Renowned for his use of reharmonisation and close harmony, Jacob Collier is an English singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who returns to India for the first time in four years this November. Hailed by critics for his ‘angelic’ music, as celebrated in albums like In My Room or the Djesse series, 29-year-old Collier will play in Mumbai (November 3), Delhi (November 5) and Bengaluru (November 7) as part of his Solo Piano Tour. Ahead of his shows, the five-time Grammy Award winner spoke to The Telegraph Online about his trip to India, his music style and his upcoming work.

What are you most looking forward to ahead of your shows in India? Any specific spots in any of the cities you are keen to explore?

Jacob Collier: My trip to Mumbai back in 2019 was one of the most profound experiences of my musical life. I loved every second of the chaos. They were my favourite two shows of the year, and I’m utterly thrilled to return to India. I don’t have any concrete plans, but I want to drink in as many of the colours and flavours as possible. I can’t wait to hear the sound of the audience choir there. I get goosebumps just thinking about it.

Are there any Indian elements we can expect at your shows in November? Maybe Indian renditions of songs or you wearing Indian attire?

Jacob Collier: I tend to decide my setlist hours (or even minutes) before going on stage, so I haven’t thought much about it yet. I can’t make any promises, but as a giant fan of the deep musical traditions of India you can be certain that those influences will make an appearance. And attire wise — that’s an amazing idea! I’ll get thinking.

How do you define the genre you are creating music in?

Jacob Collier: I’ve never been a particular believer in genre. It’s a term that was coined by those who consume and market music, and not so much by those who make it. I’m drawn to every kind of music under the sun, each for different reasons. I suppose the music I make is a giant combination of all the stuff I love the most.

What has your relationship with your audience been like, especially when performing live?

Jacob Collier: One of my favourite things about performing live is forging a connection with an audience. I live for that feeling. As a musician, so much of my work is about the interplay between questions and answers, arcs and stories, and having a conversation in the world of sound. There’s no feeling that comes close to feeling the audience’s connection. I’ve been experimenting with turning audiences into choirs for a few years now, and have fallen in love with it on a whole new level. People always know more than they think they know. Working spontaneously with a crowd with no prior rehearsal, plan or map is a beautiful game of trust, expectation, connection and joy.

You are the first British artiste to receive a Grammy for each of their first four albums. How did that success feel to you at a young age?

Jacob Collier: Growing up, my dreams were much less about the exterior and more about the interior of the creative process. I didn’t dream of becoming a global star, being famous, or touring the world, though I don’t remember being averse to those things were they to happen naturally. I feel very lucky to have found this kind of creative access to the world on my own terms. I’ve never compromised any part of my vision to fit into somebody else’s idea of ‘good’ or ‘cool’. I take the responsibility of being an artist very seriously and very lightly. If that makes sense! Because it’s a really important time to be creating things in the world.

What drew you towards reharmonising your music?

Jacob Collier: To me, one of the most important and fascinating elements of music is surprise, finding ways to subvert expectation. I’ve been obsessed, ever since I was a child, with finding ways to musically surprise myself. As a deep lover of chords and musical harmony, reharmonisation is one of my favourite parts about being a musical explorer. There are never-ending harmonic options for even the simplest of melodies.

Your mother and maternal grandfather have both been violinists. How did that shape your music?

Jacob Collier: Some of the earliest memories I have involve hearing the sound of the violin echoing through the house. I think it’s the closest instrument to the human voice in many ways, and it’s been an integral part of my imagination of music ever since I can remember. Growing up in a family of musicians was a real blessing, as it enabled me to experiment in real time with a language and not to take it too seriously. There were always things or people to play with!

What is your relationship with religion and spirituality, since most of your music has elements of both?

Jacob Collier: I’m not a religious person but I do think a great deal about spirituality, in the sense of listening to the universe and tuning into what it’s saying. I believe everything and everyone on this planet is an equal expression of the same cosmic life force that brought us here. I don’t see a separation between the divine and the human spirit. One thing I love, which religion can do beautifully, is the coming together of people, from all walks of life, to celebrate and sing together. That’s a feeling that’s always been very important to me.

What inspires your fashion choices that are often colourful and patterned?

Jacob Collier: I’ve always been drawn to patterns, whether in sound, shape, image, movement, or words. I’m also quite a colourful person! Probably for that reason, I love wearing things that are comfortable and highly patterned. I’ve been greatly inspired by travelling the world and experiencing so many different approaches. The last time I was in India, I went a bit crazy and bought heaps of amazing fabrics and clothes!

What can we expect from you in the near future?

Jacob Collier: My upcoming album, Djesse Vol. 4, is potentially the least genre album of all time. It’s a celebration of all music at its most massive, most intimate and most human. In fact, there’s a 100,000 voice choir on there, sampled from audiences around the world. It also features a couple of Indian collaborators. I’m thrilled for it to be out in the world on February 29. I’m really excited to see where the road takes me from there.