Born in London on August 2, 1994, Jacob Collier began his musical journey at the Royal Academy of Music, where his parents, Susan and Derek Collier, were accomplished soloists and educators. Initially trained on the violin, Jacob quickly explored other instruments and excelled as a vocalist, earning a prize from the Royal Schools of Music.
Jacob gained international attention with his multi-instrumental cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Don’t You Worry ’Bout a Thing”, which he performed entirely himself. The viral sensation caught the eye of Quincy Jones, propelling Jacob onto major stages like Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club and the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2015. His rendition of “Jerusalem” was featured in a Rugby World Cup campaign that same year.
Jacob’s debut album, In My Room (2016), was crafted entirely in his bedroom studio and supported by a crowdfunding campaign with endorsements from Jamie Cullum and Ben Folds. The album’s release marked the beginning of a global festival tour and earned him his first Grammy Awards.
With six Grammy Awards to date, Jacob has since embarked on his ambitious Djesse album cycle, collaborating with a wide range of artists, including Metropole Orkest, Brandi Carlile, Michael McDonald, John Legend, Stormzy, Chris Martin, Steve Vai, Yelle, and more. The series includes Djesse, Vol. 1 (2018), Vol. 2 (2019), Vol. 3 (2020), and the critically acclaimed Vol. 4 (2024), which reached No. 26 on the UK charts.