Jacob Collier: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

The Tiny Desk is working from home for the foreseeable future. Introducing NPR Music's Tiny Desk (home) concerts, bringing you performances from across the country and the world. It's the same spirit — stripped-down sets, an intimate setting — just a different space.

July 9, 2020 | Colin Marshall -- Polymath musician Jacob Collier has been championing this style of one-man-band music videos since 2012, singing every note and playing every instrument. His cover of Stevie Wonder's "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing"earned him a devout YouTube following at the age of 19, and he hasn't slowed down since. The London wunderkind owns four Grammy Awards already, including two at the age of 22 in 2017, and his evolution as a bandleader has been evident in his live performances ( like when he came to NPR for a Tiny Desk concert last year). Now 25, and with nearly a decade of experience producing every aspect of his own music from his home, Collier is uniquely positioned to crank out his best work from quarantine. In this video, each of the four parts was recorded in a single take. Pay close attention ; it's easy to get tripped up inside Jacob's head as he arranges this Rubik's Cube of a video production, which feels both like a magic trick and a no-strings-attached bedroom session.

Since the pandemic hit hard in March, Collier has been hustling in his Internet-famous room. He's played duets over Instagram Live with the likes of Chris Martin, JoJo and Daniel Caesar, recorded a song in his bathroom, and he's in the middle of releasing his ambitious four-volume record, Djesse. The last song in this video is the premiere of his new single "He Won't Hold You," which will appear on Vol. 3, due out later this year.

SET LIST
"All I Need"
"Time Alone With You"
"He Won't Hold You"

MUSICIANS
Jacob Collier: vocals, keyboard, guitar, bass, drums

CREDITS
Video By: Jacob Collier; Video Co-producer: Ben Bloomberg; Audio By: Jacob Collier; Additional Mixing: Ben Bloomberg; Producer: Colin Marshall; Audio Mastering Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Video Producer: Morgan Noelle Smith; Associate Producer: Bobby Carter; Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey; Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

[nprmusic]

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[jacobcollier]

Thank you so much for having me!!! :-)

[Bepartofmynovel]

it's so rare to see a band where all members are equally talented.

[graycrom]

the really cool thing about Jacob is that we haven't seen his best work yet. he's young, still learning about himself and what he wants to say.

[jakubszwedfilms]

These guys should start a band. They sound pretty good together.

[NorwegianUke]

I can see that each of them have their own grammy.

[YoPaulieMusic]

I don't think enough people have an appreciation of just how freaking incredible this production is. Jacob created a 16 minute music video with multiple tunes, all incredibly complex from a harmonic and rhythmic perspective, yet he a) has no sheet music to guide him, and b) he recorded it four times in order to create this final project. We are not worthy... ;) It's all in his head!!!

[davidgpeterson]

10:34. He Wont Hold You is simply staggering. I havent been moved by a song like this in literally decades. Sometimes I cant get a song out of my head, but in this case I cant get this song out of me...like all of me. Period. Speechless.

[metacob]

If there's ever a galactic music competition, earth should send this guy

[wizkida]

The fact that there's four of them actually explains so much.

[dntmp]

“He Won’t Hold You” is one of the most beautiful harmonizing I’ve ever heard. Bravo

[kordejones]

I come back and watch this a few times a year.

[markjameldc]

the four grammys on his keyboard is such a flex

[natek]

can't believe I'm watching this for free.

[feecee]

I’m a professional musician - studied classical music at college and all that, so I’ll make an educated judgement here. All I can say is: it’s unfair how talented you are.

[fernandotanga]

The guy on bass is pretty good.
The vocalists were on point.
The pianist was killing it
The drummer was bringing it

[cotswoldpianist]

Somehow hearing Jacob refer to himself as ‘we’ feels completely normal and sensible.

[sidharthbendi]

He mastered the shadow clone jutsu like he mastered every instrument ever.

[jazzlehazzle]

Jacob Collier has now become one of my favorite human beings to ever walk this planet. :D

[nessacristine]

I had never heard of Jacob Collier until a few minutes ago when I saw a 2 minute video of him explaining harmonization. I was mind blown. Start searching him on YouTube and come across this gem! Again, mind blown! Now excuse me while I spend the rest of my day off discovering his music!