Why Musicians Love Jacob Collier 

How about a word from a non-musician? I've taken honesty, earnestness and transparency from his music.

Total creative freedom while looking for grounding and balance with your ideas and emotions, and expanding the empathy in your musical expression and beyond. What surprises me most about Jacob is his emotional intelligence above his abnormally intelligent mind. It has allowed me to relate and understand more forms of expression.

He did a great segment for Wired where he explains that for chords, more isn’t always better. Adding #11 and b4 is not always necessary and it’s okay to keep it simple

I've learned a new inspiration and determination to learn. Basically he taught me how to want to learn rschnical stuff. He also explains very complex things in interviews so... in short a lot

Honestly he just inspires me to compose. He makes me want to try composing with new instruments, because he taught me that if you do it right, you can voice anything to sound like heaven...

The One and only answer

It's a compelling one

The truth finally revealed

@dylan foley hello fellow ling ling wannabe

@dylan foley he is InteReStInG

most relatable comment ive read in a minute

Yeah I also started an acapella youtube channel because of him and also wanna quit because of him😶

@@sdfjhfjksdh i subscribed :)

Musik Avatar Ethan wow thank you!!

same here

@therainman777 That's what I'd like to know too haha

@@TKSnatch you're the man, thanks for sharing

Hans Zimmer is an over rated hack but I agree that Jacob has an extraordinary capability to take the vast wealth of musical knowledge and throw it aside in favor of creativity. His genius is not due to his musical knowledge but in the way he uses it to inform his artistry.

Where does Mozart fit in that scale?

@@markspencer8790 Yeah I mean for his genre Of Music Jacob is amazing. I would say though that there are many artists that do this and many musicians but not all are known not only in jazz but other genres. We are lucky to know Jacobs talents. Let's also recognize though that not all is transferable. Jazz is his thing. Hip hop/rap or rock maybe not. Who knows but let's remember that no ones talents are omnipotent.

He’s a genenius

Yeah... that's perfect pitch...

@@nikibronson133 not all perfect pitch is absolute absolute jacob perfect pitch

@@rbdel absolute picth is the scientific name for perfect pitch.....

@@nikibronson133 he has a different type of perfect pitch, somehow it’s better then mine. I also have perfect pitch but hearing some of the notes he makes boggles my brain, bro is making notes that didnt even exist before then

😂

I love this XD

my boyfriend (a singer) did the exact same thing!

if i had a roommate that did that i would have been like FUCK SHIT HIDE IT HIDE IT HIDE IT!!!!!!!!

Musicians all crush on Collier like he's Justin Beiber or something, haha

Damn that's such a beautiful way to put it

Exactly.

Wow, that is so true!

Yeah. Sure, you can explain what he did, but not how come he chose to do it

TRUTH HAS BEEN SPOKEN by the comment above 👏 👏 👏

Too true:)).

It just feels like something cold and clinical written by a nerd sitting in a cold basement. Like yeah dude is probably a musical theory genius, but not a creative or soulful, or even tasteful one lol.

That’s true, but his newer stuff is starting to move away from that. As he matures, that show off-y stuff will go away, and he will use all of that incredible technique and knowledge to make something really meaningful. Pretty much all amazingly talented prodigies take that path.

My boyfriend says that too, he said he'd love to see him live (we bought tickets for next year!) but when he listens to his records they're too "busy" for him and he says he's a bit tired afterwards, and that other jazzy stuff he listens to and enjoys more are more simplistic. Personally I understand how one can be a bit exhausted after some of these songs packed with stuff but to me listening multiple times and experiencing and unlocking all of these layers in my mind, focusing on something else each time I listen, is what makes Jacob's music exciting to me. I love when music is more "complicated" because I experience sth else every time I listen. My boyfriend says, like you, that it does come across as show-off and too much for the sake of too much, but I agree with you that he's just excited to use all his tools and add more and more. Maybe the more is not the merrier, and I'm sure I would enjoy a stripped down version or potential path of his just as much, but for now I couldn't be enjoying myself more. I love how complex and busy his songs are, but I can't say "I wouldn't want it any other way". Tbh I'm sure I'll enjoy whatever he makes haha.

