Frou Frou
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Frou Frou are a British electronica duo comprised of Imogen Heap and Guy Sigsworth, who released their only album, Details in 2002. Their music is a result of a full collaboration - they both write, produce and play instruments on the tracks - whilst Heap also provides the vocals. Frou Frou disbanded in 2003.
Introductions
In 1998, Heap was introduced to Sigsworth whilst writing and recording her debut album, i Megaphone, which was released on the now-defunct Almo Sounds. Sigsworth had previously worked as part of a band, called Acacia, and had written and produced for artists, such as Seal, but it was his work with Björk that brought him to the attention of Heap and her label. Together they wrote the first single to be taken from i Megaphone, the angst-ridden "Getting Scared," which Sigsworth also produced, and the B-side to the album's second single, "Shine," entitled "Airplane." Heap went on to tour i Megaphone internationally, promoting the record, whilst Sigsworth contiuned to write and produce for other artists, including Madonna and Lamb, as well as remaining a member of Acacia.Heap and Sigsworth kept in contact, remaining friends, and in 2001, having been held in limbo by her record label for a year (despite her second album being written and ready to record), Heap begun collaborating on new tracks with Sigsworth. The initial idea was that Sigsworth would put together an album, featuring tracks written and produced by him alongside a singer, songwriter, poet or rapper, to be released under the name "Frou Frou." Heap's record label was bought and disbanded, leaving her without a record contract, and Sigsworth himself was also having record label issues, as his band, Acacia was being ignored. Heap explains that Sigsworth invited her over to his studio, to write lyrics to a four-bar motif he had, with one condition - that she include the word "love" somewhere. The first line she came up with was "lung of love, leaves me breathless," and the Details album track, "Flicks," was born. A week later, Sigsworth phoned her up again, and together they wrote and recorded "Breathe In," and it happened again and again, until nearly half the album was completed. In December 2001, they made the conscious decision to form a duo together. Their first official release as "Frou Frou" was a remix of "Airplane" - renamed "Aeroplane" - they had completed for the Japanese re-release of Heap's debut album.
The name "Frou Frou" (pronounced "froo froo") is derived from the 1870 Rimbaud poem, "Ma Bohème," and is French onomatopoeia for the swishing noise made by skirts on dancing women. Sigsworth, a fan of all things French, had come up with the name and Heap thought it was fitting, so they decided to record together under the name.
Details
In 2002 the duo signed a record deal with Universal Records, on the Island Records imprint in the UK and Europe, and MCA Records in the USA. They released their first, and sole, album Details in August 2002. Featuring a wide range of electronica, with elements of trip-hop, pop and rock, the eclectic, intricately produced tracks use 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, and debuted in the top 50 in the UK singles charts, but the follow up singles "Must Be Dreaming" and "It's Good To Be In Love" were shelved from commercial release in the UK, due to lack of radio and TV interest.
A video was also made for a fourth single from the album; the closer, "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.
After 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 of Details and wanted them to try their hand at the track. The result is played during the end credits of the film, as well as appearing on the soundtrack CD. Frou Frou also experienced a resurgence in popularity in 2004, when Scrubs star Zach Braff chose "Let Go" as the key track for his independent film, Garden State. Other Frou Frou tracks have been included on television shows, such as "CSI Miami," "Roswell", "Wonderfalls", and "So You Think You Can Dance". The duo also worked together in 2003 on a track for Britney Spears's fourth album In The Zone, entitled "Over To You Now." The track was written by Sigsworth, Swedish pop star Robyn and her long-term songwriting companion, and Sigsworth asked Heap to come in and make the song more suitable for Spears, adding backing vocals and making the track more electronica-infused. Despite not being used on In The Zone, the track was released in late 2005 on the Japan CD single of Spears' single, "Someday (I Will Understand)" and on the UK and Japan bonus CDs of the DVD release of her reality TV show, "[[Britney and Kevin: Chaotic]]."In 2003, Heap returned to working on her solo career, taking a year to write, produce and instrument her second solo album, entitled Speak For Yourself which was released in 2005. Sigsworth, a successful and esteemed producer prior to his work with Heap as Frou Frou has also continued to write and produce for other artists, including with Britney Spears on her 2004 UK #1 single, "Everytime." as well as work with Sugababes and Kate Havnevik. Heap has also written and produced for UK Fame Academy winner Alex Parks and Nik Kershaw, and both Heap and Sigsworth have remixed tracks for UK electro-rock band Temposhark.
Discography
- Details (2002) MCA/Island Records (UK #128)
- "Breathe In" (Single) (June 2002) (UK #44)
- #Breathe In (Radio Edit)
- #Close Up
- #Breathe In (Watkins Radio Edit)
- "Must Be Dreaming"
- "It's Good To Be In Love"
External Links
References
- Vincent Jeffries. [Frou Frou.] MTV.com. Accessed August 29, 2004.
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