When I was seven years old: I’d come in here without thinking I need to do this, or I hope to gain something from this, it was just to be the music that you’re playing.
Jacob Collier
To Be the Music
Topic: Spiritual Growth & Practice
One thing about this last year is that I had the feeling of making music without there being a point to making it. That’s what drew me in in the first place, when I was seven years old: I’d come in here without thinking I need to do this, or I hope to gain something from this, it was just to be the music that you’re playing.
Jacob Collier, born Jacob Moriarty on August 2, 1994, in London, England, was raised in a musically gifted family. His mother, Suzie Collier, is a violinist and educator at the Royal Academy of Music's Junior Academy, and his maternal grandfather, Derek Collier, was a noted violinist. From an early age, Collier was immersed in classical and choral music, performing in operas such as Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Britten’s The Turn of the Screw. These early experiences shaped his harmonic understanding. He attended Mill Hill County High School, then the Purcell School for Young Musicians, and briefly studied jazz piano at the Royal Academy of Music. His multicultural heritage, including Chinese ancestry through his maternal grandmother, reflects a background of musical and cultural diversity.
Collier gained international attention through YouTube videos beginning in 2011, with multi-instrumental arrangements like Stevie Wonder’s “Don’t You Worry ’bout a Thing.” These works showcased his approach to harmony and rhythm, drawing the attention of producer Quincy Jones. In 2016, he released his debut album, In My Room, recorded entirely in his family home. His solo performances incorporated looping stations and real-time harmonization tools developed with the MIT Media Lab. Collier's skill as an arranger was recognized with Grammy Awards for pieces such as “You and I” and “Flintstones,” starting a streak of awards across each of his first five albums.
In 2018, Collier launched the Djesse series, a four-volume, 50-song project exploring a wide range of musical styles, with contributions from artists and ensembles around the world. Each volume reflects a distinct musical approach, culminating in the release of Djesse Vol. 4 in 2024. Throughout, Collier has emphasized the importance of exploration and the creative process, both in interviews and live performances. His work blends jazz, classical, R&B, and experimental elements, offering both technical range and an openness to collaboration that continues to influence many younger musicians.
Holmes, Dave. “Jacob Collier Is Discovering the World Outside His Music Room.” Esquire, 10 Mar. 2021, https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a35786467/jacob-collier-grammys-2021-interview/.
Jacob Collier
Theme: Spiritual Growth
About This Jacob Collier Quotation [Commentary]
Jacob Collier’s reflection on his early relationship with music highlights a deep sense of presence that encourages spiritual growth. He remembers that, at seven years old, he would “come in here without thinking I need to do this, or I hope to gain something from this.” Instead, he simply allowed himself “to be the music that you’re playing.” His words point to a way of engaging with life that is free from expectation and rooted in being.
The sense of making music “without there being a point” invites a different way of approaching creative and spiritual practices. Collier’s statement that he was drawn in by this feeling reveals a way of working that is guided by curiosity rather than ambition. Returning to this early impulse—when he “just” wanted “to be the music that you’re playing”—speaks to an openness that allows for genuine growth.
Collier’s description of music as “an all-encompassing presence” offers insight into the value of returning to the simple act of creation. By revisiting his original experience, he shows that growth comes from staying close to what first inspired us. His words remind us that the most meaningful moments often come from a willingness to be present—without needing to gain something—just as he did when he was seven.
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