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Frou Frou (band)

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Frou Frou
Frou Frou performing in 2019 at The Town Hall in New York City
Frou Frou performing in 2019 at The Town Hall in New York City
Background information
OriginEngland, UK
Genres
Years active1996–2004, 2017–present
Labels
MembersImogen Heap
Guy Sigsworth

Frou Frou (/ˈfruːfruː/) are a British electronic duo composed of musician Imogen Heap and producer/songwriter Guy Sigsworth. They released their only album, Details, in 2002. The duo wrote, produced, and played instruments on the tracks, while Heap also provided lead vocals. In 2004, they recorded a cover of "Holding Out for a Hero" by Bonnie Tyler, which was used in the credits of the 2004 film Shrek 2. Frou Frou amicably disbanded later that year.

In 2017, Heap and Sigsworth reunited as Frou Frou for Heap's Mycelia Tour. They released an EP of unreleased Frou Frou demos for Details' 20th anniversary in 2022.

History

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1997–2002: Introductions

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Heap and Sigsworth met in 1996 when Heap was 17 years old after Sigsworth was given a demo recorded by Heap and asked to meet with her. The two first collaborated when Heap contributed guest vocals to Sigsworth's band Acacia. Sigsworth later wrote two songs for Heap's 1998 debut studio album, I Megaphone, including her debut single, "Getting Scared".[1][2] As Heap went on tour throughout North America and Europe to promote the album, Sigsworth continued to write and produce for other artists, including Madonna and Björk.[3][4] As Heap's record label Almo Sounds lost funding, they asked Heap for a second album, and dropped her soon after being acquired by Universal, while Acacia was disbanded.[5][6][1]

Sigsworth began work on an album in 2001, which he initially envisioned as a solo album consisting of songs written and produced by Sigsworth with features from various singers, poets, and rappers.[3] After working with Heap on a song, Sigsworth instead decided to form Frou Frou with her, and the two began working on an album together.[1][7]

2002–2003: Details

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In 2002, Frou Frou 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 only album, Details in June 2002. An album of electronic music with elements of trip hop, pop and rock, the eclectic, intricately produced tracks use a wide range of traditional instruments including cellos, autoharps, guitars, keyboards, and Indian drums, with layered vocals from Heap.[8]

The album received critical acclaim, but this did not translate into mass sales the duo had hoped for. "Breathe In" was released as the first single internationally. It reached number two on the Italian radio airplay charts, and debuted in the Top 50 in the UK Singles Chart.[9] The follow-up singles "Must Be Dreaming" and "It's Good To Be in Love" were shelved from commercial release in the UK, however, through lack of radio and TV interest. "Breathe In" and "Must Be Dreaming" did become minor hits in Asia, particularly in Indonesia, where both singles made Top 10, peaking at number 7 and 5 respectively on the Indonesian Airplay Chart.

A video was made for a fourth single from the album, the closer "The Dumbing Down of Love", directed by Joel Peissig[10] (who later directed Heap's solo video "Hide and Seek"[11]). After touring the record extensively across the United States, where the duo had established a cult fan base, Frou Frou amicably disbanded in 2004.[12]

"Let Go"
The chorus to "Let Go", which has been described as the duo's most popular song.[5]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Sigsworth was contacted in 2004 by music supervisor Chris Douridas, an early fan of Frou Frou, who asked him to record a cover version of Bonnie Tyler's 1984 song "Holding Out for a Hero" for the Shrek 2 soundtrack. Although Frou Frou was no longer active, Sigsworth reached out to Heap to record vocals for the cover, and the duo was briefly reformed.[13] Frou Frou also gained popularity in the United States in 2004 after Zach Braff used "Let Go" on the soundtrack for his film, Garden State.[14]

The duo also worked together in 2003 on a track for Britney Spears's fourth album In The Zone,[4] 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 electronic music-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.

