Guy Sigsworth

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Guy Sigsworth
Guy Sigsworth

Allan Arthur Guy Sigsworth is an electronica producer and was member of the band Frou Frou together with U.K. singer/songwriter/producer Imogen Heap.

He was a pupil at Leeds Grammar School in the 1970s, where he and his band performed a memorable version of Red House which ended prematurely after he cut his hand rather badly on a cymbal.

Sigsworth began his career working with Seal on "Crazy", having met the singer in a neighbouring London flat. Following this he set up an electronic band, Acacia, who eventually released an album "Cradle" on major label Warners. From there he came across a series of like-minded musicians, working with Tim Simenon (Bomb the Bass), Talvin Singh, French producer Hector Zazou, and Icelandic singer, Björk.

Sigsworth first received critical acclaim for his work on Björk's 1995 album Post, as well as 1997's Homogenic, and later Vespertine. Also in 1998, Sigsworth was introduced to Imogen Heap, who had signed a deal with the now-defunct Almo Sounds. He had been chosen, because of his work with Björk, to help Heap to record and produce her first album. The resulting CD, i Megaphone, is an angst-infused indie-rock affair, a far cry from the electronica-pop of their 2002 collaboration, Details. He also worked on electronica-infused albums with Lamb.

Sigsworth had also worked on an underground album by Mandalay, which, despite not gaining wide popularity, came to the attention of Madonna. She contacted Sigsworth after hearing the record, and the result was "What It Feels Like for A Girl", co-written with Madonna herself, and produced by Sigsworth, Madonna, and Mark "Spike" Stent. The song, featured on the number-one album Music (2000), was also released as a single in April 2001.

In 2007, Sigsworth co-wrote and produced the whole of Alanis Morissette's new album in Los Angeles and London, which will be released on June 10, 2008 as per an announcement on Alanis' official website.

[edit] Frou Frou

Main article: Frou Frou

After criticising work on other projects throughout his career, Sigsworth realised that the missing link he was looking for was a "vocal he loved". He decided to rectify this and, having particularly favoured the voice of Imogen Heap, who by now had become a good friend, asked her to work on the 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."

After a collection of songs had been completed, Heap and Sigsworth set about finding a name for their collaborative effort. Sigsworth, a fan of all things French, came up with "Frou Frou", which Heap loved. The name comes from a Charles Baudelaire poem, and is a French onomatopoeic word originally meaning the swishing noise made by skirts on dancing women.

The songs Heap and Sigsworth had recorded were collectively released on the album Details. 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, auto harps, guitars, keyboards, and Indian drums, with layered vocals from Heap.

The album was released in 2002 on Universal Records to 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 follow up singles, "Must Be Dreaming" and "It's Good To Be In Love" were never commercially released in the UK. 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, Frou Frou disbanded in 2003.

Despite disbanding to rest after a hectic touring schedule, Heap and Sigsworth reformed Frou Frou 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 their album. The resulting track is played during the end credits of the film. Frou Frou also experienced a resurgence in popularity in 2004, when Scrubs star, Zach Braff chose album track "Let Go" for his independent film, Garden State. Other Frou Frou tracks have been included on television shows, such as CSI and Roswell High.

Despite disbanding only after one album (Heap and Sigsworth remain firm friends and meet regularly to catch up on things, but are currently focused on separate musical projects), Frou Frou's musical influence has remained widespread and both Heap and Sigsworth have seen an increase in interest in their projects post-collaboration.

[edit] After Frou Frou

After Frou Frou disbanded, Sigsworth went back to producing and co-writing for other artists, including co-writing with Welsh singer/songwriter Jem on tracks including "Nothing Fails", which was re-worked with Madonna for her 2003 album, American Life.

Sigsworth has also produced two tracks for American pop artist, Britney Spears. The first, "Everytime", appeared on her US number-one album, In The Zone and, when released as the third single from the album, reached number one in the UK and Australian singles charts, as well as number fifteen in the USA Billboard Hot 100, giving Sigsworth commercial success to rival that he had experienced with Madonna and Björk.

In 2005, Spears and Sigsworth collaborated again on a special song Spears had written about having a child, "Someday (I Will Understand)". A track Imogen Heap and Sigsworth had worked on for the In The Zone album, entitled "Over To You Now", was also released on the UK and Japanese bonus CDs of the DVD release of her reality TV show, Britney & Kevin: Chaotic, as well as on the Japanese "Someday (I Will Understand)" single.

