Jacob Collier
@ the Barbican Centre
20 November 2015

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Biography

Born in 1994, Jacob Collier is a musician, based in London, UK. Inspired by many trades, his music combines elements of Jazz, Folk, acapella, groove, songs, Trip-hop, Classical music, Brazilian music, Gospel, Soul and improvisation, which combine to make altogether a Jacob sound.

Born into a world of continuous music-making, and surrounded by a house full of music and a family of musicians, Collier composed and created music from his earliest years, with no formal musical training. At the age of 8, he took on singing lessons, which led to many opportunities to perform and experience music as a treble singer and an actor: he travelled to Budapest in 2004 to play/sing the role of ‘Tiny Tim’ in the Hallmark film adaptation of ‘A Christmas Carol’, and then a few years later to Parma (Italy) Oviedo (Spain) and the London Coliseum (with ENO) to sing the role of ‘Miles’ in three separate productions of Benjamin Britten’s ‘The Turn of the Screw’. Other appearances include Keith Warner’s critically acclaimed production of “Wozzeck” at the Royal Opera House in London (2002), speaking the voice of young Mozart (Naxos audiobooks, 2002), and Mozart’s Magic Flute with ENO at the London Coliseum (2007). Extracting elements from all these experiences, Collier continued to develop his own musical sound and outlook, using his voice, his hands, and the instruments around him.

At 14, having been awarded the gold medal by ABRSM for attaining the highest mark in the country for his Grade 8 Singing, Collier joined the Royal College of Music Junior Department as a composer. Opportunities here included being commissioned to write a piece inspired by a Henry Moore sculpture, as part of a collaboration with the London School of Contemporary Dance. Around this time, Collier got his hands on a double bass for the first time and began to explore the piano in greater depth. His love for harmony, rhythm and improvisation brought him to discover jazz; and, following this discovery, in September of 2010, Collier joined the Royal Academy of Music Junior Jazz Department as a pianist, and the Purcell School, studying composition, jazz piano and voice, as well as for his A-levels.

It was around this time that Collier began to share some music with the YouTube world, and he has since gained a huge following worldwide, with over 40,000 online subscribers from 156 countries, and more than two and a half million YouTube views. His fan base includes such luminaries as Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Chick Corea, Steve Vai and Take 6, to name a few.

Today and tomorrow, alongside ceaseless musical and general exploration, Jacob Collier studies at London’s Royal Academy of Music as a Jazz Pianist. In addition to this, he is working towards an album, and developing a live concept, which he is ridiculously excited about.