innovating |url=https://www.npr.org/2014/08/16/340130173/painting-her-songs-in-the-air-imogen-heap-keeps-innovating |publisher=NPR |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=16 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Grein |first1=Paul |title=Hill Kourkoutis Becomes First Woman to Receive a Juno Awards Nomination for Recording Engineer of the Year |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/juno-awards-first-woman-recording-engineer-nominee-hill-kourkoutis-1235040669/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=31 May 2025 |date=9 March 2022}}</ref> ''Everything In-Between: The Story of Ellipse'', a documentary by Justine Pearsall chronicling the making of ''Ellipse'', was released on DVD in November 2010.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kappala-Ramsamy |first1=Gemma |title=Imogen Heap: 'Unless somebody else hears it, music is like a joke without a punchline' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/nov/07/imogen-heap-interview |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=14 May 2025 |date=7 November 2010}}</ref><ref name="Stereoboard">{{cite web |last1=Stickler |first1=Jon |title=Imogen Heap To Release New DVD 'Everything In-Between: The Story Of Ellipse' - Stereoboard |url=https://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/161765/9 |website=Stereoboard |access-date=14 May 2025 |date=5 October 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=How heart surgery gave me a new outlook |url=https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/my-story/justine-pearsall |publisher=[[British Heart Foundation]] |access-date=14 May 2025 |date=3 March 2020 |quote=I never expected to discover that I had a heart condition. I was busy making a feature-length documentary about the amazing musician Imogen Heap, so I thought it was the stress of work that was making my heart do odd things.}}</ref>

By September 2009, Heap was the 117th most-followed user overall on [[Twitter]], with more than 960 thousand followers.<ref name="G&MTweet" /> She was featured on the song "[[My Secret Friend]]" by [[IAMX]] from his 2009 album ''[[Kingdom of Welcome Addiction]]'' and contributed vocals to [[Mika (singer)|Mika]]'s song "By the Time" from his album ''[[The Boy Who Knew Too Much (album)|The Boy Who Knew Too Much]]'', released in September 2009.<ref>{{cite web |last1=K. |first1=Sean |title=Take a Look at Your Life, You Kneel Before Your Heroes - You're Nothing Till the Weekend |url=https://www.pajiba.com/music/iamx-kingdom-of-welcome-addiction-review.php |website=Pajiba |access-date=12 May 2025 |date=17 June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Wood |first1=Mikael |title=Mika, 'The Boy Who Knew Too Much' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/mika-the-boy-who-knew-too-much-1070880/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=12 May 2025 |date=11 September 2009}}</ref> Also that month, she performed "First Train Home" on the ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rogerson |first1=Ben |title=Imogen Heap plays Monome on Letterman show |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/imogen-heap-plays-monome-on-letterman-show-218457 |website=MusicRadar |access-date=13 June 2025 |date=1 September 2009}}</ref> She won the [[Ivor Novello Awards|Ivor Novello Award]] for International Achievement in May 2010.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Awbi |first1=Anita |title=The Ivor Novello Awards winners |url=https://www.prsformusic.com/m-magazine/news/the-ivor-novello-awards-winners-3 |website=M |publisher=[[PRS for Music]] |access-date=14 May 2025 |date=24 May 2010}}</ref> She went on tour in 2010, starting in [[Los Angeles]] and performing at [[V Festival]], Coachella, and [[Ilosaarirock]].<ref name="IYoungs" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Kasabian and Kings of Leon to headline V Festival |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-10058942 |website=[[BBC News]] |access-date=14 May 2025 |date=1 March 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Coachella webcast schedule: Vampire Weekend, The xx, B.o.B., and more |url=https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/music/coachella-webcast-schedule-vampire-weekend-the-xx-b-o-b-and-more-5535190.html |website=[[The Independent]] |access-date=14 May 2025 |date=15 April 2010}}</ref> She auditioned musicians for the tour using the [[livestreaming]] service [[Vokle]], which she later promoted at [[Midem]] and invested [[seed money]] in the following year.<ref name="telfullconnect" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Imogen Heap invests in Vokle as part of $767k round |url=https://musically.com/2011/04/20/imogen-heap-invests-in-vokle-as-part-of-767k-round/ |website=Music Ally |access-date=16 May 2025 |date=20 April 2011}}</ref> The seventh leg of the tour took place in the UK in the fall of 2010.<ref name="Stereoboard" /> It included a performance at the [[Royal Albert Hall]], where she premiered ''Love the Earth'', a [[Short film|short]] [[nature documentary]] created and scored by her, which consisted of clips sent in by fans of "why they love the Earth".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hardy |first1=Tony |title=Imogen Heap enchants London's Royal Albert Hall (11/5) |url=https://consequence.net/2010/11/imogen-heap-enchants-londons-royal-albert-hall-115/ |website=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]] |access-date=14 May 2025 |date=8 November 2010}}</ref><ref name="Consint" />

===2011–2015: ''Sparks''===
[[File:Imogen Heap at NH7 Weekender (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|right|Heap performing at [[NH7 Weekender]] in 2011]]

In March 2011, for the [[Birds Eye View]]'s Sound & Silents program, Heap composed an a cappella score for [[Germaine Dulac]]'s seminal 1928 [[Surrealist cinema|surrealist film]] ''[[The Seashell and the Clergyman]]'', which she performed at the [[Latitude Festival]] that year with the [[Holst Singers]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hutchinson |first1=Pamela |title=Silent film at Latitude Festival: Birds Eye View Sound and Silents, 14-17 July 2011 |url=https://silentlondon.co.uk/2011/05/26/silent-film-at-latitude-festival-birds-eye-view-sound-and-silents-14-17-july-2011/ |website=Silent London |access-date=18 May 2025 |date=26 May 2011}}</ref> She performed it again, conducted by [[Hugh Brunt]], at the [[Roundhouse (venue)|Roundhouse]] in February the following year.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Moats |first1=David |author1-link=David Moats |title=Sound and Vision: Imogen Heap On A New Score To A Surreal Classic |url=https://thequietus.com/culture/film/vocal-soundtrack-to-seashell-and-the-clergyman-imogen-heap-interviewed/ |website=[[The Quietus]] |access-date=15 May 2025 |date=10 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Millward |first1=Rachel |title=Imogen Heap - The Seashell and The Clergyman: an introduction |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/feb/24/reverb-festival-2012-imogen-heap |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=15 May 2025 |date=24 February 2012}}</ref> In April of that year, Heap held Songs for Christchurch, a benefit concert in [[Christchurch]], New Zealand to help rebuild the [[Unlimited Paenga Tawhiti]] High School, following a [[2011 Christchurch earthquake|severe earthquake]] in the city two months prior.<ref name="unlimitedfund">{{cite news|last1=Anderson|first1=Vicki|date=28 April 2011|title=Lesson in acoustic generosity|work=Stuff|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/4934928/Lesson-in-acoustic-generosity|access-date=17 December 2015}}</ref> 

Also in March 2011, Heap began working on her then–unnamed fourth studio album, which she said would be largely inspired by her trips to Asian countries such as Bhutan, China, and India, and revealed that she would be writing and releasing a new single for the album once every three months.<ref name="AsianWeave" /> She recorded and released the album's lead single, then released under the working title "Heapsong1" and eventually released commercially as "Lifeline" with a music video, via [[Ustream]]. It was made using [[Crowdsourcing|crowdsourced]] audio samples, videos, and photos from fans and based on a story she read about the [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mathieson |first1=Craig |title=Give and she shall receive |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/give-and-she-shall-receive-20110414-1dffw.html |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=26 November 2020 |language=en |date=14 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Lipshutz |first1=Jason |title=Imogen Heap Talks New Album, Fan-Created First Song |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/472326/imogen-heap-talks-new-album-fan-created-first-song |magazine=Billboard |access-date=26 November 2020 |language=en |date=28 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Mossman |first1=Kate |title=It works for Imogen Heap; is crowd sourcing the future? |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list/profile/article/it-works-for-imogen-heap-is-crowd-sourcing-the-future-kw9f5sft6vh?region=global |website=[[The Sunday Times|The Times]] |access-date=15 June 2025 |date=29 March 2011}}</ref> "Propeller Seeds", the second single, followed in July 2011, and was billed as the first song to use [[3D audio effect|3D audio]].<ref name="touch">{{cite web |last1=Flood |first1=Kathleen |title=Imogen Heap's Musical 'Touch' |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/bmd3qw/imogen-heaps-musical-touch |website=Vice |access-date=6 January 2021 |language=en |date=14 July 2011}}</ref> The third single from the album, "Neglected Space", was created as part of Heap's project with charity organization Clear Village to restore a Georgian [[walled garden]] in [[Bedfords Park]] and released in October 2011.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Richards |first1=Lee-Ann |title=Imogen Heap restores abandoned walled garden as part of new album project |url=https://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/things-to-do/imogen-heap-restores-abandoned-walled-garden-as-part-of-new-2913910 |website=[[Romford Recorder]] |access-date=28 December 2020 |language=en-UK |date=6 October 2011}}</ref> She starred in the debut episode of the Indian musical reality television series ''[[The Dewarists]]'', where she recorded "Minds Without Fear", the fourth single from ''Sparks'', with Indian production duo [[Vishal–Shekhar]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Arslan |first1=Zaira |title=Music on the Move |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/music-on-the-move/867068/ |website=The Indian Express |access-date=27 November 2020 |language=en |date=29 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="AsianWeave">{{cite web |last1=Jayakumar |first1=Gowri |title=Imogen Heap to weave Asian sounds into new album |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-imogenheap/imogen-heap-to-weave-asian-sounds-into-new-album-idUSTRE7AN01Q20111124 |work=[[Reuters]] |access-date=27 November 2020 |language=en |date=24 November 2011}}</ref> Both "Neglected Space" and "Minds Without Fear" were released in October 2011.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}