Sigsworth has also worked on albums by Swedish pop artist Robyn and the UK group, Sugababes, producing a track called "Maya" on their 2003 album, Three, and two tracks for their 2005 album, Taller in More Ways, one of which appears on the album, "Bruised," and another, "Like The Weather," which appears as a B-side to their single, "Push The Button," both co-written by the band themselves with Guy and esteemed UK writer, Cathy Dennis. In addition, Sigsworth has produced and remixed songs for world jazz artist Bebel Gilberto and American dance artist, Juliet, for whom he produced and co-wrote a track called "New Shoes". At the end of 2005, Sigsworth produced a single "It's Better To Have Loved" for up-and-coming UK electro pop band Temposhark and two songs for Zero 7's singer Mozez on his "So Still" debut album.

In addition, Sigsworth has been working extensively with Norwegian singer-songwriter-producer, Kate Havnevik on tracks for her three solo albums, the first to be released of which is Melankton, which was released in April 2006 through iTunes. Sigsworth co-wrote and produced tracks including the lead single, "Unlike Me," which was featured in an a cappella form on hit TV show Grey's Anatomy, "Not Fair" and "You Again." Another Sigsworth collaboration entitled "So:Lo" was released on iTunes in late 2006, and appeared on the USA version of Melankton in 2007.

Also in 2006, Sigsworth remixed Mirah's "La Familia" for her 2006 collection Joyride: Remixes and produced the vocals for classical singer Josh Groban's single "You Are Loved (Don't Give Up)," taken from his third album "Awake". Sigsworth also produced a track for ex-Sugababes member Mutya Buena's debut solo album, having worked on the previous two Sugababes albums, and has produced tracks for artists including Amy Studt, Temposhark, Richard Walters and Chinese/Hong Kong singer Chelsia Chan, all of which are expected to be commercially released in 2007.

In addition, Sigsworth is working in London and Los Angeles with Alanis Morissette on songs for her upcoming record; Morissette was accompanied by Sigsworth on piano at a recent performance, on a new song entitled "Not As We." Morissette has stated she and Sigsworth have been "sequestered in London and L.A over the last few months writing a bevy of new songs."