2017–present: Live reunion, Off Cuts

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In November 2017, it was announced that Heap and Sigsworth would be reuniting as Frou Frou during Imogen Heap's Mycelia Tour throughout 2018 and 2019.[15] In April 2019, Frou Frou released a live recording of "Guitar Song", their first single in 15 years and one of two singles not released at the time of the band's initial break-up, through We Are Hear.[16]

In late March 2022, Imogen Heap partnered with Symphonic Distribution to re-release previous material, including a handful of Frou Frou demos, which have been compiled into the Off Cuts EP, released on 3 June 2022, just shy of Details' 20th anniversary. The first single "A New Kind of Love (Demo)" was released 8 April.[17] A studio version of the "Guitar Song" demo released as the second single on 6 May.[18]

Genre

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Frou Frou's music has been described as electronic,[19] electropop,[20][21] synth-pop,[22] and alternative pop.[23]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Details
Details
  • Released: 4 June 2002
  • Label: MCA
  • Format: CD, vinyl, digital download, streaming

EPs

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Title Details Peak chart positions
UK
DL
[24] 		US
Curr.
[25] 		US
Heat
[26]
Off Cuts
  • Released: 3 June 2022
  • Label: Megaphonic
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 91 63 19

Singles

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Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[27] 		US
Adult
Pop
[28] 		US
Dance
[29]
"Breathe In" 2002 44 33 23 Details
"Must Be Dreaming" — — 16
"It's Good to Be in Love" — — —
"Guitar Song (Live)" 2019 — — — Non-album single
"A New Kind Of Love (Demo)" 2022 – – – Off Cuts
"Guitar Song (Demo)" – – –

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Dusting Off... Frou Frou's 'Details'". HMV. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  2. ^ Irish, Paul (19 October 2005). "Aurgasm Interview: Imogen Heap". Aurgasm. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Imogen Heap". ABC. 16 June 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  4. ^ a b Buchanan, John. "Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  5. ^ a b Farrell, Margaret (9 November 2018). "The 10 Best Imogen Heap Songs". Stereogum. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  6. ^ West, Naomi (14 October 2010). "Imogen Heap: fully connected". Telegraph. Archived from the original on 17 October 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  7. ^ Inglis, Sam (March 2001). "GUY SIGSWORTH: Music After MIDI". Sound on Sound. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  8. ^ Keim, Adam (20 July 2002). "Pasionate, Motivated MCA Duo Frou Frou Is Here To Make A Change". Billboard. p. 13.
  9. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 215. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  10. ^ Bold, Ben (30 June 2005). "Chocolate ad ripped off my video, says director". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  11. ^ Sanneh, Kelefa (20 November 2005). "Reggae's Bootleg Respect and a Hit for the Text-Message Set". New york Times. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  12. ^ Bloom, Madison (19 April 2019). "Frou Frou (Imogen Heap and Guy Sigsworth) Share First New Song in 15+ Years: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  13. ^ Brodsky, Rachel (19 May 2021). "How Shrek 2 Blew My Band Up". Vulture. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  14. ^ Kaplan, Ilana (24 August 2018). "Imogen Heap Talks Ariana Grande's Version of 'Goodnight and Go': 'It's a Real Gift'". Billboard. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  15. ^ Rettig, James (11 December 2018). "Frou Frou Reuniting For 2019 North American Tour". Stereogum. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  16. ^ Legaspi, Althea (19 April 2019). "Hear Frou Frou's First New Song in 15 Years 'Guitar Song (Live)'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  17. ^ "Symphonic Distribution Partners With Artist Imogen Heap For Global Distribution & Marketing". All Access. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  18. ^ Frou Frou Announcement & The Listening Chair Conversations No. 63 - April 7, 2022, 30 March 2022, retrieved 8 April 2022
  19. ^ Moen, Matt (8 May 2019). "Imogen Heap: 'I've Never Been Burdened by Fame'". Paper. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  20. ^ Byrne, Ciar (23 November 2005). "How to get ahead in music: Make an ad!". The Independent. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  21. ^ DeVille, Chris (19 April 2019). "Frou Frou - "Guitar Song (Live)"". Stereogum. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  22. ^ Solomon, Feliz (7 February 2017). "Science Has Designed a Song to Make Your Baby Happy". Time. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  23. ^ Sinagra, Laura (13 January 2006). "With Her Synthesizer, She Mesmerizes". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  24. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100 – 10 June 2022". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  25. ^ "Frou Frou Chart History (Current Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  26. ^ "Frou Frou Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  27. ^ "Frou Frou Chart History". Official Charts. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  28. ^ "Frou Frou Chart History - Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  29. ^ "Frou Frou Chart History - Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
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