Heap recorded her song "Xizi She Knows" during a trip to [[Hangzhou]], which was partially funded by [[PRS for Music]] and the [[British Council]]. It was released as the fifth single from the album in February 2012.<ref name="guardianxizi" /> She premiered her song "The Listening Chair" at the Royal Albert Hall's Prom 62 event in August 2012.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Quaite |first1=Verity |title=Prom 62: Eric Whitacre and Imogen Heap present a choral concert to make you stagedive |url=https://bachtrack.com/review-bbc-prom-62-2012-whitacre-imogen-heap-ensemblebash |website=[[Bachtrack]] |access-date=15 June 2025 |date=31 August 2012}}</ref> "You Know Where to Find Me" was then released as the album's sixth single.<ref name="sglist" /> She collaborated with Canadian record producer [[Deadmau5]] on the song "[[Telemiscommunications]]", which was included on his 2012 studio album, ''[[Album Title Goes Here]]'' and released as the eighth single from ''Sparks'' in March 2013 alongside an animated music video.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Adams |first1=Gregory |title='Telemiscommunications' (ft. Imogen Heap) (video) |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/deadmau5-telemiscommunications_ft_imogen_heap_video |website=[[Exclaim!]] |access-date=10 July 2023 |date=12 March 2013}}</ref> Her single "Run-Time" was made using a [[generative music]] app, which she designed with [[RjDj]] and [[Intel]] that created custom music for running, and was released in July 2014 with a music video.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Walker |first1=Alissa |title=Imogen Heap Made Her New Single Using A Running App She Designed |url=https://gizmodo.com/imogen-heap-made-her-new-single-using-a-running-app-she-1609863668 |website=Gizmodo |access-date=10 July 2023 |date=24 July 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Imogen Heap TechCrunch December 2015.jpg|thumb|left|Heap at [[TechCrunch]] Disrupt in 2015]]

The title of ''[[Sparks (Imogen Heap album)|Sparks]]'', Heap's fourth studio album, was announced in September 2013, and the album was released on 18 August 2014 through Megaphonic Records.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Levine |first1=Nick |title=Imogen Heap announces release of new album 'Sparks' in March 2014 |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/imogen-heap-1250334 |website=NME |access-date=10 July 2023 |date=21 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Spenceley |first1=Haydon |title=Album Review: Imogen Heap - Sparks |url=https://drownedinsound.com/releases/18370/reviews/4148120 |website=[[Drowned in Sound]] |access-date=10 July 2023 |date=18 August 2014 |archive-date=10 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230710070533/https://drownedinsound.com/releases/18370/reviews/4148120 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It debuted at number 40 on the [[UK Albums Chart]], at number 21 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], and at number one on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''{{'}}s [[Dance/Electronic Albums]] chart.<ref>{{cite web |title=Collabro hit Number 1 with debut album Stars |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/collabro-hit-number-1-with-debut-album-stars__7519 |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=10 July 2023 |date=24 August 2014}}</ref><ref name="billboard.com">{{cite magazine |last1=Murray |first1=Gordon |title=Demi Lovato Thanks DJs for Dance Club Songs No. 1 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6236427/demi-lovato-thanks-djs-for-dance-club-songs-no-1 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=10 July 2023 |language=en |date=29 August 2014}}</ref> Its deluxe boxset was nominated for the [[AIM Independent Music Awards|AIM Independent Music Award]] for Special Catalogue Release of the Year and for the [[Grammy Award for Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package]] in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Murray |first1=Robin |title=AIM Independent Music Awards 2015 - Nominations |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/aim-independent-music-awards-2015-nominations/ |website=[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]] |access-date=10 July 2023 |date=12 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Grebey |first1=James |title=Grammys 2015 Winners: Sam Smith, Jack White, Beck, And More |url=https://www.spin.com/2015/02/grammys-2015-winners-eminem-jack-white-aphex-twin/ |website=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |access-date=10 July 2023 |date=8 February 2015}}</ref>

Heap co-wrote and produced the [[Taylor Swift]] song "[[Clean (song)|Clean]]", which appeared as the closer to Swift's fifth studio album ''[[1989 (Taylor Swift album)|1989]]'' (2014) and led to her being part of the production team that won [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]] at the [[58th Annual Grammy Awards|58th Grammy Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wong|first=Kathleen|title=Taylor Swift's Music Won Her Album of the Year – Here Are the People Behind '1989'|url=https://www.mic.com/articles/135847/taylor-swift-s-music-won-her-album-of-the-year-here-are-the-people-behind-1989|access-date=19 January 2021|website=Mic|date=22 February 2016 |language=en}}</ref> She returned to produce "Clean (Taylor's Version)", which peaked at number 30 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, for Swift's [[1989 (Taylor's Version)|2023 re-recording of ''1989'']].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-clean-1989-taylors-version-imogen-heap-1235457439/ |title=Imogen Heap Shares Photos From 'Clean' Recording Session to Celebrate '1989 (Taylor's Version)' Release |last=Iasimone |first=Ashley |magazine=Billboard |date=28 October 2023 |access-date=30 October 2023}}</ref><ref name="FirstEverBB" /> In October 2015, Heap released the single "Tiny Human" using her [[Blockchain|blockchain-based]] platform Mycelia.<ref name="newstatesman" /> By 2017, it had made US$133.20.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Haring |first1=Bruce |title=This Week In Music: Kings Of Leon Offer Album On NFT – But Past Formats Have Left Listeners SOL |url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/this-week-in-music-kings-of-leon-offer-album-on-nft-but-past-formats-have-left-listeners-sol-1234708493/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]] |access-date=31 May 2025 |date=6 March 2021}}</ref> 

===2016–2020: ''Harry Potter'' and collaborations===
After being contacted by movement director [[Steven Hoggett]], Heap reworked and composed music from her catalogue to be used as the music in ''[[Harry Potter and the Cursed Child]]'', the eighth installment of the [[Harry Potter]] series in the form of a [[West End theatre|West End]] play that opened in the summer of 2016.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Amos|first1=Ilona|date=27 June 2015|title=JK Rowling reveals new Harry Potter stage play|url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/culture/theatre/jk-rowling-reveals-new-harry-potter-stage-play-1-3813629|access-date=30 May 2016|website=The Scotsman}}</ref><ref name="nyt07june2016">{{cite web|last=Lyall|first=Sarah|date=7 June 2016|title='Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' Begins Previews in London, as Magic Continues|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/08/theater/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-preview.html|access-date=29 June 2016|work=The New York Times}}</ref> For her work on the play, she received several award nominations, including for the [[Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album]], the [[Laurence Olivier Award for Best Original Score or New Orchestrations|Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music]] and the [[Outer Critics Circle Awards|Outer Critics Circle Award]] for Outstanding New Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway), and won the [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music in a Play]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2018/legit/news/drama-desk-awards-nominations-2018-full-list-1202788443/ |title='Carousel,' 'SpongeBob SquarePants' Lead 2018 Drama Desk Nominations (Full List) |last=Cox |first=Gordon |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=26 April 2018 |access-date=30 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Olivier awards 2017: full list of nominations |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2017/mar/06/olivier-awards-2017-full-list-of-nominations |website=The Guardian |access-date=6 December 2020 |language=en |date=6 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theatermania.com/broadway/news/outer-critics-circle-award-nominations-2018_84927.html|title=2018 Outer Critics Circle Nominations Announced|date=24 April 2018|work=TheaterMania.com|access-date=24 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2019/music/news/2020-grammys-nominations-list-1203410085/ |title=Grammy Awards Nominations: The Complete List |website=Variety |date=21 November 2019 |access-date=21 November 2019}}</ref>

Heap was one of the artists featured in an episode of the 2016 [[PBS]] docuseries ''[[Soundbreaking]]'' and she narrated and composed music for the 2016 documentary ''Crossing Bhutan'', which premiered at the [[Santa Barbara International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite press release |title=Soundbreaking: Stories From The Cutting Edge Of Recorded Music To Debut November 14–23, 2016 on PBS |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/soundbreaking-stories-from-the-cutting-edge-of-recorded-music-to-debut-november-14-23-2016-on-pbs-300359250.html |agency=PR Newswire |access-date=9 January 2021 |language=en |date=8 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Davis |first1=Edward |title=Exclusive: Trailer For 'Crossing Bhutan' Making Its World Premiere At The Santa Barbara International Film Festival |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2016/02/exclusive-trailer-for-crossing-bhutan-making-its-world-premiere-at-the-santa-barbara-international-film-festival-83954/ |website=[[IndieWire]] |access-date=9 January 2021 |language=en |date=4 February 2016}}</ref> Also in 2016, she was commissioned by French advertising agency [[BETC]] and British company [[Cow & Gate]], in collaboration with researchers from [[Goldsmiths, University of London]], to help write a song which would be proven to "make babies happy", which was eventually titled "The Happy Song".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Carter |first1=Meg |title='The Happy Song': Babies And Imogen Heap Co-Wrote A Song For Cow & Gate |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3064691/the-happy-song-babies-and-imogen-heap-co-wrote-a-baby-food-brand-jingle |website=[[Fast Company]] |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=17 October 2016}}</ref> The track was engineered through several months of scientific testing on babies, also incorporating sounds from a survey of UK parents about which noises made their babies happy, and was released in October 2016.<ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Connell |first1=Mark |title=Letter of Recommendation: 'The Happy Song' by Imogen Heap |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/14/magazine/the-happy-song-imogen-heap.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=14 January 2020}}</ref> Its animated music video was released in December 2019 and had 62 million views on YouTube by 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reneau |first1=Annie |title=How 'The Happy Song' by Imogen Heap helps babies stop crying - Upworthy |url=https://www.upworthy.com/parents-share-how-the-happy-song-makes-their-babies-stop-crying-in-their-tracks |website=[[Upworthy]] |access-date=23 May 2025 |date=31 October 2024}}</ref> "The Happy Song" was certified silver in the UK by the BPI and certified gold in the US, with Heap identifying it in 2019 as her second most commercially successfully song after "Hide and Seek".<ref name="QuietPlace">{{cite web |last1=Richardson |first1=Kitty |title=Imogen Heap: A quiet place |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/longread/imogen-heap-a-quiet-place-interview |website=[[The Line of Best Fit]] |access-date=24 May 2025 |date=10 December 2019}}</ref><ref name="RIAAcert" />

[[File:Web Summit 2018 - Press Conference - Day 2, November 7 DSC 5326 (45767925171) (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|upright|Heap at the 2018 [[Web Summit]]]]

