part of an interview 1998.
A pivotal moment in time, when both his professional and private life crossed, remains the weeks prior to the recording sessions of David’s vocal contribution to Ryuichi Sakamoto’s UK/US single ‘Heartbeat’, the time he first met his future wife, Ingrid.
"The circumstances under which Ingrid and I came together are quite interesting. Ingrid was travelling through Europe on a press trip promoting her new release. [David refers here to Ingrid’s debut album ‘May 19 1992’ released on the Paisley Park label of Prince.] When asked by a journalist in Paris who she'd like to work with in the future my name came up. The journalist, an acquaintance of mine, told Ingrid he'd contact my office so that a meeting could be set up while she was in London. By the time she arrived there I had been called away to Paris on short notice to work with Zazou. Ingrid visited Richard Chadwick at the office leaving a letter and CD for me. On my return I found a two letters awaiting my attention. It was late afternoon. I was tired, numb, reeling from intense emotional stress which had been accumulating over the past 3 years. I picked up the first of two letters. It was from a girl whom I'd never met telling me a story of how she'd recently been visited by two beings late one evening one of whom she'd recognized as her deceased grandfather. The other was a Japanese gentleman she'd never seen before, whom she proceeded to describe, going by the name of Akira. Akira had a message for me. Despite my scepticism the message was wonderfully reassuring. Whether the story was true or false wasn't an issue. Akira it turned out was Aki; Ryuichi's manager who'd recently died in a car crash in Mexico. He'd relayed a message for Ryu in the same letter. I put the pages down on the table before me a little shaken by their contents. I then picked up the next letter, Ingrid's letter. Again I was very moved by its contents...and sadden that I'd missed Ingrid's visit. I remember being overcome by the impact of receiving both these messages at what could be referred to, in hindsight, as a critical moment in time for me.... I remember crying.... tears that accompanied an intense longing, an almost unbearable yearning for something only barely tangible."
"I had already written 'Heartbeat' prior to leaving for Paris. I'd written a part for female voice, spoken word. I had no one in mind for the part. As I placed the CD Ingrid had left me into the machine bells sounded, lights flashed that even the virtually blind man I was had no difficulty seeing."
"I later met Ingrid In Minneapolis. We travelled to New Orleans together for a few days. By the time we got to NY to record with Ryuichi there was little doubt in our minds that we were to be together."