Who said he was pretentious? That's not the vibe I get from him I get a Vibe of like a giddy kid but I have to say his music doesn't really do much for me other than maybe a couple song but it's nothing I'm going back to. But still I appreciate his talent he's doing some really cool things for jazz

@@nikibronson133 He's getting there, still full of youth and hope and joy. Give it time. Even with all it's depth, his music is a little boring. But yeah the guy is definitely talented

His voice is whack. All the instruments, arrangements, and creativity... but as soon as he sings, its laughable.

It's awesome. Being a classical flutist for 15 years, I can for sure tell you that musicians can be the most pretentious people who make the least amount of money 😂

Isn’t pretentious? Did you not even notice the six individual outlandish-yet-oddly-stylish hairstyles in that first “Isn’t She Lovely” video?

@@albertnortononymous9020 he's using the hairstyles to denote who is 'singing' what part, for people watching to be able to mimic his physicality to try and reproduce his sound, as well as the harmonics hes singing. It's simply another tool for people like me to auditorily break down the parts real time, to train my ear to discern different vocal tones.

@@albertnortononymous9020 Why is that pretentious?

Love this guy. He, in my opinion, is a genius, who will make it into the history books. I thought my knowledge of harmony was fairly good, but Collier has blown me away with his heightened discoveries. They have taken music to the next level. Bue bye, Schoenberg et al.

Love your channel. :)

There‘s a crack in everything, and that is how the light gets in. 🙂

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-xh6vc4lPk38.html😂😂😂

Bandrew!! Wow, cool to see you here

It is funny because When I heard about him from my friends, I was actually surprised why they are feeling like he is some sort of god or something? Even after listening some of Jacob's music...it didn't impressed me. Because I actually understood the theories...most of it before even hearing about him from my friends.

Ur high

I’m offended, extremely racist comment, report it and move on.

With*

Charles is a cutie. It's understandable

That no wrong notes … what u play next’ comes from Miles” ask Herbie

@@jayclarke9611 Well I heard it from Jacob. Am quite sure it has been said even before Miles. Doesn’t matter who was first really, does it?

right?? I wonder whether he is familiar with early (medieval and renaissance) polyphony wich have wildly interesting voice progressions....machaut, dufay, gesualdo.......

@@dennisrudin6907 western music was so formulaic and bound by rules previously, I wouldn't be surprised if Miles really did say it first. Jazz was so revolutionary and it only happened like 100 years ago.

​@@Purplegreen45 it was NOT EVEN CLOSE to formulaic and bound by rules

I know right!!! I specifically got high end headphones to do exactly this.

Listening to him high with high quality headphones is even more of an experience

no need for drugs to enjoy him

Just gonna echo the comments here getting studio headphones changed so much for me lol

Multiple musicians identified here...jk the dude is awesome.

ana barkley THIS

Reminds me of Bobby McFerrin

Dont forget discipline

When you speak with much passion, that is a natural reaction.

EXACTLYYY

Perfectly said…I’ve studied at a pretty high level and can somewhat understand Jacobs concepts…kinda pissed he gives away how to do reharms live improvised cause I do that well …he showed it to kids like an open book test, giving away the secrets of it…lol

@@jayclarke9611 gatekeeping is pretty lame, you really want more shit uninteresting music out in the world?

If that's the analogy you're making then it's my job to be condescending to other people by using jargon nobody understands and answering questions with answers to questions easier than the questions they asked.

IKR!!

@Stephen Docherty Devoid of quality? Objectively, it is of high quality. Now musicality that is more subjective!

@Stephen Docherty wasn't really relevant to the conversation just seems like hating

Same for the (Swedish maybe?) guy that makes the marble machines. Can’t remember the channel name.

Rather bland

There's also a Jacob Koller on RU-vid who is an epic epic jazz piano player. Have a listen to his La La Land medley.

so true

Maybe if you have the intials, J.C, you were born to play jazz, like John coltrane and jack costanzo.

@@florentmillanmusic9283 and Jesus Christ of course

True, i feel the same groups like him and Dirty Loops its taken to the extreme. It's not necessarily ear pleasing, unless being highly autistic perhaps.