Heap wrote, produced and recorded the song "Magic Me" as the score for the 2017 animated short film ''Escape'', which premiered at the 2017 [[Tribeca Film Festival]] in April of that year.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Giardina |first1=Carolyn |title=Tribeca Film Festival Animated Short 'Escape' Debuts Online |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/tribeca-film-festival-short-escape-debuts-online-996580 |website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=29 November 2020 |language=en |date=23 April 2017}}</ref> Heap also recorded "The Quiet" as the end credits song for the 2017 [[Square Enix]] video game ''[[The Quiet Man (video game)|The Quiet Man]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dualshockers.com/the-quiet-man-soundtrack-imogen-heap/|title=The Quiet Man Will Have an Original Track, "The Quiet" Composed by Imogen Heap|work=DualShockers|last=Bayliss|first=Ben|date=17 October 2018|access-date=11 November 2018}}</ref> She performed "Hide and Seek" at the [[benefit concert]] and [[television special]] [[One Love Manchester]] in [[Manchester]] in June 2017. Her performance was praised by critics as "powerful" and "melancholy".<ref>{{cite news |title=Ariana Grande's One Love Manchester concert: the 10 best moments from last night |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/ariana-grandes-one-love-concert-best-moments-last-night/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/ariana-grandes-one-love-concert-best-moments-last-night/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |newspaper=The Telegraph |access-date=30 November 2020 |language=en |date=5 June 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Donnelly |first1=Erin |title=One Love Manchester: 10 Performances Worth Reliving |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2017/06/157449/ariana-grande-one-love-manchester-concert-videos#slide-7 |website=Refinery29 |access-date=7 November 2021 |language=en |date=5 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Connor |first1=Roisin |title=One Love Manchester – the perfect way to respond to hate |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/one-love-manchester-review-ariana-grande-watch-liam-gallagher-coldplay-black-eyed-peas-video-donate-a7772781.html |website=The Independent |access-date=7 November 2021 |language=en |date=4 June 2017}}</ref> The following month, she was featured on the song "We Drift On" by British singer-songwriter [[Dan Black]] from his second studio album ''Do Not Revenge''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dan Black : Do Not Revenge |url=https://www.beat.com.au/dan-black-do-not-revenge/ |website=Beat Magazine |access-date=5 December 2020 |language=en-AU |date=11 July 2017 |last1=Brancatisano |first1=Gloria }}</ref> She announced in November 2017 that she would be reuniting Frou Frou with Guy Sigsworth and would be embarking on the Mycelia World Tour with him to promote the release of Mycelia's Creative Passport program.<ref name="vint">{{cite web |last1=Rosenzweig |first1=Mathias |title=Heroes: Imogen Heap |url=https://vmagazine.com/article/heroes-imogen-heap/ |website=[[V (American magazine)|V]] |access-date=6 December 2020 |language=en |date=25 May 2019}}</ref> In March 2018, she was awarded the Inspiration Award at the 2018 [[Music Producers Guild|Music Producers Guild Awards]].<ref name="sosmpgaward" />

On 18 September 2018, Heap released ''The Music of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in Four Contemporary Suites'', a condensed soundtrack album of the play, which peaked at number two on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''{{'}}s Classical Albums chart.<ref name="You're a Wizard Vulture">{{cite web |last1=McHenry |first1=Jackson |title=How Imogen Heap Created Her Magical Tracks for the Harry Potter Play |url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/11/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-music-imogen-heap.html |website=Vulture |access-date=6 December 2020 |language=en-us |date=2 November 2018}}</ref><ref name="FirstEverBB" /> An interview with her appeared in the [[Alex Winter]]-directed documentary ''Trust Machine: The Story of Blockchain'' in November 2018.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kikta |first1=Lorry |title=Trust Machine: The Story of Blockchain |url=https://filmthreat.com/reviews/trust-machine-the-story-of-blockchain/ |website=Film Threat |access-date=9 January 2021 |language=en |date=16 November 2018}}</ref> The Mycelia World Tour began in Europe in 2018, while the North American leg began in April 2019, marking her first North American tour in nine years and her first tour as part of Frou Frou since 2003.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Reed |first1=Ryan |title=Imogen Heap to Reunite Electro-Pop Band Frou Frou on North American Tour |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/imogen-heap-frou-frou-reunion-2019-north-american-tour-767034/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=29 November 2020 |language=en |date=10 December 2018}}</ref> That same month, she and Sigsworth released "Guitar Song (Live)", their first Frou Frou song in 15 years, through [[We Are Hear]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Legaspi |first1=Althea |title=Hear Frou Frou's First New Song in 15 Years 'Guitar Song (Live)' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/frou-frou-imogen-heap-guy-sigsworth-guitar-song-live-listen-824601/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=29 November 2020 |language=en |date=19 April 2019}}</ref> She gave a lecture at [[Boston Calling Music Festival]] in May 2019.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clark |first1=Tyler |title=20 Music Festivals You Don't Want to Miss in 2019 |url=https://consequence.net/2019/04/20-music-festivals-you-dont-want-to-miss-in-2019/ |website=Consequence of Sound |access-date=4 December 2020 |date=30 April 2019}}</ref> In June 2019, she announced that she planned to release an album consisting of collaborations in 2020, the lead single of which would be one of three versions of "The Quiet".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sacher |first1=Andrew |title=Imogen Heap releasing new album of collaborations, shares "The Quiet" with Baths |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/imogen-heap-releasing-new-album-of-collaborations-shares-the-quiet-with-baths/ |website=BrooklynVegan |access-date=29 November 2020 |language=en |date=21 June 2019}}</ref> She also performed on [[NPR]]'s [[Tiny Desk Concerts]] series that same month.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Spruch |first1=Kirsten |title=Imogen Heap Brings High-Tech Wizardry To NPR's Tiny Desk Concert |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8516824/imogen-heap-tiny-desk-concert-video |magazine=Billboard |access-date=29 November 2020 |language=en |date=20 June 2019}}</ref>

[[File:Imogen Heap, 2019 cropped.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Heap at [[The Town Hall (New York City)|The Town Hall]] in 2019]]

She hosted the [[62nd Annual Grammy Awards#Presenters|62nd Annual Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony]] in January 2020.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Rowley |first1=Glenn |title=Watch the 2020 Grammys Premiere Ceremony Hosted by Imogen Heap |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/awards/8548981/2020-grammys-premiere-ceremony-imogen-heap-details |magazine=Billboard |access-date=29 November 2020 |language=en |date=26 January 2020}}</ref> In April 2020, she was credited as a lead artist on the commercial re-release of the 2011 instrumental "[[I'm God]]" by American record producer [[Clams Casino (musician)|Clams Casino]], which was initially produced for American rapper [[Lil B]] in 2009 using a then–unauthorised sample of Heap's song "[[Just for Now]]" and is considered by critics to be the beginning of the [[cloud rap]] subgenre.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schube |first1=Will |title=The Decade-Long Journey of Clams Casino's Iconic "I'm God" |url=https://www.complex.com/music/2020/05/clams-casino-im-god-interview |website=Complex |access-date=29 November 2020 |language=en |date=14 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Balram |first1=Dhruva |title=The Dark Internet History of Clams Casino's Cult Song 'I'm God' |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/clams-casinos-cult-song-im-god/ |website=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]] |access-date=16 June 2025 |date=7 May 2020}}</ref> It was certified gold in the US in 2024.<ref name="RIAAcert" /> She also released the single "Phase and Flow" as part of a collaboration with [[IBM]] that month.<ref>{{cite web |title=Imogen Heap Drops New Music Video for 'Phase and Flow' |url=https://www.pmstudio.com/music/music.html?page=20200611-11562 |website=PM Studio |access-date=26 December 2020 |language=ja |date=11 June 2020}}</ref> The following month, she performed during Royal Albert Hall's Royal Albert Home virtual concert series.<ref name="metroh&s" /> Heap gave a livestreamed closing performance for the Virtual Design Festival held by ''[[Dezeen]]'' in July 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lindsay |first1=Calum |title=Live interview with musician Imogen Heap as part of VDF |url=https://www.dezeen.com/2020/07/10/imogen-heap-interview-vdf/ |website=Dezeen |access-date=1 December 2020 |language=en |date=10 July 2020}}</ref> During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], she launched a self-titled [[Application software|app]] for fans to view unreleased material and demos and participate in listening parties with her through [[Discord (software)|Discord]] for a monthly fee.<ref name="newstatesman" /> In November 2020, she was one of the artists to announce the nominations for the [[63rd Annual Grammy Awards]] on a livestream.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brodsky |first1=Rachel |title=Dua Lipa will help announce 2021 Grammy nominations |url=https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/dua-lipa-sharon-osbourne-imogen-heap-and-more-to-help-announce-2021-grammy-nominations-b1759504.html |website=[[The Independent]] |access-date=13 June 2025 |location=Los Angeles |date=21 November 2020}}</ref> She released the single "Last Night of an Empire", which was inspired by conversations with fans about the end of [[First presidency of Donald Trump|Donald Trump's first presidency]], in December 2020.<ref name="SXSWChron">{{cite web |last1=Rascoe |first1=Rachel |title=SXSW Music Panels Recap: Virtual Gigs Are Here to Stay |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/music/2021-03-17/sxsw-music-panels-recap-virtual-gigs-are-here-to-stay/ |website=[[The Austin Chronicle]] |access-date=31 May 2025 |date=17 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Van Lindt |first1=Aernout |title=Nieuwe single Imogen Heap – "Last Night of an Empire" |url=https://www.dansendeberen.be/2020/12/12/nieuwe-single-imogen-heap-last-night-of-an-empire/ |website=Dansende Beren |access-date=26 December 2020 |language=nl |date=12 December 2020}}</ref>

