Jacob Collier: Home Is - Harmonic Analysis

* Jacob Collier’s four album Djesse project began in a completely unexpected way. The first song on Djesse Volume 1 is a slow, introverted and harmonically complex choral work, sung beautifully by Voces8 - ‘Home Is’. In this essay, I analyse the harmonic progressions and use of harmony in the piece to try and work out what Jacob’s musical home sounds like.

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#JacobCollier

[AndyChamberlainMusic]

Home Is is one of the most chill-inducing pieces of music in the world for me

[SimLoadsMedia]

That was the fastest 8 minutes I've ever experienced

[boriswilsoncreations]

I had a weird and cool experience with this song. When I was in the bus, going home, I was listening to this song for the very first time, and then, when it reached that final chord, in the same time, I heard a very loud explosion sound coming from outside the bus, it was one of the tires of the bus that punctured. It was so synchronized, and the sound was so loud and deep that I think I'll never be able to feel that same bass while listening to Home Is again. It reminded me of Overture 1812, by Tchaikovsky, where he used cannons to do the performance. Then, the bus parked and Overture, the following song of the album, started to play, and it started to build that tension as everyone was so worried and trying to see what happened. And then, when the song reached nearly it's half, and the orchestra started to get more energetic, the doors opened and we were able to get off the bus. I felt like my life at that moment was being scored like in a movie, it was funny tho, like, to think that way. Because of that I couldn't get less worried because of the issue of the tire and getting way too late home, because I needed, after all, to wait for another bus. That gave me a lot of time to listen the whole album, and at the time I finally got home I could finish it, and it became one of my favorite albums.

[mcmire]

I've listened to this song about 10 times and I still don't understand how the harmony works in the middle, especially knowing that it's done with just intonation. How do the "weird" chords sound SO pure? Voces8 performs this song so unbelievably well you might think they faked it, like AutoTune was applied or something. I still haven't wrapped my head around it. And the chord at the very end is pure magic.

[minionmax]

Bro, you leave me speechless.
I feel like some people who try to analyse Jacob's pieces often merely touch the theoretical genius behind the music and even then I feel like they just barely scratch the surface, given the fact that his music is so intricate and thought through.
So, I congratulate you on not choosing a clickbaity "G HALF SHARP MAJOR MODULATION" approach but rather an emotional one to his work. In the end music makes you feel. You embrace, in this case, the feeling of home. And I think you, as always, did a fantastic job with explaining why his music makes you feel what it does and I thank you for these eight minutes of true calm, exhilaration and awe.
God bless.

[Jimcup]

I only listened to this song for the first time a few minutes ago and it has been the most musically moving experience I've had, probably in my whole life. The last chord hit me really hard in such a good way... It felt like home more than anything before. I don't know enough music theory to fully understand how he does it, but Jacob Collier takes us on an incredible journey through harmonies and unusual tunings, turning our world upside down repeatedly, building up the suspense and preparing the perfect arrival at home in an incredibly pleasant way.
Jacob Collier is such a musical genius, I feel blessed to be alive and able to witness this.
Immediately after listening to the song I searched for a song analysis and got here, this video is exactly what I needed and the narration is very respectful of the music, congrats on that too.

[TheBeatBrothersBand]

Home Is really opens up the Djesse series in such a spectacular way. Couldn't have imagined a better way to start the crazy journey of this 4 album series. Can't wait for pt. 4

[drewbly]

I remember the first time I heard this song, I was driving home at midnight from my grocery store job. It was a long day and it was pitch black outside and freezing. I remember being moved to tears on that final chord. I had never EVER heard the "where the heart is" in the background and when you pointed it out I was COVERED in goosebumps. Thank you for an amazing deep dive into a song that is so special to me!

[ophello]

This music is the birth of Jacob Collier. The piece should be thought of as his opening demonstration to the world his musical presence. It is an audition piece, and a work of pure genius.

[AndyChamberlainMusic]

that reversal sound effect at 5:09
this is why we love you lol

[stevennaylor]

These expressive markings are tremendous!! Pre-dawn; deep/deeper quench; like a father/child/mother; sunburst. As a composer I think my scores are in need of some more poetry!

[MatthijsvanSantendeHoog]

This is why I still love YouTube despite all the bad stuff.
Somehow, after weeks of the same boring rubish, the algorith connects me to this lovely channel presenting me this insanely beautiful piece that delivers me tears, surprise, laughter and warmth in BIG quantities. Thank you. Thank you.

[euanmangan]

This song is the harmonic equivalent of getting kicked in the nuts but in a good way somehow

[williamduartemusic]

I'm very glad to see a breakdown of this song. For me to this day It's still one of the most mysterious and rich songs of his catalogue!

[elinemay]

Wow, I have listened to this piece a thousand times, but this analysis made me experience the piece as if I am hearing it for the first time again. Thank you! I love how Jacob hid the answer "where the heart is" I never noticed that as words spoken in the piece. Amazing analysis like always. Keep up the great work!

[modalmixture]

I absolutely love the beautiful score animations you have developed! One thing that would be useful for me, since I am quite slow at reading harmony in a score, would be some kind of chord symbol or figured bass notation. For example, when I mark up scores for study, I often write a chord symbol and then add scale degrees next to each note to visualize how they are voiced and what tones have been added. I know this kind of music often transcends the limits of jazz chord notation, but some visual guideposts to help see the underlying harmonies would be very helpful. Again, thanks for another beautiful video.

[kidjecl]

I remember literally losing balance on my chair when the D Lydian (440) burst chord happened, and then bursting into tears when that arrived finally at home. I love all versions of Jacob, but the vocal arrangements are disturbingly cathartic. Amazing analysis. I wasn't able to really understand the whole G13#11 + Gaug ---> F# before.

[andypiano]

This song is in my top 5 of all times since I heard it for the first time. It moves me in a way that few other songs do. It gives me goosebumps, I start daydreaming, I feel nostalgia, I go to dark places in my memory and come round back to the present. It´s a mini-journey throughout my entire life experiences. It´s probably what Jacob was intending when he wrote this masterpiece: think about who you are, where you come from and why home is so important for people. Oh, and it resonates particularly well with me because it reminds me of the times when I sang in a choir. Choir music is very special and it doesn´t compare to instrumental/band music.

On a different note, congrats for the excellent video. This channel is very special: thoughtful, thorough and entertaining.

[alistaircornacchio]

At the end of this production my entire body pulsed with energy, every hair stood straight up as to salute the finality of what I was experiencing, and chills ran from the center of my body right out to the very ends of my nerves and back again

[westcoast]

You've assembled a rather impressive analysis and explanation of Jacob's intent and considerable abilities as a composer. Excellent editing and illustration. Kudos!