Viral Music Phenom Jacob Collier: This “Life-Changing” Moment Unlocked New Creative Powers
Mar 5, 2024
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Jacob Collier, known as the 'Mozart of Gen Z,' discusses viral performances, Quincy Jones friendship, eclectic collaborations, and his recent album. Explore his childhood, creative process, and refusal to make pop hits. From T-Pain to Chris Martin, his album Djesse Vol. 4 features diverse voices and musical styles. An episode filled with insights into Collier's unique musical journey and innovative approach to music.
Jacob Collier's childhood immersion in music shaped his unique approach to creativity and experimentation with sounds.
Collaborating with diverse artists enriched Jacob Collier's musical palette, emphasizing authenticity and embracing imperfections.
Embracing struggles as a path to personal growth and fulfillment, Jacob Collier highlights the importance of facing challenges and incorporating them into one's narrative.
Deep dives
Jacob Collier's Musical Journey and Early Success
Jacob Collier, a multi-talented multi-instrumentalist, gained recognition for his viral YouTube videos where he covered classic songs playing every instrument and singing every harmony. Despite starting his music journey as a one-man band, he has amassed five Grammy Awards, millions of followers, and collaborations with renowned artists. His creativity and talent have led him to reflect on what drives creativity and share memorable experiences, including receiving an email from Quincy Jones and conducting a 30,000-person choir at Glastonbury.
Influence of Family and Early Musical Experiences
Raised by his musician mother in North London, Jacob Collier grew up surrounded by music. He credits his early immersion in music to sitting on his mother's lap while she played the violin, fostering a deep connection to music from a young age. Despite not having formal training in various instruments, Jacob's curiosity led him to experiment with sounds, using a Casio keyboard and basic recording equipment to recreate music and sounds he heard in the world around him.
Navigating Musical Growth and Collaborations
Jacob Collier's musical endeavors extended beyond his individual talents as he collaborates with a diverse range of musicians, absorbing unique timbres and voices to enhance his musical palette. Embracing imperfections and exploring a variety of vocal styles, he values the distinctiveness of each artist's voice. Through his creative process and interactions with other musicians, Jacob emphasizes the importance of authenticity, continuous learning, and the communal experience of creating music.
Embracing Struggles and Personal Growth
Embracing struggles and incorporating them into one's story is highlighted as a path to personal growth and fulfillment. The speaker emphasizes the importance of facing discomfort and challenges as integral parts of life. By accepting and incorporating struggles rather than avoiding them, individuals can find strength, purpose, and inspire others around them. The narrative delves into personal experiences and reflections on navigating hardships and evolving amidst expectations and pressures.
Exploring Musical Evolution and Collaborations
The podcast episode delves into the journey of a musician's evolution and creative exploration in the music industry. It discusses the artist's experiences with record labels and the process of defining his musical identity amidst diverse genres. The speaker reflects on the challenges of meeting expectations and branching out into new musical territories. The narrative also touches on the artist's approach to pushing boundaries, seeking serendipitous musical experiences, and collaborating with a wide range of artists to create innovative and diverse music.
Jacob Collier has been called the “Mozart of Gen Z” by the New York Times. As a teen, his one-man-band performances went viral and led to a cold email from (and friendship with) music legend Quincy Jones – something he discusses in this episode.
He also talks about his childhood, where he gets his ideas, why doesn’t make pop hits, and his most recent album, Djesse, Vol. 4. The album features an eclectic range of collaborators, from T-Pain to Chris Martin of Coldplay… plus, 100,000 other voices. Really!