In a music world where playing the covers of other band's songs, sampling for hip-hop beats and imitating the style of the hot new artist are all commonplace, Imogen Heap stands out from the crowd.

Q: What was your first experience with playing music?

A: It was the grand piano in our house when we grew up, just made the most useful noise.

When I was a kid, I thought it was most fun to bang on the keys and make the loudest noise.

The piano is just a welcoming instrument, and I just wanted to play it really badly.

Q: You did your most recent album, Speak For Yourself, all by yourself. How was that different from your other work?

A: It was kind of scary but brilliant at the same time. I'd gotten so used to working with someone else in the studio that it was really hard by myself.

When I didn't have that, I kept thinking, "What would Guy [Sigsworth, of Frou Frou] do?"

The fact, not having a record label, it was wonderfully freeing.

Q: How did you approach doing an album without a record label's backing?

A: I think in the beginning, I didn't think that I would actually finish an album on my own. I thought I'd get so far, then call someone in to help.

What I expected from the beginning, I wanted it to be exciting, I wanted it to have as much dynamic as possible. I think I achieved that. It wasn't until about three or four months later that I actually listened to it, and I really enjoy it.

For the last two or three weeks, I really had to meet my deadline. So I had three weeks to really hammer down, and in those three weeks I got more done than I had in the year before.

Q: You were on the Garden State soundtrack, and "Hide and Seek" is on The Last Kiss soundtrack. Do you have a relationship with Zach Braff?

A: I know him. He's very nice. I'm lucky that in the kind of music I make, it seems to bring about really nice people.

I'd heard that he loved "Hide and Seek" and that he was thinking of putting it on the soundtrack. He's great, and he's such a lovely guy, and he's helped so many bands.

Q: What made you decide to become a professional musician?

A: Friends encouraged me, they thought I had kind of a good voice. And then I got a record deal, and I completely wasn't planning on it. I met my manager at school. I had no idea he wanted to manage me, but I thought he kind of liked me and wanted to have sex with me. He produced a record of mine and then I got a record deal.

Q: What was it like working with Jeff Beck on your last album?

A: He is so incredible. When I first met him, I had no idea who he was. I didn't know how much of a legend he was, until he picked up the guitar, and he was really good. We kept being friends, really. He's never been into glitz and glamour and he's always been about the music. He's super mechanical, and he's got a great body for being
about 60 years old. There are people that old who are really awful, but he's such a sweetheart.