Imogen Heap: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Watch Imogen Heap play "Guitar Song", "Speeding Cars" and "Hide and Seek" at the Tiny Desk.

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June 20, 2019 | Bob Boilen -- In the course of a few songs at the Tiny Desk, Imogen Heap took us through her many musical talents. The concert began with her old Frou Frou musical partner, Guy Sigsworth — and their first new song in 17 years — and ended with an extraordinary demonstration and performance of her high-tech musical gloves.

Imogen Heap not only has an enchanting voice but also the talents of a world-class audio engineer. She's completely engrossed in a technology she's helped to develop, one that makes it possible to alter sounds, create loops and compose tunes all with the wave of her glove-wearing hands. The high-tech gloves, now called Mi.Mu Gloves, were first shown at a TEDGlobal conference eight years ago. Her performances, with her sound-altering arm and hand gestures, resemble a summoning of spirits, a far more compelling live experience than what Imogen said used to look like she was standing behind her laptop checking email.

And though there's not been a new Imogen Heap album since 2014, this Tiny Desk Concert includes a reworking of "Hide and Seek," the song that made her a household name, and one she reimagined for the Broadway play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

It's a thoroughly enchanting Tiny Desk Concert.

SET LIST
Guitar Song
Speeding Cars
Hide and Seek

MUSICIANS
Imogen Heap: lead vocals, piano, Mi.Mu gloves; Guy Sigsworth: keys; Steve Jones: guitar; Zoë Keating: cello; Tim Keiper: drums, percussion

CREDITS
Producers: Bob Boilen, Colin Marshall; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin, Natasha Branch; Videographers: Colin Marshall, Nickolai Hammar, Kara Frame; Associate Producer: Bobby Carter; Photo: NPR

[NickAdelman]

had the pleasure of seeing her years ago...


she was supposed to have a gospel chorus back her up on hide and seek
they didn't make it because of the weather, so she improvised and had the audience be her chorus


it was an ethereal experience
a moment you just don't forget

[jutiajulia]

Imogen Heap is an one in a billion artist. She’s timeless. This was an amazing tiny desk concert.

[hoseoksfannypack]

I feel like if her and Björk collaborated the world would end in the best way imaginable

[ImWeirdAndILikeIt]

It’s insane that she’s able to sing so beautifully and live mix her own vocals into multiple tracks all at once. That’s so many moving parts at once, I’m insanely impressed.

[wpjones]

The audio production folks at Tiny Desk have to be some of the best in the business and that's reflected in the compliments you see in the comments. Working with a performer who's equally at home in audio engineering like Imogen Heap had to have been a treat.

[csheets]

My God, Imogen is so far ahead of our time. What an incredible woman, lyricist, and musician she is.

[ricmmatias]

As a "musician" for over 30y must confess that Imogen Heap's talent scares the sh*t out of me... not from this world

[ryandinosaur]

Imogen Heap is the GOAT. She's not afraid to be herself and she's not afraid to stand up straight and just sing.

[KelbyRoberson]

Imagine having so much musical talent that you can play air.

[alex]

She speaks how she sings.
I wish she was my neighbor. dunno why.
Maybe so i could point at the overgrown garden and go "she's on tour right now"

[cartmansnipples]

This “Hide and Seek” feels like its gonna be really important looking back at her career in a century or so. It’s seriously one of the most entrancing and angelic things I’ve ever heard.

[JuliaRoshambo]

i love seeing examples of technology creating a more intimate/human experience instead of the typical "black mirror technology will kill us all" mentality.

[danielmartchek]

My girlfriend cried when I got her tickets to see Imogen this year, so I HAD to go. The powerful melding of stage production, audio technology, and airy, charming personality had me speechless. Imogen is truly something else entirely.

[bbuuccchh]

Guitar Song: 0:00
Speeding Cars 5:40
Mimu Gloves 9:02
Hide and Seek 12:59

[usemoreproduct]

"this is a song, that if i don't play it, people throw tomatoes at me. "

[DM-cuhp]

She's like some sort of extraterrestrial princess from the future who we captured and is singing herself free.

[micahjones]

Uh, WOW. I have never seen someone make music like an extension of their body like that. Even on the piano or solo vocals, it's like the music was flowing in her body. What a passionate artist and creator to make such powerful tools for expression. I am amazed

[AndyMacster]

I love how even after all these years, she continues to reinvent her works. Hide and Seek was always alive and atmospheric and I love how she just builds upon and colours the air with this notion. Gorgeously talented artist.

[mneo]

I'm so glad Imogen came from the future to enlighten us in the present.

[NatrixHasYou]

From Sesame Street to Imogen Heap, Tiny Desk is killing it.