===2021–present: Commercial resurgence of "Headlock"===
Heap hosted a panel at [[South by Southwest|SXSW]] about livestreaming and [[extended reality]] in March 2021.<ref name="SXSWChron" /> In late March 2022, she partnered with [[Symphonic Distribution]] to re-release previous material, including a handful of Frou Frou demos, which will compile into the ''Off Cuts'' release. The first single "A New Kind of Love (Demo)" was released in April of that year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Symphonic Distribution Partners With Artist Imogen Heap For Global Distribution & Marketing |url=https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/216979/symphonic-distribution-partners-with-artist-imogen |access-date=1 April 2022 |website=All Access |language=en}}</ref>{{Dead link|date=May 2025}} In 2022, she produced the instrumental soundtrack for [[Cate Blanchett]] and [[Danny Kennedy (environmentalist)|Danny Kennedy]]'s [[climate change]]–focused [[Audible (service)|Audible]] podcast ''Climate of Change'', on which she also appeared as a guest, with nature documentarian Dan O'Neill.<ref>{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Peter |title=Cate Blanchett Sets Climate Change Podcast At Audible |url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/cate-blanchett-sets-climate-change-podcast-audible-1234924523/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]] |access-date=25 May 2025 |date=3 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Petit |first1=Stephanie |title=Prince William Is the Surprise Guest on Cate Blanchett's New Podcast About Climate Change |url=https://people.com/royals/prince-william-interviewed-cate-blanchett-climate-change/ |website=[[People (magazine)|People]] |access-date=25 May 2025 |date=13 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Tabberer |first1=Jamie |title=Bimini and Dan O'Neill join LGBTQ eco activists on a mission to heal our ocean |url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/uncategorised/bimini-and-dan-oneill-join-lgbtq-eco-activists-on-a-mission-to-heal-our-ocean-403363/ |website=[[Attitude (magazine)|Attitude]] |access-date=27 May 2025 |date=8 April 2022}}</ref> Its soundtrack album, ''Chordata Bytes'', was also released that year.<ref name="GothyWHYD">{{cite web |last1=Sacher |first1=Andrew |last2=Hatfield |first2=Amanda |title=Imogen Heap returns with gothy new song "What Have You Done To Me?" |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/imogen-heap-returns-with-gothy-new-song-what-have-you-done-to-me/ |website=[[BrooklynVegan]] |access-date=27 May 2025 |date=1 November 2024}}</ref> Heap and Clams Casino were featured on [[ASAP Rocky]]'s song "I Smoked Away My Brain", a mashup of his song "Demons" with "I'm God" which was released in 2023 and appeared on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''{{'}}s [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]] chart, also receiving a platinum certification from the RIAA.<ref name="FirstEverBB" /><ref name="RIAAcert" />

As part of a project called ''The Living Song'', Heap released the single "What Have You Done To Me?" in November 2024, which was created using the melody of "Hide and Seek" and first previewed through the [[Calm (company)|Calm]] app in January.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hawthorne |first1=Katie |title='I'm empowering my song to go and make love with different people': Imogen Heap on how her AI twin will rewrite pop |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/oct/16/im-empowering-my-song-to-go-and-make-love-with-different-people-imogen-heap-on-how-her-ai-twin-will-rewrite-pop |website=The Guardian |date=16 October 2024 |access-date=1 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Brodsky |first1=Rachel |title=Imogen Heap Shares New Song 'What Have You Done To Me?': Listen |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2286235/imogen-heap-what-have-you-done-to-me/music/ |website=[[Stereogum]] |access-date=24 May 2025 |date=1 November 2024}}</ref>

Video edits of the horror video game ''[[Mouthwashing (video game)|Mouthwashing]]'' using Heap's song "Headlock" on [[TikTok]] brought it to popularity online and on streaming services in late 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Abby |title=Imogen Heap Scores First Hot 100 Hit For 20-Year-Old Song Rediscovered By TikTok |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2293883/imogen-heap-scores-first-hot-100-hit-for-20-year-old-song-rediscovered-by-tiktok/news/ |website=[[Stereogum]] |access-date=21 May 2025 |date=22 January 2025}}</ref> It became Heap's first [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] entry, debuting at number 100 in January 2025. It also appeared on the [[Canadian Hot 100]], also debuting at number 100.<ref name="FirstEverBB">{{cite magazine |last1=Zellner |first1=Xander |title=Hot 100 First-Timers: Imogen Heap Scores First Entry Ever, Thanks to 2005 Song 'Headlock' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/imogen-heap-headlock-hot-100-first-timers-1235880012/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=22 January 2025 |date=21 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Long Decter |first1=Rosie |title=Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars Score The First Post-Holiday No. 1 On The Canadian Hot 100 in 2025 |url=https://ca.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/lady-gaga-bruno-mars-canadian-hot-100 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard Canada]] |access-date=19 May 2025 |date=8 January 2025}}</ref> It peaked at number 30 on the UK Singles Chart in February 2025, making it her first top-40 entry, and was certified silver in the UK in March 2025.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Griffiths |first1=George |title=Gracie Abrams holds on to Number 1, Myles Smith scores second Top 10 single |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/gracie-abrams-thats-so-true-week-8-myles-smith-top-10/ |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=19 May 2025 |date=17 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hodgkinson |first1=Will |title=Where are all the new No 1s? |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/how-to-score-a-no-1-single-it-might-take-20-years-pjsfjw8qb |website=[[The Times]] |access-date=19 May 2025 |date=11 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=British single certifications – Imogen Heap – Headlock |url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/20873-5567-1 |publisher=[[British Phonographic Industry]] |access-date=23 June 2025}}</ref>

In January 2025, Heap spoke with [[FKA Twigs]] as part of [[Spotify]]'s video podcast series ''Countdown To'' for her studio album ''[[Eusexua]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kickham |first1=Dylan |title=The NSFW Word FKA Twigs Uses To Describe 'Eusexua' |url=https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/fka-twigs-imogen-heap-spotify-exclusive-clip |website=[[Nylon (magazine)|Nylon]] |access-date=23 May 2025 |date=20 January 2025}}</ref> Heap and Sigsworth reunited as Frou Frou in March 2025 to perform "Let Go" at Zach Braff's 20th anniversary concert for the ''Garden State'' soundtrack.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cantor |first1=Matthew |title='Woodstock for elder millennials': the Garden State soundtrack anniversary concert |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/mar/30/garden-state-soundtrack-anniversary-concert |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=21 May 2025 |date=30 March 2025}}</ref> Her side project Him Gone Ape, an [[anagram]] of her name and billed as her "playful" persona, began in April 2025.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kaplan |first1=Ilana |title=How Imogen Heap Made 2014's 'Clean' with the 'Immaculate' Taylor Swift: 'She Is Extremely Efficient' (Exclusive) |url=https://people.com/imogen-heap-made-clean-with-immaculate-taylor-swift-exclusive-11723157 |website=[[People (magazine)|People]] |access-date=24 May 2025 |date=28 April 2025}}</ref> She was featured along with [[the Kid Laroi]] on the Australian [[Drill music|drill]] group [[Onefour]]'s song "Distant Strangers", which sampled "Headlock" and was released in June 2025.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kennedy |first1=Jade |title=The Kid Laroi, Imogen Heap Join Onefour for New Single |url=https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kid-laroi-imogen-heap-join-onefour-new-single-78070/ |website=[[Rolling Stone|Rolling Stone Australia]] |access-date=15 June 2025 |date=11 June 2025}}</ref>

==Technology ventures==
In October 2015, Heap created the [[Blockchain|blockchain-based]] platform Mycelia, which she created as a decentralized musical database for artists to share their music on and enforce smart contracts using [[Ethereum]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Heap |first1=Imogen |last2=Giles |first2=Matt |date=February 2016 |title=Imogen Heap & Hacking the Music Industry |url=https://archive.org/details/Popular_Science_February_2016/page/n45 |language=en |magazine=[[Popular Science]] |publisher=[[Bonnier Corporation]] |access-date=30 November 2020 |pages=44{{hyphen}}45}}</ref><ref name="Mycelia2">{{cite web|last=Witt|first=Joanna|date=2 October 2015|title=Live stream: Imogen Heap releases Tiny Human using blockchain technology|url=https://www.theguardian.com/membership/2015/oct/02/live-stream-imogen-heap-releases-tiny-human-using-blockchain-technology|access-date=6 October 2015|website=The Guardian}}</ref> Mycelia's Creative Passport programme is a personalised profile for artists not signed to a major label.<ref name="vint" /><ref name="newstatesman" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gelfand |first1=Zac |title=Imogen Heap announces first North American tour in nine years |url=https://consequence.net/2018/12/imogen-heap-north-american-tour-dates/ |website=Consequence of Sound |access-date=29 November 2020 |language=en |date=11 December 2018}}</ref> In April 2021, she collaborated with the now-defunct music platform Endlesss to release the Firsts Collection, a series of [[non-fungible token]]s (NFTs) featuring snippets from her online [[jam session]]s and visuals by designer Andy Carne, with five percent of the proceeds donated to the [[carbon dioxide removal]] company [[Nori (company)|Nori]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Soo |first1=JX |title=Imogen Heap releases NFT with collaborative music company Endlesss |url=https://musictech.com/news/music/imogen-heap-endlesss-nft-firsts-rifffs/ |website=MusicTech |access-date=12 June 2025 |date=27 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hogan |first1=Marc |title=11 Indie Musicians on How They're Navigating the NFT Wave |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/article/11-indie-musicians-on-how-theyre-navigating-the-nft-wave/ |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=12 June 2025 |date=10 May 2021}}</ref> They were sold on the NFT marketplace [[OpenSea]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hahn |first1=Jennifer |title=Imogen Heap removes 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide from atmosphere with debut NFT drop |url=https://www.dezeen.com/2021/05/12/imogen-heap-nft-firsts-collection/ |website=[[Dezeen]] |access-date=13 June 2025 |date=12 May 2021}}</ref> After previewing it at [[Web Summit]] 2024, Heap launched Auracles, a [[digital rights management]] platform, in December 2024.<ref name="Straits">{{cite web |title='Harness the now': British singer Imogen Heap embraces AI |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/harness-the-now-british-singer-imogen-heap-embraces-ai |website=[[The Straits Times]] |access-date=23 May 2025 |location=Lisbon |date=17 November 2024}}</ref>

===Mi.Mu gloves===
[[File:Imogen Heap demonstrates her Mi.Mu gesture-control gloves edited 0.webm|thumb|Heap demonstrating the Mi.Mu gloves in a 2014 video for ''[[Dezeen]]'']]