I think that when he applies his genius to incorporating his complex harmonies and galaxy-brain understanding of music into writing something catchy and accessible, the result is astounding and really enjoyable to listen to. But more recently, starting with his album Djesse and moving forward, he’s leaned more and more towards just experimenting with these crazy ideas and, since he’s already successful, hasn’t really worked as hard to make these ideas accessible to a wider audience. As a result, it’s just harder to enjoy these more recent songs because they’re really more explorations of harmony than they are catchy music. I don’t fault him for that since I’m sure he’s having tons of fun finding his musical voice, and tons of people dig that surreal sound, so he doesn’t have to worry about losing his fanbase, but it’s just too complex and esoteric for me personally, and probably for a lot of people who like his mind-blowing but still grounded earlier works.

I agree, it's actually work to listen to. I love a great steakhouse but usually a burger is just fine.

@@SeraphsWitness yeah why play chess when u can play checkers

I don't think Jacob's music is something that you just casually listen to though. I find it refreshing in the way that if you sit down and really listen and becoming engrossed in it, the depth is mindblowing and it's just so unlike any other artist out there, many of which are focused on selling music with catchy tunes. He is clearly just focussed on his passion instead and this is what makes me smile when I hear his music.

😂 And I'm angry that you're angry to JC. how can it be?! Ugh there are some angry issues here 😂

@@viktorija4485 indeed there are

His goofy voice brings him back down to earth.

And what does he do with the talent? Where's the art? It's all wanking.

Underated comment

Jordi el Nino (if you don't know who that is, don't look it up; I don't want your innocence to be ruined because of me)

shottiez jordi enp

I thought he was quadeca lol

Oh my god :0

What the heck tru

Same

I was there.

This guy listens to jacob

Adam Neely quote

Hehe it's funny how all music nerd channels have the same fans.

Ben Schrock yeah it’s actually kinda heartwarming that we have a community here

BASS

Gotta reel ‘em in and then when they least expect it... BAM Jacob Collier

conradthe2 yessssss

Lol Harry Styles and stuff lol *5mins later* so Jacob colliers Moon river cover

Started with memes...

Started with memes...

Hold my teabag

Hold my other croc

Hold my 600-track Logic project.

hold my magic pants

Just hold me.

Ben Chesworth I'm still waiting for a transcription on the hallelujah livestream. Geeeee

He’s probably an alien music prodigy experiment that got out of hand after gaining self awareness and they just sent him down to earth because they couldn’t control him anymore.

Can he do 200 push ups

naki naki yes

HAHAHAHAH so true!

Bro bass is LIT sometimes

Barutones get good lines about half the time, honestly.

Pedro Lopes that's a really good way to put it. Part of the brilliance of his music is its depth and complexity, all of which you just can't comprehend and appreciate with superficial listening.

It's the Gorillaz effect

same here!//

Yeah I agree. There are definitely some that I love right away, but listening to it multiple times or even Jacob playing it in a different setting (e.g. live) really does bring your attention to the depth and genius of his music.

Same! Watching the logic session breakdowns of his songs made me discover so many details that I didn't really hear right away. All of his songs are so amazing:)

Just follow your own aesthetic and you're golden.

Mood.

Advantage of his is being born and raised in a musical family with hella pros.

Iszy Butler What’s most important is that you tell a story, your story in a way that is authentic and effective. Jacob is amazing in his technical ability but other than being sonically rich and affecting, sometimes leaves me emotionally cold.

@@vickiburns1642 I can definitely agree to an extent. I've never really felt an emotional connection with his songs. Don't get me wrong, I think Jacob collier is one of the most musically talented people of this generation, but his music has never really touched me emotionally. Thanks for the advice! btw, I looked at you channel and I just want to say, you have an amazing voice!

Have fun

Its an intense ride

A rabbit hole that opens up into a bright sunny resolution

Ha.. I am with you!

Checking in Paul, how are you doing? Staying hydrated?

I’ve only listened to it 85 times

YES

J M 100 times for me

J M despite it being Jacobs simplest song, it’s my least favorite. I really like Jacobs crazy chords and theory

@@CouchEconomyTX I mean its not exactly 'simple' per say, just more poppy. Definitely still microtonal/weird harmony and other bizarre stuff.

