You Are More Like Grammy-Winner Jacob Collier Than You Think | A Bit of Optimism Podcast

To create something truly original, do we build something new or break what came before? Perhaps the answer is both—simultaneously.

Jacob Collier does exactly that. A brilliant songwriter and musician, he’s known for transforming his live audiences into massive three-part choirs, making music with the very people who attend his concerts. His album "Djesse Volume 4" was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2025 Grammy Awards, alongside icons like Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, and Taylor Swift. Although Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter" won, Jacob snagged his seventh Grammy for his rendition of "Bridge Over Troubled Water."

I sat down with him in a music studio a few days before the Grammys, surrounded by multiple pianos, and it was a joy to hear him play. Jacob’s approach to music—blending structure with spontaneity—offers inspiring insights into creativity that are as inspiring as his sound.

This…is A Bit of Optimism.

For more on Jacob, check out:
http://jacobcollier.com/
‪@jacobcollier‬

⏰ Timestamps
0:00 An intro to Jacob Collier
2:19 Album of the Year, and how it feels to be nominated
3:26 Jacob's creative mind as a kid
6:59 Practice versus play
9:39 Simon loves lists
10:19 Simon reads Shel Silverstein's "Twistable Turnable Man"
13:25 The job versus the joy of music
15:31 How Jacob learned to make music with his audiences
20:39 Everyone instinctively understands music
21:30 Jacob plays the piano (arrival and departure)
24:30 What anger sounds like on the piano
28:16 Jacob asks Simon how he keeps old ideas fresh
31:00 Are there any ideas Simon would disavow?
32:15 Jacob's WHY
34:06 The irrational mind and creativity
38:36- What AI taught Jacob about creativity
40:03 Creative mastery versus creative stagnation
44:40 Jacob talks about making two albums (In My Room and Djesse Vol. 4)
49:49 To be a container for creativity
51:58 Catching ideas is like surfing
54:13 Jacob plays Simon a Bartok Bagatelle

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Simon is an unshakable optimist. He believes in a bright future and our ability to build it together.

Described as “a visionary thinker with a rare intellect,” Simon has devoted his professional life to help advance a vision of the world that does not yet exist; a world in which the vast majority of people wake up every single morning inspired, feel safe wherever they are and end the day fulfilled by the work that they do.

Simon is the author of multiple best-selling books including Start With Why, Leaders Eat Last, Together is Better, and The Infinite Game.

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Simon’s books:
The Infinite Game: https://simonsinek.com/books/the-infi...
Start With Why: https://simonsinek.com/books/start-wi...
Find Your Why: https://simonsinek.com/books/find-you...
Leaders Eat Last: https://simonsinek.com/books/leaders-...
Together is Better: https://simonsinek.com/books/together...

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#SimonSinek