[edit] Discography

  • Seal Seal (1991)
    • "Crazy" (co-written/production)
    • "The Beginning" (co-written)
    • "Wild" (co-written)
    • "Violet" (co-written)
  • Bomb The Bass Winter In July (1991)
    • "Winter In July" (samples/production/keyboards)
  • Bomb The Bass The Air You Breathe (1991)
    • The Air You Breathe" (Real Mellow Mix) (remix/additional production)
  • Bomb The Bass Love So True (1991)
    • "Love So True" (12" Mix) (keyboards/additional keyboards)
  • Bomb The Bass Unknown Territory (1991)
    • "Winter In July" (7" Mix) (samples/production/keyboards)
    • "The Air You Breathe" (keyboards)
    • "Love So True" (12" Mix) (keyboards)
  • Adamski & Jimi Polo Never Goin' Down! (12 inch vinyl) (1991)
    • "Born To Be Alive!" (Spike's Edit) (additional programming)
  • Adamski Naughty (1992)
    • "Born To Be Alive!" (programming)
    • "Time Capsule" (programming)
    • "Newsflash" (programming)
    • "Head-On-Collision-Ism" (programming)
  • Hector Zazou Sahara Blue (1992)
  • "I'll Strangle You" (keyboards)
  • Hector Zazou I'll Strangle You (1992)
    • "I'll Strangle You" (Radio Edit) (keyboards)
    • "I'll Strangle You" (Extended Remix) (keyboards)
    • "I'll Strangle You" (Filmic Mix) (keyboards)
  • Naked Truth Read This (EP) (1992) (production)
  • Bomb The Bass Keep Giving Me Love (single) (1992)
    • "Keep Giving Me Love" (keyboards)
  • Nokko Call Me Nightlife (1993)
    • "Crazy Clouds" (keyboards)
  • Acacia Maddening Shroud (EP) (1994) (co-written/production/co-instrumentation)
  • Acacia More You Ignore Me (Vinyl single) (1994) (co-written/production/co-instrumentation)
  • Hector Zazou Sahara Blue (1994) (keyboards)
  • Hector Zazou Chansons Des Mers Froides (Songs From The Cold Seas) (1995) (keyboards)
  • Björk Post (1995)
    • "Cover Me" (harpsichord)
    • "Isobel" (harpsichord)
  • Björk Homogenic (1997)
    • "Unravel" (co-written/co-production)
    • "All Is Full of Love" (clavichord/keyboards/pipe organ)
    • "All Is Full of Love" (Guy Sigsworth Remix) (production) ("All Is Full of Love" B-side)
  • Acacia Hate (single) (1996)(co-written/production/co-instrumentation/remixes)
  • Acacia Sway (single) (1996) (co-written/production/co-instrumentation/remixes)
  • Acacia Maddening Shroud (single) (1997) (co-written/production/co-instrumentation/remixes)
  • Acacia Wired (single) (1997)(co-written/production/co-instrumentation/remixes)
  • Acacia Cradle (1997)
    • All album tracks (co-written/production/co-instrumentation)
  • Imogen Heap i Megaphone (1998)
    • "Getting Scared" (co-written/production)
    • "Airplane" (co-writing/production) ("Shine" B-side)
    • "Aeroplane" (Frou Frou Remix) (co-written/production) (Japan re-release bonus track)
  • G:MT "Greenwich Mean Time OST" (1998)
    • G:MT & Imogen Heap "Meantime" (written/production/instrumentation)
    • G:MT & Hinda Hicks "Tears Are Waiting" (written/production/co-instrumentation)
    • G:MT & Hinda Hicks "Where Is The Love" (written/production/co-instrumentation)
    • G:MT & Hinda Hicks "Please Can I Go Now?" (written/production/co-instrumentation)
    • G:MT & Hinda Hicks "Who Would You Have Me Love" (written/production/co-instrumentation)
    • G:MT & Hinda Hicks "Succumb To You" (written/production/co-instrumentation)
    • G:MT & Lester Bowie "Rachel's Song" (instrumental)(written/production/co-instrumentation)
  • Mandalay Empathy (1998)
    • "This Life" (co-production/rhodes/sampler/synth/wurlitzer/piano)
    • "Flowers Bloom" (co-production/rhodes/sampler/synth/wurlitzer/piano)
    • "Insensible" (co-production/rhodes/sampler/synth/wurlitzer/piano)
    • "Another" (co-production/rhodes/sampler/synth/wurlitzer/piano)
    • "Enough Love" (co-production/rhodes/sampler/synth/wurlitzer/piano)
    • "All My Sins" (co-production/rhodes/sampler/synth/wurlitzer/piano)
    • "Opposites" (co-production/rhodes/sampler/synth/wurlitzer/piano)
    • "This Time" (co-production/rhodes/sampler/synth/wurlitzer/piano)
    • "Kissing the Day" (co-production/rhodes/sampler/synth/wurlitzer/piano)
    • "Beautiful" (co-production/rhodes/sampler/synth/wurlitzer/piano)
    • "About You" (co-production/rhodes/sampler/synth/wurlitzer/piano)
  • Badmarsh & Shri Air I Breathe (single) (1998)
  • Goldie Saturnz Return (1998)
    • "Mother" (keyboards)
    • "Air I Breathe" (Guy Sigsworth Remix) (remix/additional production)
  • Talvin Singh OK (1998)
    • "OK" (Heavy Rotation Radio Refixx) (remix/additional production)
  • Talvin Singh OK (1998)
    • "Sutrix" (sound effects (distortion)/keyboards)
    • "OK" (sound effects (distortion)/keyboards)
  • Talvin Singh Vikram The Vampire (1999)
    • "Vikram The Vampire" (Heavy Rotation Refixx) (remix/additional production)
  • David Sylvian Godman (1999)
    • "Godman" (Guy Sigsworth Remix) (remix/additional production/additional instrumentation)
  • UNKLE Featuring Ian Brown Be There (1999)
    • "Be There" (co-producer/mellotron)
  • Björk Selmasongs (2000)
    • "I've Seen It All" (co-written)
  • Madonna Music (2000)
  • Björk "Vespertine (2001)
    • "Hidden Place" (programming/choir arrangement)
    • "It's Not up to You" (celeste, clavichord)
    • "An Echo, a Stain" (co-written/programming/celeste/choir arrangement)
    • "Sun in My Mouth" (co-written/celeste)
