Frou Frou is a British electro-pop musical group with two members, Imogen Heap and Guy Sigsworth, active from 2002 to 2003. Their music has drawn comparisons with Björk (with whom Sigsworth has previously collaborated). Heap is the primary vocalist for the group, with both members writing, producing and playing instruments on the tracks.

Career

Origins

In 1998, Heap was introduced to Sigsworth to help produce her debut album, I-Megaphone, which was released on now-defunct Almo Records. Their first collaborative effort was on the album track, and first single, "Getting Scared."

After criticising work on other projects throughout his career, Sigsworth realised that the missing link he sought was a "vocal he loved". Having particularly favoured the voice of Heap, who by now had become a good friend, he asked her to work on a record with him. She says, "Every month or so Guy would phone me up and say 'I've got a new song, would you come in and sing it?' and then before we knew it we'd already started the album." The duo's first collaborative effort was "Flicks."

Sigsworth, a fan of all things French, suggested the name "Frou Frou" - lifted from a Baudelaire poem, and also French onomatopoeia of the swishing noise made by skirts on dancing women.

Details

In 2002 the duo released their first album Details on MCA Records in the USA, and Island Records internationally. Featuring a wide range of electronica-pop, with elements of trip-hop and rock, the hand-crafted tracks used a wide range of organic instruments from cellos, autoharps, guitars, keyboards, and Indian drums, with layered vocals from Heap.

The album received critical acclaim, but this did not translate into the mass sales the duo had hoped for. "Breathe In" was released as the first single internationally, and reached number two on the Italian radio airplay charts, but the follow up singles "Must Be Dreaming" and "It's Good to Be in Love" were never commercially released in the U.K. A video was also made for "The Dumbing Down of Love", directed by Joel Peissig (who later directed Heap's solo video "Hide and Seek"). After touring the record extensively across the United States, where the duo had established a cult fan base, having received extensive airplay on KCRW, Frou Frou disbanded in 2003.

Since disbanding

Despite disbanding to rest after a hectic touring schedule, Heap and Sigsworth reformed temporarily to record a special cover version of "Holding Out for a Hero" (originally recorded by Bonnie Tyler) for the Shrek 2 soundtrack. The duo were approached by the music director of the film, who had been a fan. The resulting track is played during the end credits. Frou Frou also experienced a resurgence in popularity in 2004, when Scrubs star Zach Braff chose "Let Go" for his independent film, Garden State. Other Frou Frou tracks have been included on television shows, such as CSI Miami, Roswell High, and Wonderfalls. Heap has also stated in a 2005 interview that she and Sigsworth have collaborated recently on a song for a well-known female artist. It turned out that the artist in question was none other than pop star Britney Spears. Imogen co-wrote a song with Britney called 'Over To You Now' available as the bside on the 2005 Japanese EP 'Someday (I Will Understand)'.

Both artists have successfully collaborated with other musicians. Sigsworth has notably worked with Madonna on her Music album track "What It Feels Like For A Girl", and with Britney Spears on her UK #1 single, "Everytime," and on recent single, "Someday (I Will Understand)." Heap has collaborated with UK Fame Academy winner Alex Parks, as well as working with artists such as Urban Species, Nik Kershaw, UK electro pop band Temposhark and Dave Stewart of Eurythmics.

Sigsworth and Heap reportedly both have an appreciation for classical music.

Discography

Album

• Details (2002) MCA/Island

Singles

• "Breathe In" (single) (June 2002)
  1. Breathe In (radio edit)
  2. Close Up
  3. Breathe In (Watkins Radio Edit)
• "Must Be Dreaming" (not released in UK)
• "It's Good to Be in Love" (not released in UK)

External links

• Frou Frou
• Imogen Heap

References

• Vincent Jeffries. Frou Frou. MTV.com. Accessed August 29, 2004.