Imogen Heap Offers Tips on Planning the Perfect Party

Imogen Heap wrote her latest single, 'First Train Home,' after escaping from a party. "My heart wasn't in being out and getting drunk," she tells Spinner. "I was desperate to get out of this party and get home, but I had to wait six hours until the train went back to London. Finally it was six o'clock, I got on the first train home, everybody else was going to work, and I was going home. I went home straight to the piano, and wrote the song straightaway."

Part of Heap's hurry to get out of that particular party was desire to get back to work, but she says is not a workaholic. "If the night's right and the people are right, of course I want to be out, I want to be socializing," she says. "I don't want to be in my studio 24 hours a day for the whole rest of my life."

And when Heap decides to throw a party, she knows how to be the perfect host. "I had a great party here once and the things I wanted to make sure it had were space to dance, a space where people could talk and a space where people could go and help themselves to drinks and treats," she says. "I think the biggest part of a good party is the host and then going around making sure nobody's left alone and knows enough about the people in the room to know who to introduce to whom."

Sure, the crowd and space are important, but what we really want to hear is Heap's party playlist. "One of my favorite songs at the moment -- it's just absolutely guaranteed to get everyone on the dance floor, and I have a way of getting other people on the dance floor -- is 'Dance Wiv Me' by Dizzee Rascal. It's absolutely genius. I love it," she says. "If you're going to be playing a party and want people to dance, you have to have dance music. Daft Punk is great for the dance floor."

On top of picking the right music, Heap has a secret talent for getting people up and moving. "I do really silly dancing. I love dancing, but I'm not cool when I dance," she says. "It's not about my moves, it's not about how cool I am, it's not about how slick I look on the dance floor, it's about having a great time. And so if there's anyone who's feeling slightly self-conscious that they might look a bit silly on the dance floor, they know they can't possibly look any sillier than me." When it comes to being a good host, we'd say that kind of generosity is right up there with having a well-stocked bar and plenty of hors d'oeuvres.