I love pakodas: Imogen Heap

Imogen was most excited by the food here in Mumbai.

What are the kind of musicians you would like to collaborate with?
On a kind of broad scale when you’re writing a song, where I’ve got my gear there so I have the comfort of being able to make the song myself. When it comes to musicians who are going to play something on my records then I really have to like the way they sound because it’s going to be a sound that’ll be on one of my records. I can chop it and change it and kind of make it sound more like how I want it, but I’d rather work with musicians who are really fluid and I love their tone and Ashwin Srinivasan is one of them.

Actually, all the people who are on tour with me, Ian Burdge who I met through Nitin Sawhney; Ian and Ashwin are both in Nitin’s band. I also met a girl called Rina who also sings in Ashwin’s band. I don’t really plan and seek out musicians often; it really comes down to what’s around me at the time. Nothing’s really well thought of; it’s really just what’s around me at the time, and the people that I’ve met and the connections that I’ve made usually end up amalgamating into this song, because that’s how I like to work.

What is it that you like about Mumbai, India? Have you adapted to the style, the food, and the culture and of course the clothes?
I love the food here. We’ve eaten one thing that wasn’t Indian so far, and it was disappointing, mostly compared to quality of stuff you get here. I love the naans, and the yoghurts and the pakodas. I haven’t had as much time to see the city. I went to the Gateway of India as it was near my hotel. The last time we were here, we went around in a rickshaw, which was great fun and ended up going to Juhu beach and seeing the big ship and also went on one of the horses at the beach.

Is there anything you have imbibed from Indian music? What are you going to take back from India?
What really stays with you when you come away from India, not just the music, is the vitality of the people and the warmth. So I will have a warm, fuzzy, vibrant feeling with me when I go on the plane back home.

You also play a lot of instruments. Which of these do you use the most and what is the sound that you like?
The one I use the most is probably the keyboard because it gives me access to a lot of other sounds. The one I enjoy playing the most is the acoustic piano. But one of my favourite instruments is my gloves, and also the water phone.