INTO THE WOOD

WHEN I CALLED JACOB COLLIER ONE FALL MORNING, it seemed entirely appropriate that he was in his room in his parents’ home in London—the same room from which the 25-year-old singer/producer/multi-instrumentalist has launched a mercurial career. In a mere six years since he posted an ingenious, mostly a cappella take on Stevie Wonder’s “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing” on YouTube, he has released three albums (with two more in the works), won two Grammy Awards, done a TED Talk, appeared in NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series, won the attention and mentorship of Quincy Jones, and toured incessantly while establishing himself as one of the most creative musical polymaths on the planet. So speaking to him from his room was much like meeting a musical scientist in his favorite laboratory.

In many ways, it was also entirely appropriate relative to the Wonder song that started it all. In the original, Stevie has a spoken-word intro, a come-on to a woman of interest, where he boasts of his travels abroad, especially Iraq, Iran, and Eurasia. Collier on this autumn day was just back from a six-week tour in Asia and Australia that included a gig at the iconic Sydney Opera House. He didn’t boast about it, however; that would have been out of character. Instead he talked of touring with the ebullience that is as much his trademark as his bright, wide-ranging music. He’s easy for a music lover to relate to as he speaks with the to—break down its brilliance for you.