Music director, Jacob Collier picks 18 exciting tracks on his playlist

Known for his complex harmonies and arrangements and his mastery of about 30 instruments, the genre-blurring 29-year old Jacob Collier is a prodigious talent who has written for the likes of SZA and Coldplay. Since 2018, he has been working on Djesse, a four-volume album that features an eclectic mix of collaborators, including Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, T-Pain, and JoJo. Out February 29, the final installment, Djesse Vol. 4, boasts contributions from Stormzy, John Mayer, and Shawn Mendes, as well as the voices of more than 150,000 audience members Collier recorded singing along with him over the course of 91 concerts. 

“This is far and away the most ambitious thing I’ve ever done,” he says. “It’s been a whirlwind of sound and exploration.” For this issue, Collier curated a playlist around the theme of joy, including songs that make you smile in addition to more introspective tracks. In addition to Fleet Foxes’ lush folk tune 'Ragged Wood' and Kimbra’s psychedelic earworm 'Sweet Relief,' he chose Earth, Wind & Fire’s funky 1978 hit 'September'. “Everyone knows and loves it,” he says of the last track. “It’s joy in a song.”

Collier's exciting 18 

September by Earth, Wind & Fire

Mr. Blue Sky by Electic Light Orchestra

Sweet Relief by Kimbra

Immaterial by Sophie

Ragged Wood by Fleet Foxes

Firesmoke by Kae Tempest

Big Time Sensuality by Björk

Rock DJ by Robbie Williams

One More Day by Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson

Aldeia De Ogum by Joyce

Magalenha by Sergio Mendes

Homebody by Nai Palm

Witness Me by Jacob Collier feat Shawn Mendes, Stormzy, and Kirk Franklin

Private Joy by Prince

No Reason by Big Thief

Fire Cracker by Yellow Magic Orchestra

Ngiculela-Esuna Historia-I am Singing by Stevie Wonder

Home Again by Michael Kiwanuka