Imogen Heap
“I mogen Heap is a musical genius, and a legend in her own lifetime. I know she may not fall neatly into some people’s idea of ‘prog’, if we were to place strictly puritan limits on the genre. But hey, aren’t we all here because we love breaking boundaries and limitations?
“‘Immi’ is the absolute epitomy of a progressive music icon, in my book. I feel sure she will be remembered as a musical visionary of the 21st century. Ever since her debut album [iMegaphone] in 1998, she has been creating some of the most innovative, radical, imaginative and amazing music on the planet.
“She learned several instruments as a child. Then she taught herself music programming and production on an old Atari computer, and started to fuse her love of organic sounds with a passion for new technology. Her experimental and beautiful music has won her two Grammys. Not to mention that famous collaboration with Jeff Beck!
“But the real highlight for me is seeing her live on stage. She is one of the most brilliant, vibrant, inspiring but also down-to-earth performers I have ever seen. Her passion and excitement for making new music is infectious, and makes the whole room shimmer. That’s what I personally want to see and hear – someone with a genuine, heartfelt love for music, combined with a playful mind and a tenacious drive to create art which is fresh and new.”