I can only enjoy the arrangements, which truly are better than the originals.

😂😂😂

Sometimes I just play random keys for the same reason

I do that too! I just press the sustain pedal until all the notes fade out. It's really comforting

That’s jazz babay!

is there any other way?

For me it went “this dude’s younger than I am, and,” * ad plays for 15 seconds * “...I hate myself”

I think I'm actually younger than him, but I still feel this

This is so sad guys. This may even approach psychopathology. The more natural response is to just admire what he is capable of. I feel not in the least devaluated in my musicianship by him. It‘s more that he is an endless inspiration.

Achenar Myst I’m not sure whether you have credentials to diagnose psychopathology (or psychopathy) - but I do know that nearly everyone I know has similar feelings when they see successful people who are younger than they are. I think it’s especially common in people who were pushed to be the best at something (academics, music, sports) who see someone effortlessly doing something that they had to work tirelessly and be pushed toward. I think it’s another symptom of “gifted child syndrome” more so than psychopathy.

I’ve never heard that

Yeah, it's Disney on shrooms

Actually I've found that every non-jazz listener perceives ALL jazz harmony like movie music

@@santotiago80 i guess that speaks to the enduring influence of jazz in music

Agree, the kid is so talented but his taste still needs to develop a lot I think. He’s too focused on what he COULD do musically, if often comes out as a jumble- once he walks it back I’m excited to hear the result.

Thank you for this! I've just found some me some new music to dive into!

City pop is iconic.

I must have listened to Plastic Love 1000 + times when I 1st heard it and I'm glad I randomly stumbled upon your comment because Taeko Ohnuki.... wowowowowow.

@@tamvibes No problem! (;

​@@thejamiebodyssey9496 Yeah lol I think most RU-vid people started with Plastic Love. Taeko Ohnuki is amazing! Her SUNSHOWER album is an masterpiece IMO

Sounds like JRPG game music

god I love this so much

Anyone know any similar songs?

@Courtney Voltz Thank you very much for your reply. I will sure check out all of it :)

@Courtney Voltz Omg! dammn hell, this is amazing, i added bunch of his work to my playlist. thank you for helping me discover such an amazing artist!

Yazzzz!!!! It's an honor to be on the planet at the same time as this kid!

Because humans have opinions and like to state them

Because we are self centered beings

I just don’t like his music. It’s sounds like boring trite

@@alebecher5056 sure, but instead of sharing said opinions people tend to rub in your face their own and how much you are not correct for not having theirs

If you just found out about Jacob, you're in for a treat, buddy!! :) check his channel, his spotify, absorve everything he does!

@@1pepituh yes!! And can i add, his Instagram! His ig lives with other artists are a thing of beauty

when was this? perhaps i missed it

There's always someone

If it’s not a 5 year old Asian kid, it’s JC

@@aboz8649 Who actually kinda looks like a 5-year-old Asian Lol.

repetition legitimises

@The Stupid will Inherit the Earth Guess you'll be inheriting the Earth then?

8 months later. can confirm, still a big part of my life.

If it is a chord, it has a name - most multiple names depending on context. Even the ugly sounding ones!

b♭sus7#13aug5 is this even a real chord is did I make it up

@@equaius893 brb boutta grow another set of arms to check

Equaius i’m so terrified of that it’d be bad enough as a b flat sus7 but then for it to be augmented? no thank you.

Even if it doesn’t sound good, it has a name lmao

He does that? Nuts!

THIS

Jacob fans are called Jaco beans

YESSSSS

He kinda looks like sid from toystory

as a bi man he makes me constantly question if i rly like girls at all

Graham Kristensen Best explanation in my opinion. I feel extremely jealous of his talent and kind of get discouraged when I listen to his music but at the same time it encourages me to get better 🤷🏻‍♂️

...and is such a nice guy you get angry that you're angry.

Jacob Collier exists to make even the enviable envious.