In July 2011, Heap unveiled a pair of in-development, [[wired glove|wired]] musical gloves at the [[TEDGlobal|TEDGlobal conference]] in Edinburgh, Scotland. They were originally developed by Heap with Tom Mitchell, a [[University of the West of England, Bristol]] lecturer in music systems, and designed and sewn by Rachel Freire, a costume designer, over the course of the prior two and a half years.<ref name="engadgetglove" /><ref>{{cite web|last=Aron|first=Jacob|date=11 July 2011|title=Imogen Heap's musical gloves mix sounds on the fly|url=https://www.newscientist.com/blogs/onepercent/2011/07/musical-gloves-mix-sounds-on-t.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110803100948/http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/onepercent/2011/07/musical-gloves-mix-sounds-on-t.html|archive-date=3 August 2011|access-date=11 July 2011|website=New Scientist}}</ref> They were inspired by another pair of musical gloves developed by engineer Elly Jessop at [[MIT]] which Heap had witnessed during a visit to the university's [[MIT Media Lab|Media Lab]]. Early versions of Heap's gloves had issues with latency and accuracy.<ref name="engadgetglove" /> In an interview, Heap stated, "The gloves help me embody those sounds which are hidden inside the computer, for me to physicalise them and bring them out so that I can play them and the audience members will understand what I am doing{{em dash}}rather than fiddling around on a keyboard and mouse which is not very clear{{em dash}}I could just be doing my emails."<ref name="cnngloves">{{cite web |last1=Said-Moorhouse |first1=Lauren |last2=Hussein |first2=Leila |last3=Nurse |first3=Earl |title=Imogen Heap's 'magic gloves' make anyone a musician |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2015/01/12/technology/imogen-heap-mimu-music-gloves-blk/ |publisher=CNN |location=Essex, England |access-date=10 January 2021 |language=en |date=13 January 2015}}</ref>

The gloves, which eventually came to be known as the Mi.Mu gloves (a name derived from an abbreviation of "me" and "music"),<ref name="nprpaint" /> are made from the material [[Yulex]] and consist of a hardware board at the wrist developed by Seb Madgwick with an [[inertial measurement unit]] used to determine the speed and orientation of the hands, [[flex sensor]]s over the knuckles, a [[Haptic technology|haptic motor]], a removable battery, open palms and LED lights in between the thumb and forefinger which indicate whether or not the user is recording.<ref name="pmgloves">{{cite web |last1=French |first1=Kristen |title=Make Music With the Wave of Your Hand |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/gadgets/reviews/a10461/power-glove-makes-music-with-the-wave-of-a-hand-16686382/ |website=[[Popular Mechanics]] |access-date=11 January 2021 |language=en |date=11 April 2014}}</ref><ref name="engadgetglove" /> [[Open Sound Control]] data is sent to a computer, which can perform a number of different actions, including adjusting volume, recording loops and filtering sound.<ref name="dezeenglove">{{cite web |last1=Fairs |first1=Marcus |title=Imogen Heap gloves that turn gestures into music |url=https://www.dezeen.com/2014/03/20/imogen-heap-funding-drive-for-gloves-that-turn-gestures-into-music/ |website=[[Dezeen]] |access-date=11 January 2021 |language=en |date=20 March 2014}}</ref><ref name="vicegloves">{{cite web |last1=Flood |first1=Kathleen |title=Imogen Heap's Musical "Touch" |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/bmd3qw/imogen-heaps-musical-touch |website=Vice |access-date=10 January 2021 |language=en |date=14 July 2011}}</ref> The gloves also come with a custom [[gesture recognition]] software called Glover that can be integrated with music production apps such as [[Ableton Live]], [[Pro Tools]], and [[MainStage (software)|MainStage]] and was released for standalone purchase in 2021. An accompanying [[iOS]] app, Gliss, was also released in 2021 to be used with Glover.<ref name="GadgeBuy">{{cite web |last1=Cooper |first1=Daniel |title=You can now buy the software behind Imogen Heap's musical gloves |url=https://www.engadget.com/glover-mi-mu-gloves-standalone-software-audio-gestures-sound-130004470.html |website=[[Engadget]] |access-date=12 June 2025 |date=4 February 2021}}</ref> They use [[IEEE 802.11|802.11 Wi-Fi]].<ref name="psawards">{{cite web |title=The 100 greatest innovations of 2019 |url=https://www.popsci.com/story/technology/best-of-whats-new-2019/ |website=Popular Science |access-date=11 January 2021 |language=en |date=3 December 2019}}</ref><ref name="engadgetglove" />

Heap recorded her song "Me the Machine" using an early version of the gloves, debuting the single during a livestream on [[Earth Day]] in 2012.<ref name="pmgloves" /> Also in 2012, she showcased the Mi.Mu gloves on an episode of the [[BBC]] television series ''[[Dara Ó Briain's Science Club]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Barkan |first1=Jonathan |title=Imogen Heap's Musical Gloves Are Way Cool! |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/videos/3288872/imogen-heaps-musical-gloves-are-way-cool |website=Bloody Disgusting |access-date=9 January 2021 |language=en |date=17 April 2014}}</ref> Heap began [[crowdfunding]] to produce more pairs of the gloves in April 2014 on [[Kickstarter]], with a goal of £200,000, but the campaign failed to meet its target. However, the Mi.Mu project found investors who collaborated with Heap's team to continue to develop the gloves.<ref name="cnngloves" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Magdaleno |first1=Alex |title=Imogen Heap Takes High-Tech Musical Glove to Kickstarter |url=https://mashable.com/2014/04/11/imogen-heap/ |website=Mashable |access-date=11 January 2021 |language=en |date=11 April 2014}}</ref> An early investor and user of the gloves was American singer [[Ariana Grande]], who used the gloves during her second concert tour, [[The Honeymoon Tour|the Honeymoon Tour]], in 2015. In April 2019, the Mi.Mu gloves became publicly available for pre-order.<ref name="engadgetglove">{{cite web |last1=Cooper |first1=Daniel |title=Imogen Heap's musical gloves are finally available to everyone |url=https://www.engadget.com/2019-04-26-mi-mu-imogen-heap-musical-gloves-price-launch-date.html |website=Engadget |access-date=3 October 2020 |language=en |date=26 April 2019}}</ref> In 2021, they sold for £2,500 a pair.<ref name="GadgeBuy" /> ''[[Popular Science]]'' included the Mi.Mu gloves on their list of the 100 greatest innovations of 2019.<ref name="psawards" />

===Artificial intelligence===
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Heap began work on a project called "Augmented Imogen", meant to be an [[artificial intelligence]] (AI) version of herself.<ref name="newstatesman" /> In late 2024, she began developing Mogen, also known as AI.Mogen (stylized in lowercase), an AI assistant that began as a premium feature on her app. She developed it with an audio engineer and trains it using Plaud Note, a [[ChatGPT]]-powered voice recorder. She has stated that it is based on "anything [she has] ever said or done" and designed to answer questions about her life and work for fans and to collaborate with her on future projects while [[Audio deepfake|replicating her voice]].<ref name="Twinnem">{{cite web |last1=Hawthorne |first1=Katie |title='I'm empowering my song to go and make love with different people': Imogen Heap on how her AI twin will rewrite pop |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/oct/16/im-empowering-my-song-to-go-and-make-love-with-different-people-imogen-heap-on-how-her-ai-twin-will-rewrite-pop |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=22 May 2025 |date=16 October 2024}}</ref> Heap used AI.Mogen on her 2024 remix of Slovakian singer Karin Ann's song "False Gold" and to produce the final part of her 2024 song "What Have You Done to Me?"<ref name="NoExcite">{{cite web |last1=McEvoy |first1=Clovis |title='I'm not excited about AI making stuff that a human could do - I want to hear things that humans have never imagined': Imogen Heap on AI, making her own voice model, and a new era of musical collaboration |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/imogen-heap-interview |website=MusicRadar |publisher=[[Future plc]] |access-date=12 June 2025 |date=21 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Willings |first1=Sam |title=Imogen Heap uses her AI voice model, ai.mogen, to create a remix for the first time |url=https://musictech.com/news/music/imogen-heap-ai-voice-model-ai-mogen-karin-ann/ |website=MusicTech |publisher=[[BandLab Technologies]] |access-date=24 May 2025 |date=19 April 2024}}</ref><ref name="Straits" /> Paul G. Oliver, a lecturer at [[Edinburgh Napier University]], wrote for ''[[The Conversation (website)|The Conversation]]'' that Mogen was "a fascinating case study into the evolving relationship between music, technology and human creativity" and "a refreshing alternative" to fears of [[Technological unemployment|AI replacing human musicians]], while Emma Keates of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' derisively compared the project to Heap going "full ''[[Black Mirror]]''", specifically likening it to the show's episode "[[Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too]]".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Oliver |first1=Paul G. |title=Imogen Heap's AI revolution: how one British musician is shaping the future of music |url=https://theconversation.com/imogen-heaps-ai-revolution-how-one-british-musician-is-shaping-the-future-of-music-245086 |website=[[The Conversation (website)|The Conversation]] |access-date=24 May 2025 |date=6 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Keates |first1=Emma |title=Imogen Heap has gone full Black Mirror |url=https://www.avclub.com/imogen-heap-ai-clone-mogen |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |access-date=23 May 2025 |date=16 October 2024}}</ref>

Heap has praised the use of [[generative artificial intelligence]] in [[Artificial intelligence art|art]] and [[Music and artificial intelligence|music]] and pushed back against concerns about its [[Environmental impact of artificial intelligence|environmental impacts]] and its potential to replace human musicians, but has been critical of the lack of transparency about its training data, [[Artificial intelligence and copyright|its potential for copyright infringement]], and it being used to create music that replicates her preexisting compositions without proper credit.<ref name="Twinnem" /><ref name="NewEnBB" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Jenkins |first1=Ciaran |author1-link=Ciaran Jenkins |format=Video |title=Imogen Heap: AI 'lightens' my creativeness says singer songwriter |url=https://www.channel4.com/news/imogen-heap-ai-lightens-my-creativeness-says-singer-songwriter |website=[[Channel 4 News]] |publisher=[[Channel 4]] |access-date=23 May 2025 |date=25 February 2025}}</ref> She has also criticized AI music creation programs like [[Suno AI|Suno]] and [[Udio]] as "boring" and record labels making deals with AI startups, while advocating for the use of [[Ethics of artificial intelligence|ethical AI]].<ref name="NoExcite" /> In 2024, Jen Lennon of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' wrote that her "open-armed embrace of AI" was "a notable deviation from the way many other artists, writers, and actors have strongly denounced" AI, while Brian Hiatt of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' called her one of "vanishingly few" musicians to publicly advocate for the use of AI in music in 2025.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lennon |first1=Jen |title=3 new songs and 3 new albums to check out this weekend |url=https://www.avclub.com/new-music-fridays-songs-albums-november-8 |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |access-date=23 May 2025 |date=8 November 2024}}</ref><ref name="RSBorrow" /> 

