Jacob Collier: The Language Of Harmony

Podcast Summary

• Exploring Music and Inspiration with Jacob Collier: Musician Jacob Collier shares insights on finding inspiration, the power of solitude, and listening to instincts, collaborating with musical legends like Herbie Hancock and Stevie Wonder.

  The TED Radio Hour, in partnership with NPR, brings listeners thought-provoking ideas and inspiring conversations from TED conferences. This hour, we delve into a conversation with musician Jacob Collier, a 27-year-old prodigy and genius in the music world. Collaborating with musical giants like Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, and Bobby McFerrin, Jacob has been nominated for 14 Grammy Awards. He shares his unique perspective on finding inspiration, the power of solitude, and listening to your instincts. Additionally, NPR encourages listeners to take a few minutes to complete their annual podcast survey at NPR.org/podcastsurvey. Your feedback helps NPR continue improving their shows and serving you better. IXL Learning, a supporter of NPR, offers an exclusive 20% discount on membership for new sign-ups at ixl.com/NPR. IXL uses advanced algorithms to personalize learning for each child, regardless of age or personality.

• The value of self-directed learning in creativity: Self-directed learning and discovery are essential for creativity, allowing individuals to explore and design their own learning process, maintain curiosity, and continue growing as professionals.

  The speaker values the importance of self-directed learning and discovery in the creative process, which she experienced as a child and has carried with her throughout her career as a musician. She shares how her upbringing by her mother, who encouraged learning through play rather than strict practice, allowed her to explore music on her own terms and design her own learning process. As she grew older and faced the structured learning environment of school, she found solace in the unlimited space of self-exploration at home. The speaker emphasizes the importance of maintaining curiosity and continuing to learn, even as a professional musician, and views the creative process as a continuous journey of discovery. She also touches upon the idea that the creative adult is the child who survived, as they hold onto the sense of wonder and experimentation that comes naturally to children.

• Exploring the boundaries of music and art: Curiosity and experimentation in music and art can lead to new discoveries and a deeper understanding of harmony and beauty.

  Experimentation and pushing boundaries, even in simple activities like singing in a choir or playing with sounds, can lead to new discoveries and a deeper understanding of art and music. The speaker shares how he would add unexpected notes or reverse words as a child, and later on, he would experiment with voice and chords on the piano. He found that each note in a chord has a unique feeling, and singing different notes in a chord can give a new perspective on harmony. The speaker emphasizes that beauty often lies in the tension and discomfort of experimentation, and that context plays a crucial role in what is considered beautiful. Overall, the discussion highlights the importance of curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to explore and challenge the status quo.

• Embracing new experiences and unconventional tools: Experimenting with new experiences and unconventional tools can lead to unique and innovative creations.

  Experimentation and breaking out of comfort zones can lead to unique and intriguing creations. Jacob Collier, a five-time Grammy award winner, started by messing around with various instruments and reworking classical compositions. He released his music online without playing it live for several years, as his arrangements were complex and included unconventional instruments like saucepans. The challenge of performing these compositions live led him to discover a new performance structure for his music. This story highlights the importance of embracing new experiences and being open to using unconventional tools to create something innovative.

• Brian Eno's Unique Solo Tour: Brian Eno transformed his music-making process into a solo live act using technology and a vocal harmonizer, enabling him to tour the world for three years and perform over 300 gigs.

  Musician Brian Eno found a unique way to tour as a solo artist by recreating his music-making process live on stage. When he was unable to bring his band on tour, Eno created an album called "In My Room" and used technology to build a rig that allowed him to perform live with the layered sounds of his music. He met Quincy Jones, who helped him land his first gig at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Eno had some performing experience, but nothing compared to the challenge of performing as a solo artist. A Facebook message from MIT PhD student Ben Bloomberg led to a collaboration that resulted in the creation of a vocal harmonizer, enabling Eno to sing multiple notes at once. This innovative approach allowed Eno to tour the world with his one-man show for about three years, performing over 300 gigs. Through this experience, he fell in love with the process of performing live in this unique way.

• Exploring the Emotional Power of Music: Music connects us emotionally and brings people together, passion and genuine pleasure are essential, unique voices and expressions matter, and emotional choices are what truly matter in music.

  Music is a powerful language that connects us emotionally, beyond the need for words. Enthusiasm and genuine pleasure in music are essential, and we should seek out what we're passionate about to share that spark with others. Our voices are unique instruments, and exploring different ways to use them can lead to unique and meaningful expressions. The emotional choices we make with music are what truly matter, and embracing this idea as a community can help us grow towards our humanity. Music is a universal language that transcends boundaries and brings people together.

