self-released album Speak for Yourself

Heap self-released her second studio album, Speak for Yourself , through her newly-formed independent record label Megaphonic Records on 18 July 2005. The album was entirely written, produced, recorded, mixed, and arranged by her. Except for a guitar riff played by Beck on the album track ” Goodnight and Go ” and trumpet played by Arve Henriksen on several tracks, she also played all instruments on the album and designed its packaging and artwork. RCA Records later licensed the album to be released on 1 November 2005 in the US, where it peaked at number 145 on the Billboard 200 album chart in February 2006 and had sold more than 120 thousand units by May of that year, while Sony Records licensed its release throughout Europe. By 2009, Speak for Yourself had sold 431 thousand copies in the US, where it was certified gold, and 39 thousand in the UK. It was also certified gold in Canada . Speak for Yourself has been described as her breakout album. It received mostly positive reviews from critics, with particular praise for Heap’s voice, songwriting, and innovation. However, some criticized its production for sounding too polished and overornate. “Goodnight and Go” was released in May 2006 through Sony BMG as Speak for Yourself ‘ s second single and debuted at number 56 on the UK Singles Chart . It was followed by ” Headlock ” in October 2006, which was released through White Rabbit, a sublabel of Sony BMG run by Nick Raphael that later merged into Epic Records UK in 2007.