Heap was a judge for the [[AI Song Contest 2021]], an international competition for music made using AI.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jack |first1=Malcolm |title=Robots Can Make Music, but Can They Sing? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/07/arts/music/ai-song-contest.html |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=12 June 2025 |date=7 July 2021}}</ref> Heap was one of one thousand artists credited on ''[[Is This What We Want?]]'', a silent protest album consisting entirely of recordings of empty recording studios, which was released in February 2025 in response to the UK government's proposed changes to copyright laws that would allow artificial intelligence firms to train [[large language model]]s (LLMs) on copyrighted music.<ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Connor |first1=Roisin |title=Kate Bush releases silent album with Imogen Heap and Damon Albarn |url=https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/music/news/kate-bush-silent-album-ai-protest-imogen-heap-copyright-law-b2704099.html |website=[[The Independent]] |access-date=19 May 2025 |date=25 February 2025}}</ref> She announced her partnership with the [[Music and artificial intelligence|generative AI music]] company Jen for their StyleFilter program, which allows users to generate songs with the same "vibe" as licensed songs on the platform, at Web Summit in November 2024.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Robinson |first1=Kristin |title=Jen Unveils AI StyleFilter Tool To Capture Artists' Styles with Imogen Heap |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/imogen-heap-jen-ai-voice-music-models-capture-artist-stylefilter/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=24 May 2025 |date=14 November 2024}}</ref> She then released StyleFilters for her songs "Headlock", "Just for Now", "Goodnight and Go", "Last Night of an Empire", and "What Have You Done to Me?" through Auracles in April 2025.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Millman |first1=Ethan |title=Imogen Heap Launches AI Music Tools With AI Platform Jen |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/imogen-heap-launches-ai-music-tools-on-jen-1236199418/ |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=19 May 2025 |date=24 April 2025}}</ref><ref name="RSBorrow">{{cite magazine |last1=Hiatt |first1=Brian |title=Imogen Heap Just Went Viral With 'Headlock' -- Now She's Letting You Borrow Its Vibe Via AI |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/imogen-heap-headlock-tiktok-ai-jen-1235324011/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=23 May 2025 |date=24 April 2025}}</ref>

==Artistry==
{{Quote box
| quote  = I just love crafting and shaping sounds. Actually, many of the sounds that I work with start off as organic instruments – guitar, piano, clarinet, etc. But I do love the rigidity of electronic drums... I would record live drums, and then I would spend a day editing them to take the life out of them. I like to breathe my own life into these sounds, and I do try to keep the "air" in the music.
| source = —Imogen Heap<ref name="news.ucwe.com">{{Cite news |url=http://news.ucwe.com/content/view/1244/29/ |title=Singer Imogen Heap talks about her new album ''Speak for Yourself'', the musical uses of a frying pan |date=27 December 2005 |publisher=UCW Entertainment |access-date=12 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106192318/http://news.ucwe.com/content/view/1244/29/ |archive-date=6 January 2009}}</ref>
| width  = 30em
| salign = right
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In the late 1990s, Heap's music was largely alternative rock.<ref name="nytmesmerize" /> However, after forming and subsequently disbanding the electronic duo [[Frou Frou (band)|Frou Frou]], whose work on their sole album to date, ''Details'', was mainly [[electropop]], her music became primarily based in [[Pop music|pop]], specifically electropop, [[art pop]], [[Alternative pop|alt-pop]], [[synth-pop]].<ref name="Consint">{{cite web |last1=Halle |first1=Karina |title=Interview: Imogen Heap |url=https://consequence.net/2010/08/interview-imogen-heap/ |website=Consequence of Sound |access-date=4 December 2020 |quote=I don't know my ins and outs of classical composers in any way, but I did learn that kind of counterpoint and harmony and how things fit with low instruments and high instruments, and maybe those things did seep into the way that I make "Pop" music. |date=13 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="npr200" /><ref name="nytsoundworld">{{cite web |url=https://nytimes.com/2006/12/10/arts/music/10play.html?ref=arts |title=A Universe of Artists Who Create Their Own Sound Worlds |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=10 December 2006 |access-date=27 September 2014}}</ref><ref name="nytmesmerize">{{cite web |last1=Sinagra |first1=Laura |title=With Her Synthesizer, She Mesmerizes |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/13/arts/music/with-her-synthesizer-she-mesmerizes.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=13 January 2006}}</ref> She has written, produced and engineered most of her music on her own.<ref name="nytgeek" /> She has also stated that she rarely listens to music, but draws inspiration from [[TED (conference)|TED conferences]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Halle |first1=Karina |title=Interview: Imogen Heap |url=https://consequence.net/2010/08/interview-imogen-heap/ |website=Consequence of Sound |access-date=4 December 2020 |quote=Well, for instance, I just got back from this conference called TED, which happens every six months. One in California and one in the UK. I first went when I was 26. I got invited to sing with Frou Frou at their Monterey one, and now I've been twice to their one in Oxford. And I am totally just inspired by that. Inspired because you are surrounded by these incredible people doing all these amazing things and have so many fantastic views and outlets and really insightful ways of connecting issues together and how to solve them. |date=13 August 2010}}</ref>

Heap plays a number of instruments, including the piano, clarinet, cello, guitar, [[keytar]], drums, [[waterphone]], and [[array mbira]].<ref name="metrosixty" /><ref name="nytgeek" /><ref name="telfullconnect" /> She extensively uses manipulated electronic sounds as an integral part of her music. She also mixes ambient sound into her music and has commented that "certain sounds give the music a width and a space, and that's important."<ref name="news.ucwe.com" /> [[CNN]] stated that Heap is known for "her distinctive fusion of soft acoustic sounds, [[electronica]] and tech".<ref name="cnngloves" />

Heap has said that she "really [doesn't] like writing lyrics" and called them "a pain in the ass", describing herself as feeling "much more" comfortable producing.<ref name="westword" /><ref name="SFGQuiz">{{cite web |last1=Vaziri |first1=Aidin |title=Pop Quiz: Imogen Heap |url=https://www.sfgate.com/music/popquiz/article/pop-quiz-imogen-heap-2575326.php |website=[[SFGate]] |access-date=5 May 2025 |quote= You paid for and made this album yourself. Do you find it funny that the only major criticism anyone has is that it sounds too polished? |date=30 October 2005}}</ref> Heap has compared her lyrics to "secret messages to my friends or my boyfriend or my mum or my dad" and stated that they are often written "in the heat of the moment [about] something [that] has just happened".<ref name="news.ucwe.com" />

==Public image and legacy==
Heap has been regarded as influential in pop music, specifically in electropop and for using technology in her music. [[NPR]]'s Lindsay Kimbell referred to Heap as a "pioneer of electronic pop" in 2018, while [[Stephen Thompson (journalist)|Stephen Thompson]] said in 2025 on ''[[Morning Edition]]'' that hers was "a pioneering electro-pop career that stretches back roughly three decades".<ref name="npr200">{{cite web |last1=Kimball |first1=Lindsay |title=The 200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women+ (Imogen Heap, "Hide and Seek") |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/07/30/627396076/turning-the-tables-the-200-greatest-songs-by-21st-century-women-part-3 |publisher=NPR |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=30 July 2018}}</ref><ref name="NearBottom" /> ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' called Heap an "electro-pop innovator".<ref name="bbchaz">{{cite magazine |title=Ask A Gay Icon: Chaz Cardigan Gets Career Advice From Imogen Heap |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/9402786/chaz-cardigan-imogen-heap-career-advice/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=29 November 2020 |language=en |date=23 June 2020}}</ref> In 2018, ''[[Stereogum]]''{{'}}s Margaret Farrell referred to Heap as "pop's unsung pioneer" and "an electronic pop mastermind", going on to describe her as "a mystical force that has loomed over pop music for nearly two decades".<ref name="sglist"/> In 2019, ''[[The New York Times]]'' similarly called Heap a "pop pioneer" whose work "has established her as an innovator in musical technology".<ref>{{cite web |title=12 Pop, Rock and Jazz Concerts to Check Out in N.Y.C. This Weekend |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/02/arts/music/nyc-this-weekend-pop-rock-jazz.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=2 May 2019}}</ref> For ''[[Paper (magazine)|Paper]]'', Matt Moen called Heap "the [[Nikola Tesla]] of pop music" in that "[her] influence in the field of pop has largely gone unappreciated in her own time".<ref name="paperint" /> Various outlets, including NPR and ''[[New Statesman]]'', have called Heap a "tech pioneer".<ref name="newstatesman">{{cite web |last1=Peirson-Hagger |first1=Ellen |title=Imogen Heap: "I'm so frustrated with the music industry" |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/music-theatre/2020/09/imogen-heap-i-m-so-frustrated-music-industry |website=[[New Statesman]] |access-date=4 December 2020 |language=en |date=4 September 2020}}</ref><ref name="nprsparks">{{cite web |last1=Powers |first1=Ann |title=First Listen: Imogen Heap, 'Sparks' |url=https://www.npr.org/2014/08/10/338018328/first-listen-imogen-heap-sparks |publisher=NPR |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=10 August 2014}}</ref> Patrick Ryan of ''[[USA Today]]'' wrote that Heap "pioneered" the subgenre of [[folktronica]], which combines elements of [[folk music]] and [[electronica]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ryan |first1=Patrick |title=5 things to know about viral sensation Maggie Rogers, from speechless Pharrell to 'SNL' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2019/01/18/viral-star-maggie-rogers-new-album-pharrell-snl/2595700002/ |website=USA Today |access-date=5 December 2020 |date=18 January 2019}}</ref> 