Everyone in our jazz band can't stand him. He has such an ego, he was in an interview and was talking about "I personally like %63 swing, here's 65 and heres 63" he's honestly a very white jazz musician lmao

@@yamiii So glad I'm not the only one who can't stand him.

Jazz musicians talking to Jazz musicians, I guess

pretty sure i heard it in either toy story or blues clues and a bunch of other songs that i dont remember the name of

Complex voicings, common progression

10:23 to 10:27 to my layman's untrained ear sounds like something from Bobby Caldwell's - What You Won't Do For Love

@@whome.773 yeah me too some chords he played is like you got a friend in me i think

musician doesn't equal artist. most of jc's music reminds me of owl city covering frank zappa.

@@ClintLock1 spot on. Jacob Collier is a genius musician, but a terrible artist.

@@yesok2522 i dont get it

@@friedrichperez638 essentially his grasp and ability to explore music theory and instruments is excellent but he writes lame songs.

That’s why he’s music isn’t mainstream

I love this description

Hes just human tho 😯

A) He is B) Nice user pick. Jellal from Fairy Tail, right? At least I think that's his name. It has been a bit.

you're everywhere but Jacob's channel SMH

Omgomgomg Is the comment god gonna go comment on Jacob's Channel And now I have to fight the comment god I have 200 comments in Jacob's but I think I need more to get a chance with this guy

Holy frikk

I'm so jealous that you can still hear his stuff for the first time

I thought he was gonna play I V vi IV but I guess not

it kinda sounds like 'ain't misbehavin'

Nate of all trades agreed

to me it sounded exactly like that one that goes "you are the sunshine of my life / and i will always be around" (i forget the exact name but it was freakishly similar)

I hear a lil of Charlie Brown in that lol

Care to share other musicians you appreciate?

@@horseyyyyy check out Esperanza Spalding, Lea Bertrucci and Robert Glasper if you haven’t already.

Maybe the one that you know of like there are other people who have this level of skill just not everybody meets the light of day and there are other people in genres of music that you probably don't like because Jacobs genre is jazz but people in hip-hop or pop or R&B or rock and roll that do the same thing but for their music. Jacob is undeniably impressive But let's not act As if he's some savior of music when No one said there was anything wrong with music Now it's just music you don't like

@@nikibronson133 I appreciate all music but improvisation is dear to my heart, however let me know who your favourites are and if I haven’t heard of them I will give them a listen with an open mind

@@lavatar3562 i wouldn't necessarily classify Jacob as an improv jazz artist... and I was mainly referring to popular music of all genres. Just because it may not be your favorite doesn't mean that it's somehow less worth, valuable or intensive as this or that somehow Jacob could make it better is all. On a personal note I like all music so its hard to narrow it down. Right now I'm listing to Parliament-Funkadelic. World class musicians of a different genre

JC Grammy speech 2020: „Do things on your own term, do things in your own time, do things for yourself, and give everything away“. His sharing is truly unbelievable.

Eh subjective statement

@@nikibronson133 I mean the fact that he has a thorough understanding of things most musicians have barely scratched isn't subjective. You could say that him being a musicians musician is subjective, but I personally haven't met anyone who knows who he is that isn't a musician.

