The British Mozart who’s just broken Grammy record (from mum’s house)
HE may be a multi-talented multi-instrumentalist who’s been likened to Mozart – but Jacob Collier still lives with his mum and is unknown to most people.
However, that’s likely to change after last night the 26-year-old did what no British musician has done, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones or David Bowie – win a Grammy for each of his first four albums.
His record, Djesse Vol 3 was nominated for three categories at the prestigious US music awards, which were held in Los Angeles.
Collier, from north London, won for best arrangement, instrument and vocals for his track He Won’t Hold You, featuring Rapsody.
He was also nominated for best album, against rivals from Coldplay and Taylor Swift, and best R&B performance, competing with Beyonce. Stars who performed at the awards included Billie Eilish, Swift and Harry Styles, although there was no audience.
Collier lives in Finchley with his mum, Susan, a violinist and Royal Academy of Music teacher. Coldplay star Chris Martin, pictured, said working with him was ‘like hanging out with Mozart or Prince’.
The musician, who plays guitar, keyboards, bass, drums and ukulele, was spotted by legendary producer Quincy Jones after one of his performances attracted online attention.
Collier told The Sunday Times: ‘Last year was surreal... but to have that year concluded with these nominations was very strange.’
Asked about the comparison with Mozart, he said it was ‘thrilling’ and ‘flattering’, adding: ‘I don’t think of myself as remotely like Mozart. I’m just trying to be Jacob. I want to be thoroughly Jacobean at all times.’