Heap is also known for her contributions to film and television soundtracks.<ref name="TimesOWB" /><ref name="EWSfY">{{cite magazine |last1=Greenblatt |first1=Leah |title=Speak for Yourself |url=http://ew.com/article/2005/11/07/speak-yourself/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=5 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014034643/http://ew.com/article/2005/11/07/speak-yourself/ |archive-date=14 October 2017 |date=7 November 2005}}</ref> She became known as an early adoptee of social media, particularly Twitter, Myspace, and vlogging, to promote her music and interact with her fans.<ref name="GuardEll">{{cite web |last1=Sullivan |first1=Caroline |title=Imogen Heap: Ellipse |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/aug/14/imogen-heap-cd-review |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=12 May 2025 |date=13 August 2009 |quote=London songwriter Imogen Heap is better known for her skill in employing the internet to push her career than for her actual music.}}</ref><ref name="FastTrack" /> She has expressed praise toward social media's role in music, stating in 2010 that, because of it, "anyone and everyone can get creative and get their voice heard".<ref name="Consint" /> She is also known for her devoted fanbase, with Ian Youngs describing them for ''[[BBC News]]'' as "substantial" and "among the most devoted and active in music" in 2010.<ref name="IYoungs">{{cite web |last1=Youngs |first1=Ian |title=Imogen Heap reveals tour struggle |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/10220002 |website=[[BBC News]] |access-date=14 May 2025 |date=4 June 2010}}</ref> A 2012 [[YouGov]] poll of her fans found that more than half of the respondents lived in the United States, more than three-fourths were born after 1975, and slightly more than half were male.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Blacklock |first1=Daisy |last2=Thompson |first2=Hannah |title=Imogen Heap: The results |url=https://yougov.co.uk/entertainment/articles/2927-imogen-heap-results |publisher=[[YouGov]] |access-date=15 June 2025 |date=27 April 2012}}</ref> Her renewed success in 2025 through the online popularity of "Headlock" led to an influx of [[Generation Z|Gen Z]] fans of her music.<ref name="NewEnBB" /> Her fashion style has been described as "kooky",<ref name="metrosixty" /> "theatrical",<ref>{{cite web |last1=Davis |first1=Johnny |title=One woman band |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list/profile/article/one-woman-band-vnngh22860r |website=[[The Times]] |access-date=21 May 2025 |date=3 June 2006}}</ref> "weird",<ref>{{cite web |last1=Broverman |first1=Neal |title=Two days in the Coachella Valley |url=https://www.advocate.com/news/2006/05/05/two-days-coachella-valley |website=[[The Advocate (magazine)|Advocate]] |access-date=21 May 2025 |date=5 May 2006}}</ref> and "flamboyant". Cory Albertson of ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]'' described her as having "an outlandish visual persona".<ref name="AsonPaste" /> Her frog-themed outfit at the [[49th Annual Grammy Awards]] has been included on several lists of the most outrageous and iconic Grammys outfits of all time.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Friedl |first1=Ruthie |last2=Bowenbank |first2=Starr |title=The 75 Most Outrageous Grammys Outfits |url=https://www.elle.com/fashion/celebrity-style/news/g8573/most-outrageous-grammys-outfits/ |website=ELLE |access-date=25 November 2020 |date=2 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Williamson |first1=Sue |title=19 of the Most Iconic (And Outrageous) Grammys Looks of All Time |url=https://www.teenvogue.com/gallery/most-iconic-grammy-looks |website=Teen Vogue |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en-us |date=24 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Stephens |first1=Britt |title=100 of the Most Iconic Fashion Moments at the Grammy Awards, All Right Here |url=https://www.popsugar.com/fashion/photo-gallery/7183481/image/7195147/Imogen-Heap |website=Popsugar Fashion |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=26 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Grammy Awards fashion: Most outrageous outfits |date=20 January 2014 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/grammy-awards-fashion-most-outrageous-outfits/18/ |publisher=CBS News |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

Heap has been described as highly influential on pop, [[Hip hop music|hip hop]], and [[Contemporary R&B music|R&B]] musicians<ref name="NearBottom">{{cite web |last1=Thompson |first1=Stephen |title=Familiar faces top the pop charts, but there's a real surprise near the bottom |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/01/29/nx-s1-5276087/imogen-heaps-song-headlock-hits-billboard-charts-20-years-after-it-was-released |publisher=[[NPR]] |access-date=21 May 2025 |date=29 January 2025}}</ref> and been cited as a musical inspiration by [[Ariana Grande]],<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Lipshutz |first1=Jason |title=Gimme Five: Ariana Grande's Most Inspirational Female Singers |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/5748215/gimme-five-ariana-grandes-most-inspirational-female-singers |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=9 October 2013}}</ref> [[Bebe Rexha]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rosene |first1=Madeline |title=Bebe Rexha: Unwrapped |url=http://lefairmag.com/bebe-rexha-unwrapped/ |website=LEFAIR Magazine |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=7 January 2019}}</ref> [[Ellie Goulding]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smyth |first1=David |title=Ellie Goulding interview: 'I was never allowed to show my sexuality' |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/ellie-goulding-interview-2020-brightest-blue-a4494801.html |website=Evening Standard |access-date=29 November 2020 |language=en |date=10 July 2020}}</ref> [[Kacey Musgraves]],<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Hudak |first1=Joseph |title=Kacey Musgraves on Why She Calls Her 'Golden Hour' Album 'Space Country' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/kacey-musgraves-on-why-she-calls-her-golden-hour-album-space-country-205563/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=29 March 2018}}</ref> [[Pentatonix]],<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Vain |first1=Madison |title=The 7 acts that add up to Pentatonix |url=https://ew.com/article/2015/10/22/7-acts-add-pentatonix/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=EN |date=22 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Greenburg |first1=Zack O'Malley |title=Pentatonix: Everything You Need To Know About The World's Biggest A Cappella Act |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2016/01/05/pentatonix-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-worlds-biggest-a-cappella-act/?sh=638d01a3548b |website=Forbes |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=5 January 2016}}</ref> [[Chloe Bailey]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Chloe x Halle Take The Sister Test |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/watch/video/106557 |website=BuzzFeed |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=12 June 2020}}</ref> [[Empress Of]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Burke |first1=Cait Emma |title=Empress of Is Her Own Queen |url=https://acclaimmag.com/music/empress-of-is-her-own-queen/ |website=Acclaim Magazine |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en-us |date=3 May 2019}}</ref> [[Dawn Richard]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Soetan |first1=Sope |title=Interview: Dawn Richard on Bringing 'Blackheart' to the UK, Plans for Next Album and Danity Kane's Final Release |url=http://ymmwt.com/dawn-2/interview-dawn-richard-on-bringing-blackheart-to-the-uk-plans-for-next-album-and-danity-kanes-final-release/ |website=YMMWT |access-date=9 January 2021 |language=en |date=3 April 2015}}</ref> [[Jamila Woods]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=J'na |first1=Jefferson |title=NEXT: Jamila Woods Soldiers On For Her City And Her People In Her Music |url=https://www.vibe.com/2016/10/next-jamila-woods-interview |website=Vibe |access-date=4 December 2020 |language=en |date=27 October 2016}}</ref> [[Muna (band)|Muna]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dunn |first1=Frankie |title=Positive thinking with Muna, your new best band friends |url=https://i-d.co/article/positive-thinking-with-muna-your-new-best-band-friends/ |website=i-D |access-date=17 December 2020 |language=en |date=20 April 2017}}</ref> [[Mree]],<ref>{{cite web |title=From The Desk of Mree: Imogen Heap |url=http://magnetmagazine.com/2013/08/09/from-the-desk-of-mree-imogen-heap/ |website=[[Magnet (magazine)|Magnet]] |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=9 August 2013}}</ref> [[Woodes]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Joseph |title=Five Artists That Help Shape Woodes' Sound |url=http://stoneyroads.com/2017/03/woodes-shares-5-artists-that-help-shape-her-sound/ |website=Stoney Roads |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=10 March 2017}}</ref> [[Pwr Bttm|Ben Hopkins]],<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Wainwright |first1=Rufus |title=PWR BTTM & Rufus Wainwright Talk Sexuality, Trump & 'The Future of Diversity in Music' |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/magazine-feature/7717061/pwr-bttm-rufus-wainwright-interview |magazine=Billboard |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=9 March 2017}}</ref> [[Matthew Parker (musician)|Matthew Parker]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clarks |first1=Jessie |title=TCB Exclusive: Matthew Parker Talks Inspiration Behind 'Daydreamer' |url=https://www.thechristianbeat.org/index.php/interviews/5379-tcb-exclusive-matthew-parker-shares-about-daydreamer |website=The Christian Beat |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en-gb |date=23 October 2018}}</ref> [[Debrah Scarlett|Red Moon]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ju |first1=Shirley |title=Red Moon - Sophomore EP 'Phase 2:22' |url=https://flaunt.com/content/red-moon-phase-222 |website=Flaunt |access-date=22 September 2021 |language=en |date=20 September 2021}}</ref> [[Michelle Chamuel]],<ref>{{cite magazine |title='Voice': Meet the Top 16! |url=https://ew.com/gallery/voice-meet-top-16/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=EN |date=1 May 2013}}</ref> [[Chaz Cardigan]],<ref name="bbchaz" /> Laura Doggett,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jana |first1=Fp |title=Who's That Girl: Meet British Songstress Laura Doggett |url=https://blog.freepeople.com/2015/08/whos-girl-meet-british-songstress-laura-doggett/ |website=Free People Blog |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=28 August 2015}}</ref> [[GoodLuck (band)|GoodLuck]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Meltz |first1=Darren |title=Meet GoodLuck – South Africa's Most Exciting Live Electronic Band |url=https://morethanfoodmag.com/meet-goodluck-south-africas-exciting-live-electronic-band/ |website=More Than Food Magazine |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=1 March 2018}}</ref> [[Kool Kojak]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Two Minutes With ... KoolKojak |url=https://www.worcestermag.com/2017/05/04/two-minutes-koolkojak |website=Worcester Magazine |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=4 May 2017}}</ref> and Stars and Rabbit.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mazur |first1=Christine |title=On Uncompromising Creativity and Hugging Trees: Exploring the Constellation of Indonesia's Stars and Rabbit |url=https://lilystars-records.com/2015/05/15/on-uncompromising-creativity-and-hugging-trees-exploring-the-constellation-of-indonesias-stars-and-rabbit/ |website=Lilystars Records |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=15 May 2015}}</ref> Heap's songs have also been covered by artists including Pentatonix<ref>{{cite web |last1=Boddez |first1=Ben |title=Pentatonix makes a strong case for a cappella as a stadium act in a career-spanning set at Rogers Arena |url=https://www.straight.com/music/1262211/pentatonix-make-strong-case-cappella-stadium-act-career-spanning-set-rogers-arena |website=The Georgia Straight |access-date=28 November 2020 |language=en |date=4 July 2019}}</ref> and [[Kelly Clarkson]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sullivan |first1=Caroline |title=Kelly Clarkson: Wrapped in Red – review |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/nov/28/kelly-clarkson-wrapped-in-red-review |website=The Guardian |access-date=28 November 2020 |language=en |date=28 November 2013}}</ref> and have been sampled by artists including Grande, [[Jason Derulo]], [[Wiz Khalifa]],<ref name="faderint">{{cite web |last1=Kochhar |first1=Nazuk |title=Imogen Heap never stopped going in |url=https://www.thefader.com/2018/11/05/imogen-heap-interview-harry-potter-score-blockchain |website=The Fader |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=5 November 2018}}</ref> [[Mac Miller]], [[Clams Casino (musician)|Clams Casino]], [[Lil B]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Neal |first1=Sean |title=Clams Casino pushed hip-hop into the cloud |url=https://www.avclub.com/clams-casino-pushed-hip-hop-into-the-cloud-1798278350 |website=The A.V. Club |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en-us |date=7 April 2015}}</ref> [[Ryan Hemsworth]], [[Deniro Farrar]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Ryan Hemsworth collaborator Deniro Farrar drops new mixtape The Patriarch |url=https://www.factmag.com/2013/03/11/ryan-hemsworth-collaborator-deniro-farrar-drops-new-mixtape-the-patriarch/ |website=Fact Magazine |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=11 March 2013}}</ref> [[Suicideboys]],<ref name="faderhp">{{cite web |last1=Darville |first1=Jordan |title=Listen to Imogen Heap's score for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child |url=https://www.thefader.com/2018/11/02/imogen-heap-score-soundtrack-harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child |website=The Fader |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=2 November 2018}}</ref> [[ASAP Rocky]], [[MellowHype]], [[Trinidad James]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Battan |first1=Carrie |title=Mixdown: Trinidad James, Disclosure, Gucci Mane |url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/41-mixdown-trinidad-james-disclosure-gucci-mane/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en-us |date=15 August 2013}}</ref> and [[XV (rapper)|XV]].<ref name="bbcsample" /> The sampling of her songs has been considered influential in the subgenre of [[cloud rap]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lawrence |first1=Eddy |title=What happened to the hip-hop micro-genre cloud rap? |url=https://www.redbull.com/us-en/whatever-happened-to-hip-hop-sub-genre-cloud-rap |website=Red Bull |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=9 April 2018}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Heap began dating film director Michael Lebor in 2012.<ref name="timesint">{{cite web |last1=Hodgkinson |first1=Will |title=Imogen Heap: the pop star with music at her fingertips |url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/england/london-travel/imogen-heap-the-pop-star-with-music-at-her-fingertips-9wx2kqvvsrc |website=[[The Times]] |access-date=1 December 2020 |language=en |date=12 August 2014}}</ref> In June 2014, Heap announced in her video blog that she was pregnant with her first child with Lebor. She gave birth to their daughter later that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://imogenheap.com/?asset=1064|title=I M O G E N * H E A P|website=Imogen Heap|access-date=3 November 2018}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=November 2020}}