@@colepeterson9961 no that is a subjective statement. There's 7 billion people in the world and all types of musicians out there and over a billion people that have lived and died you. Did you forget about the people who created European music theory in the first place? He's not the only person he's just the most famous one that you know of. So yes it is a subjective statement. Music is endless. He doesn't have omnipotent knowledge of Music nor is he the first person to touch on Harmony. Experimental music exists it's just not that popular. Now this doesn't mean what he's doing isn't unique or it isn't also cutting-edge I'm just saying like he's not the first. Also this is quite subjective because you know music theory is not objective right? Like functioning off of European music theory that's not the only type of music theory out there. Music theory in the way that it's taught in schools in the west is eurocentric that's why now it's been classified as western or eurocentric music theory because different cultures have their own music theories. Its descriptive not prescriptive. Him being a musicians musician or anyone being a musicians musician or singer singer or an artist artist that is quite literally a subjective opinionated statement. Jacob does a very specific type of music. I would argue that sometimes he does things that are in his own genre but I'm sure someone else could compare him to a different musician who is done something similar in the past but for my expansive knowledge I would say sometimes the things I hear from him I would classify that as Jacob's music like Philip Glass at a very specific type of music that they were known for making. He's definitely not a musicians musician if you're in the genre of Rock or if you're in the genre of hip-hop because those are still musicians also. You're not a Musician musician if you are in the genre of afro music or World music. There isn't some sort of overarching Universal Music law and he knows the most about it and that's the only way you can approach that if you were going to say he's a musicians musician. I would definitely say he's a jazz musician the musician. Thats why I still kind of agree with your statement but I want you to recognize that it's subjective. it's an opinion. His focus is jazz with a clear influence of Blues and gospel. At least all of his stuff now. I don't know what his music will sound like 10 years from now we'll just have to wait and see. But a lot of his stuff sounds like Quincy Jones music and a lot of black genres which makes sense because that's where he's getting a lot of his Source material from in the sense and it's also who is guiding him, but I digress. And your last statement about you not meeting anyone that isn't a musician and knows who he is, that's literally subjective statement like that actually means nothing. It's anecdotal at Best But even that still shows that it's subjective like that means nothing to the conversation. I have met people who are not musicians and know who he is mainly because he was nominated for a Grammy and they wanted to see his music. He has a million followers do you think every single follower is a musician? Like just think outside of yourself for a second.

@@nikibronson133 he does understand more music theory than most musicians, and so do most people who graduate from a music school, but it's clear that he's continually studying the subject and has more knowledge of theory than even most professors in the field. Also I already said the second part of my statement was subjective.

@@colepeterson9961 yeah once again this is a completely subjective statement. You've no idea how much music theory he knows nor all of the people who teach music theory in the world. Do you think he genuinely knows more than someone whose little job is to write music theory. People with PhD in music theory and music composition. Yeah once again a subjective statement my guy I'm sorry. There's no doubting that he knows a lot about European music theory but does he no more music theory than any musician in the world? When I just explained to you that music theory is not objective and differs from culture to culture? There's African Music theory that gets very specific, Asian music theory that gets very very specific and delves into differences within cultures themselves. The only people that would have really know that much about it would be Scholars. Jacob no doubt knows quite a bit but it's still limited to European music theory and whatever he wants to express through his artistic creation like the rest of us. Like I said he's not some omnipotent being because no one is. Music is endless and there's always something new to discover. Yeah my Guy there is no way you can prove that and there's no single person that knows that much information because music is in was just always something new to discover. And as knowledgeable as Jacob is I would still doubt he knows more than a professor whose entire life is to study the history of Music Theory music composition and to build upon that knowledge and to teach it professionally. I get that you're a fan but what you're stating are subjective, opinionated and unprovable statements.

Lmao all the cool kids singing counterpoint melodies in tenor

There are a few RU-vid videos acknowledging the issue of alto voicing. As a bass, I feel for you guys. Also, I’m glad I’m not an alto.

I'm still in fetal position..

Go watch the stream dude. Guys a goddamn machine. He makes decisions edits cuts and pans at the speed of light. Hes just otherwordly.

@WEEWOO yea hes a genius in relation to music theory, but hes not unique in his own collaboration of unique pieces If hes such a genius why is his music generic sounding

@@aohjii because it's too complex for you to understand how his pieces are different lmao

@@sirthursday6159 true music is true soul expression, true music is felt through the whole body, whole being. not something to be mentally understood and dissected. hence what i meant by lack of creativity. Is he empty inside? does he have no soul? thats what it sounds like

@@aohjii shut up with the gatekeeping

@@aohjii exactly. As AI comes into play more and more I suspect it will churn out arbitrary degrees of complexity. But if you want to hit on an emotional level, that takes something intangible, to convey suffering or lived experience.

oh no i did that song in one of my advanced choirs in middle school and i was an alto and the harmonies were wack

Doesn't he has perfect pitch?

@@santotiago80 Yes, but he (crucially) also has insanely good relative pitch

@@santotiago80 no he doesnt

תומר רוזן yes he does

@@DavidNormanMusic Thank you! That's crazy, I can't even catch up with the Major 7th interval :'c