Zach Sang Show Jacob Collier
Sep 28, 2023
Jacob Collier, Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist and arranger, chats about his new song Little Blue and the upcoming Djesse/Jesse Volume 4. He explains why he swapped violin for voice. He demos rhythms and vocal harmonies, describes building his harmonizer and solo touring, and talks collaboration, restraint in songwriting, and recording huge audience choirs.
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Building The Vocal Harmonizer
- Jacob built a custom 'vocal harmonizer' instrument that anchored his one-man shows.
- Parts of it use existing hardware and custom mods, making patenting impractical.
From One-Year Plan To Six-Year Journey
- Jacob planned to release four albums in one year but the project stretched to six years.
- He used the extended time to learn from collaborators and evolve each volume.
Rhythms Share A Global Language
- Jacob sees similar rhythmic feels across global styles (Gnawa, samba, hip-hop) despite different origins.
- He maps those grooves as shared rhythmic languages rather than isolated traditions.