  • Amar Sometimes It Snows In April (2000)
    • "Sometimes It Snows In April" (production)
  • Mandalay Solace (2001) (USA-only compilation featuring tracks from 1998's "Empathy")
    • "Beautiful" (co-production/rhodes/sampler/synth/wurlitzer/piano)
    • "This Life" (co-production/rhodes/sampler/synth/wurlitzer/piano)
    • "Flowers Bloom" (co-production/rhodes/sampler/synth/wurlitzer/piano)
    • "Enough Love" (co-production/rhodes/sampler/synth/wurlitzer/piano)
    • "Insensible" (co-production/rhodes/sampler/synth/wurlitzer/piano)
    • "Kissing The Day" (co-production/rhodes/sampler/synth/wurlitzer/piano)
  • Lamb What Sound (2001)
    • "One" (co-production/programming)
    • "Heaven" (co-production/programming)
    • "Small" (co-production/programming)
    • "Written" (co-production/programming)
    • "Gabriel" (co-production/programming)
    • "Just Is" (co-production/programming)
  • Robyn Don't Stop The Music (2002)
    • "Blow My Mind"(production/instrumentation)
    • "Should Have Known"(production/instrumentation)
  • Frou Frou Details (2002)
    • "Let Go" (co-written/co-production/co-instrumentation)
    • "Breathe In" (co-written/co-production/co-instrumentation)
    • "It's Good to Be in Love" (co-written/co-production/co-instrumentation)
    • "Must Be Dreaming" (co-written/co-production/co-instrumentation)
    • "Psycobabble" (co-written/co-production/co-instrumentation)
    • "Only Got One" (co-written/co-production/co-instrumentation)
    • "Shh" (co-written/co-production/co-instrumentation)
    • "Hear Me Out" (co-written/co-production/co-instrumentation)
    • "Maddening Shroud" (co-written/co-production/co-instrumentation)
    • "Flicks" (co-written/co-production/co-instrumentation)
    • "The Dumbing Down Of Love" (co-written/co-production/co-instrumentation)
    • "Old Piano" (co-written/co-production/co-instrumentation) ("Details" UK/Japan bonus track)
    • "Close Up" (co-written/co-production/co-instrumentation) ("Breathe In" B-side)
    • "Deal With It" (co-written/co-production/co-instrumentation) ("It's Good To Be In Love" B-side)
  • Baz Psychedelic Love (2002) (production)
  • Madonna American Life (2003)
    • "Nothing Fails" (co-written)
  • Britney Spears In The Zone (2003)
    • "Everytime" (production/instrumentation)
  • Sugababes Three (2003)
    • "Maya" (co-written/production)
    • "Million Different Ways" (production)
  • Shrek 2 OST (2004)
    • "Holding Out For A Hero" (co-production/co-instrumentation)
  • Bebel Gilberto Bebel Gilberto (2004)
    • "Cada Beijo" (co-written/production)
  • Britney Spears Greatest Hits: My Prerogative (2004)
    • "Everytime" (production/instrumentation)
  • Juliet 'Random Order (2005)
    • "New Shoes" (co-written/production)
  • Bebel Gilberto Bebel Gilberto Remixed (2005)
    • "O Caminho" (Guy Sigsworth Remix) (remix/additional production/additional instrumentation)
  • Britney Spears Britney & Kevin: Chaotic... The DVD & More (2005)
  • Sugababes Taller In More Ways" (2005)
    • "Bruised" (co-written/production/instrumentation)
    • "Like The Weather" (co-written/production/instrumentation) ("Push The Button" B-side)
  • Mozez So Still (2005)
    • "Feel Free" (co-written/production/instrumentation)
    • "Venus Rise" (co-written/production/instrumentation)
  • Temposhark It's Better To Have Loved (2005)
    • "It's Better To Have Loved" (Guy Sigsworth Mix) (production/instrumentation)
  • Kate Havnevik Melankton (2006/2007)
    • "Unlike Me" (co-written/production/instrumentation)
    • "Not Fair" (co-written/production/instrumentation)
    • "You Again" (co-written/production/instrumentation)
    • "Kaleidoscope" (production/instrumentation/mixing)
    • "Sleepless" (co-written/production/instrumentation)
    • "So:Lo" (production/co-written) (USA & iTunes only)
  • Josh Groban Awake (2006)
    • "You Are Loved (Don't Give Up)" (vocal production)
  • Mirah Joyride: Remixes (2006)
    • "La Familia" (Guy Sigsworth Remix) (remix/additional production)
  • Bebel Gilberto Momento (2007)
    • "Momento" (production/instrumentation)
    • "Cade Voce" (co-written/production/instrumentation)
    • "Azul" (co-written/production/instrumentation)
    • "Close To You" (co-written/production/instrumentation)
  • Mutya Buena Real Girl (2007)
    • "Wonderful" (production)
  • Temposhark The Invisible Line (2007)
    • "It's Better To Have Loved" (Album version) (production/instrumentation)
    • "Winter's Coming" (co-written/production/instrumentation)
  • Amy Studt My Paper Made Men (2008)
    • Paper Made Men (co-written/production/instrumentation)
  • Alanis Morissette Flavors of Entanglement (+ B-sides) (2008)
    • "Citizen Of The Planet"
    • "Underneath"
    • "Versions Of Violence"
    • "Moratorium"
    • "I Am"
    • "Wounded Leading Wounded"
    • "Giggling Again For No Reason"
    • "In Praise Of The Vulnerable Man"
    • "Straitjacket"
    • "On The Tequila"
    • "Tapes"
    • "Incomplete"
    • "Not As We"
    • "Torch"
    • "20/20"
    • "Limbo No More"
    • "The Guy Who Leaves"
    • "Madness"
    • "Orchid"
    • "It's A Bitch To Grow Up"
    • "Asylum"
    • "Break"
    • "Separate"
v • d • e
Frou Frou
Imogen Heap · Guy Sigsworth
Studio albums
Singles
Breathe In · Must Be Dreaming · It's Good To Be In Love · Let Go