Destination Jam: Top 5 Jacob Collier songs to celebrate the Grammy award-winning artist's 'Djesse Vol 3' album
The British singer-songwriter and producer Jacob Collier is a master of his jazz fusion / R&B art form and the Grammy award-winning artist recently came out with his latest album, 'Djesse Vol 3' on August 14. The new album, which is pronounced "Jesse Volume 3" is presumably a reference to Jacob Collier's initials "JC". This is the third installment in the creative Collier's four-part 'Djesse' series, with each album conceptualized to describe a different part of the day. According to one popular fan theory, 'Vol 1' talks about daybreak or early morning, 'Vol 2' dwells on the afternoon/evening, 'Vol 3' reflects on the night and 'Vol 4' will reflect on dreams/midnight. He's already come out with some stirring gems on this 'Djesse' album arc thus far and if you haven't heard his spell-binding version of the classic song 'Moon River', you're definitely missing out.
For 'Djesse Vol 3', Collier has collaborated with a whole bunch of talented artists, including Jessie Reyez, T-Pain, Kimbra, Tank and the Bangas, Daniel Caesar, Mahalia, Ty Dolla $ign, Kiana Ledé, Tori Kelly and Rapsody. Besides these collaborations, the 12 track album also includes five short "beatsketches," which Collier describes as "a collection of crazy sounds, little canvases, windows into universes I have visited over the course of my 'Vol. 3' creating time." Once again, Jacob Collier proves that he's the messiah of modern jazz fusion. Make sure you check out the entire album, which is available for listening here. For today's Destination Jam, let's take a look at some enchanting singles from 'Djesse Vol.3'.
Destination Jam - Jacob Collier's 'Djesse Vol. 3'
'Time Alone With You'
This was the first single from the new album, which released in November 2019 and features a collaboration with the Canadian artist Daniel Caesar. A groovy, wonky spot of jazz fusion, pop and R&B, Caesar's and Collier's voices blend wonderfully well together on this fresh yet familiar number. We're also treated to some microtonal moments and joyous pitch-shifted voice samples, along with burbling instrumentation interjected in between different sections of this catchy bop. The lyrics celebrate being with one's significant other and include lines like "If you wanna get sunshine (All night) / Walkin' on the rooftop (Moonlight) / I'ma go get some / Time alone with you." The music video is also a visual treat and reflects Collier's boundless creativity.
'In My Bones'
This was the next single to be unveiled from 'Djesse Vol. 3' when it was released in March 2020. This catchy track features a collaboration with the New Zealand-based singer Kimbra and the slam poet/rapper Tarriona "Tank" Ball, who is the vocalist of the New Orleans-based genre-spanning band Tank and the Bangas. This number is a funky and spunky endeavor and is modeled on the energetic grooves of music superstars like Prince (funk) and Michael Jackson (pop) while bringing in copious amounts of jazz fusion and hip-hop into the mix as well. Sample lines include, "Now's the time to get that funky feeling right /If there's a thing you wanna get right / Then get the boogie in your bones all through the night." The music video is a colorful feast for the senses as well and definitely worth a watch.
'All I Need'
This was the third single that dropped from 'Djesse Vol. 3' in May 2020, and features the talents of the Jamaican-British singer Mahalia and the American hip-hop star Ty Dolla $ign. This is a smooth, driving, bass-heavy R&B and jazz fusion ballad and there's plenty of Jacob Collier staples like complex rhythms, microtonal pitch shifts, groovy instrumentation, lilting background vocal spurts and of course, some trademark gorgeous harmonies that range from deep bass to high falsetto. Ty Dolla $ign's vocals are processed with an autotune filter on this number, but surprisingly, it only serves to further enhance the song's copious pop melodies. Lyrics include "I'll be singing in the starbright / Underneath the moonlight / 'Cause I love your smile / And it makes me feel alright / I will sing it to the sun / You will always be the one for me / Let your love shine down."
'He Won't Hold You'
This track was the fourth single to be released from 'Djesse Vol. 3' in June 2020, and features the talents of the Grammy-nominated rapper Rapsody. This beautiful number proves to be a delightful change of pace from Collier's staple fare as the song takes on a tinge of a soulful choir spiritual, complete with layered vocal harmonies, shimmering instrumentation and introspective lyrics that explore loneliness. Later in the song, Rapsody come in with a powerful spoken word passage that speaks to the nature of love, loss, healing and freedom. "Your arms were my armor / Karma cut us loose / You learned value, I learned truth / No one holds me down the way you do... I had to face myself, my fears, my fails / Now I know there's nothing I can't do / I dance in the rain knowin' I can swim too / Found liberation, found my freedom / Where it begins is without you." As far as modern crossover hits go, this is lo-fi gospel at its finest!
'Running Outta Love'
This was the fifth and final preview single from the 'Djesse Vol. 3' album, which released on July 31, merely two weeks ago. It features the talents of the Grammy-nominated singer Tori Kelly, who famously made it to the semfinals of Season 9 on 'American Idol'. This silky track, which talks about a rough patch between two lovers who still want to make their relationship work, is a slow, groovy, laidback R&B meets jazz-pop number. Tori Kelly's measured yet fluid vocal really makes the sparkle on this glistening track shine even brighter. Both Kelly and Collier indulge in some gorgeous and lilting vocal runs midway through, and of course, Collier's harmonic concepts and stellar production is always a treat for the ears. Sample lyrics include "Even if you say that you're alone / Even if you wanna let it go / Keep it to yourself / I wanna make it feel alright / If you've been running out of love."
Destination Jam is a daily list of songs that will keep you entertained and grooving up top in lieu of feeling drained and losing the plot. Look out for a fresh selection of great tunes from MEAWW to refresh your mood every day!