Heap was diagnosed with [[attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]] (ADHD) during the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref name="GuardEmpower">{{cite web |last1=Hawthorne |first1=Katie |title='I'm empowering my song to go and make love with different people': Imogen Heap on how her AI twin will rewrite pop |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/oct/16/im-empowering-my-song-to-go-and-make-love-with-different-people-imogen-heap-on-how-her-ai-twin-will-rewrite-pop |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=9 May 2025 |date=16 October 2024}}</ref>

==Discography==
{{Main|Imogen Heap discography}}
{{see also|Frou Frou (band)#Discography}}
'''Studio albums'''
* ''[[I Megaphone]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Speak for Yourself]]'' (2005)
* ''[[Ellipse (album)|Ellipse]]'' (2009)
* ''[[Sparks (Imogen Heap album)|Sparks]]'' (2014)

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col" |Organization
! scope="col" |Year
! scope="col" |Category
! scope="col" |Nominated work
! scope="col" |Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable" |{{Abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
! scope="row" |[[AIM Independent Music Awards]]
| 2015
| Special Catalogue Release of the Year
| ''[[Sparks (Imogen Heap album)|Sparks]]'' (Deluxe Boxset)
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/aim-independent-music-awards-2015-nominations|title=AIM Independent Music Awards 2015 – Nominations|website=Clash Magazine|date=12 August 2015 |access-date=7 April 2020}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |[[Drama Desk Award]]
| 2018
| Outstanding Music in a Play
| ''[[Harry Potter and the Cursed Child]]''
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web |title=SpongeBob SquarePants Leads 2018 Drama Desk Awards |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/spongebob-squarepants-leads-2018-drama-desk-awards |website=[[Playbill]] |access-date=27 December 2020 |language=en |date=3 June 2018}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="6"| [[Grammy Awards]]
| rowspan="2"|[[49th Annual Grammy Awards|2007]]
| [[Grammy Award for Best New Artist|Best New Artist]]
| Herself
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|<ref>{{cite web |title=Grammy Award Nominations 2007 |url=http://top40.about.com/od/awards/a/grammynoms2007.htm |access-date=19 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305163858/http://top40.about.com/od/awards/a/grammynoms2007.htm |archive-date=5 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media|Best Song Written for Visual Media]]
| "Can't Take It In"
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[52nd Annual Grammy Awards|2010]]
| [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance|Best Pop Instrumental Performance]]
| "The Fire"
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2" |<ref>{{cite web |title=Grammy Award Winners 2010 |url=http://top40.about.com/od/awards/a/grammynoms2010.htm |access-date=19 December 2012 |archive-date=10 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130110091549/http://top40.about.com/od/awards/a/grammynoms2010.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical|Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical]]
| ''[[Ellipse (album)|Ellipse]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| [[58th Annual Grammy Awards|2016]]
| [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]]
| ''[[1989 (Taylor Swift album)|1989]]'' <small>(as producer and engineer)</small>
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;" |
|-
| [[62nd Annual Grammy Awards|2020]]
| [[Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album|Best Musical Theatre Album]]
| ''The Music of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child In Four Contemporary Suites''
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Winners & Nominations List |url=https://www.grammy.com/news/2020-grammy-awards-nominations-complete-winners-list |access-date=15 January 2023 |website=www.grammy.com}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |[[Ivor Novello Awards]]
| 2010
| International Achievement
| Herself
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;" |
|-
! scope="row" |[[Laurence Olivier Awards]]
| 2017
| [[Laurence Olivier Award for Best Original Score or New Orchestrations|Outstanding Achievement in Music]]
| ''[[Harry Potter and the Cursed Child]]''
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web |title=Olivier awards 2017: full list of nominations |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2017/mar/06/olivier-awards-2017-full-list-of-nominations |website=The Guardian |access-date=6 December 2020 |language=en |date=6 March 2017}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="3"| [[MTVU#Woodie Awards|MTVU Woodie Awards]]
| rowspan="3"| 2006
| Best Emerging Artist
| rowspan="2"| Herself
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3" |<ref name="HitsWoodie">{{cite web |title=MTVU Announces 2006 'MTVU Woodie Awards' Nominees |url=https://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=279161&title=mtvU-ANNOUNCES-2006-%E2%80%9CmtvU-WOODIE-AWARDS%E2%80%9D-NOMINEES |website=[[Hits (magazine)|Hits]] |access-date=27 December 2020 |language=en |date=12 September 2006}}</ref><ref name="BBWood">{{cite magazine |title=Angels & Airwaves, Gnarls Barkley Lead Woodie Winners |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/angels-airwaves-gnarls-barkley-lead-woodie-winners-56842/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=8 May 2025 |date=26 October 2006}}</ref>
|-
| Most Original Artist
| {{nom}}
|-
| Most Downloaded
| "[[Hide and Seek (Imogen Heap song)|Hide and Seek]]"
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row" |[[Music Producers Guild|Music Producers Guild Awards]]
| 2018
| Inspiration Award
| Herself
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;" |<ref name="sosmpgaward">{{cite web |title=Imogen Heap to receive MPG Inspiration Award |url=https://www.soundonsound.com/news/imogen-heap-receive-mpg-inspiration-award |website=Sound on Sound |access-date=2 December 2020 |language=en |date=27 February 2018}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |[[Music Week|Music Week Awards]]
| 2015
| Inspirational Artist
| Herself
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.futureevents.uk/WIM2020|title=Women in Music 2020 register interest|website=futureevents.uk|access-date=7 April 2020|archive-date=9 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409024442/https://www.futureevents.uk/WIM2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| [[World Soundtrack Academy|World Soundtrack Awards]]
| 2006
| [[World Soundtrack Award for Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film|Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film]]
| "[[The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (soundtrack)#Track listing|Can't Take It In]]"
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web |title=Brokeback, Kong among World Soundtrack Award nominees |url=http://www.screendaily.com/brokeback-kong-among-world-soundtrack-award-nominees/4028328.article |access-date=19 December 2012}}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://imogenheap.com}}
* {{TED speaker}}

{{Imogen Heap}}
{{Frou Frou}}
{{DramaDesk MusicPlay}}

{{portal bar|Biography|Music}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Heap, Imogen}}
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