• Exploring and discovering your unique voice: Embrace imperfection and experimentation to discover your unique voice, like a child learning to speak, and collaborate with others to expand your creative possibilities.

  Exploring and understanding the capabilities of your voice is an exciting journey that leads to discovering new tools and sounds. This process is akin to learning different instruments, and trying various styles and techniques can help you identify what resonates with you. Your unique voice or sound is not just about what you do well, but also about the quirks of your style that may not be perfect. Embracing imperfection and experimenting with different approaches can lead to creative breakthroughs. The process of discovering your voice is akin to a child learning to speak, where they experiment with sounds and meanings before learning rules and structure. Additionally, the process of finding your sound is not just about solo endeavors, but also about collaborating with others and opening up your creative playground.

• Exploring musical boundaries with Jacob Collier: Jacob Collier's journey from strict musical boundaries to genre-spanning collaborations shows the value of stepping out of comfort zones and embracing new challenges.

  Musician Jacob Collier found creativity and freedom within strict boundaries in his early musical experiments. He spent three years perfecting his craft within these confines, but yearned for the improvisational connection of playing with a band. This desire led him to expand his world and collaborate on a maximalist, genre-spanning project called DJESSE. Through this project, he's diving deep into various musical genres and cultures, embracing the challenge of new waters. In essence, Collier's journey demonstrates the transformative power of pushing past comfort zones and embracing the unknown.

• Art during uncertain times: Adapting and collaborating with Jacob Collier: Artist Jacob Collier adapted to pandemic by collaborating digitally but emphasizes importance of in-person experiences and taking time away from digital world.

  Creating art, especially during uncertain times, can be a challenging and complex process. For artist Jacob Collier, the pandemic forced him to adapt and collaborate in new ways, leading to his massive "Jesse" project. However, he also found the digital world to be a double-edged sword, offering discovery and connection but also distraction and pressure to commodify creativity. Collaborating in person and experiencing life firsthand remain essential for him, as they provide a depth of understanding and spontaneity that can't be replicated online. Ultimately, he emphasizes the importance of taking time away from the digital world and embracing the curiosity and openness that comes with living in the moment.

• Staying true to artistic vision: Artists must experiment and find joy in their creative process, despite pressure to conform and meet public expectations. Remember, there's no right or wrong way to create art, and taking risks and making mistakes are essential parts of the journey.

  Staying true to one's artistic vision and doing things on one's own terms is crucial for artists, especially when they start to gain recognition. However, the pressure to conform and meet public expectations can make it challenging to continue experimenting and finding joy in the creative process. It's important to remember that there is no right or wrong way to create art, and taking risks and making mistakes are essential parts of the journey. The line between work and play can become blurred, but it's essential to protect the space for exploration and discovery. For those still searching for their creative calling, it's essential to remember that the process of finding it is just as important as the destination.

• Embrace curiosity and find joy in the present moment: Cultivating curiosity and embracing uncertainty can lead to growth and new experiences, even in challenging moments or unenjoyable work.

  It's important to maintain curiosity and find joy in the present moment, even in the face of challenges or work that may not be inherently enjoyable. Curiosity can lead to new experiences and the creation of something new, and it's essential to remember that not every moment in life will be a joy. Embracing the complex emotions that come with being human and allowing ourselves to be curious and uncertain can lead to growth and a deeper connection to our experiences. Additionally, it's essential to remember that it's okay to seek out new experiences and challenges, even if we once thought they were our dream jobs or passions. Music, especially, can be a powerful reminder of the magic that comes from not knowing what's next and the importance of embracing uncertainty.

• A simple 15-minute song creation: Sometimes the most profound moments come from the simplest things, like a 15-minute song creation

  Sometimes the simplest things in life can lead to beautiful creations. Jacob Collier shared a story about a song he wrote in just 15 minutes, which he recorded on his phone and later released as is. The song, titled "The Sun Is In Your Eyes," serves as a reminder that not everything needs to be overcomplicated, and sometimes the most profound moments come from the smallest of things. Collaborating with TED, NPR, and Mint Mobile, The Ted Radio Hour brings thought-provoking ideas to listeners, offering a refreshing perspective on life. Don't miss out on more inspiring stories – leave a review on Apple Podcasts and take the yearly podcast survey at NPR.org/podcastsurvey.