Djesse Vol. 4
Inside a glass box, thousands of tiny pictures come together to form the shape of a human head
Studio album by
Released29 February 2024
Length69:17
LabelHajanga
ProducerJacob Collier
Jacob Collier chronology
Djesse Vol. 3
(2020)
Djesse Vol. 4
(2024)
Singles from Djesse Vol. 4
  1. "Never Gonna Be Alone"
    Released: 10 June 2022
  2. "Wellll"
    Released: 14 July 2023
  3. "Little Blue"
    Released: 21 September 2023
  4. "Wherever I Go"
    Released: 27 October 2023
  5. "Witness Me"
    Released: 21 November 2023
  6. "Mi Corazón"
    Released: 19 January 2024
  7. "Bridge over Troubled Water"
    Released: 22 February 2024

Djesse Vol. 4 is the fifth studio album by English musician Jacob Collier, released on 29 February 2024.[1] The album is the fourth and final instalment in the Djesse series, which began in 2018 with Djesse Vol. 1.[2]

Background

Further information: Jacob Collier § Career

Jacob Collier first become known for publishing arrangements of popular songs on YouTube in which he performed multiple instruments and layered vocal harmonies.[3] American record producer Quincy Jones contacted Collier after the release of his cover of Stevie Wonder's "Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing" (1974) in 2013, eventually assuming management of his career. Collier recorded and produced his debut album In My Room (2016) independently. The album was met with a positive reception, including two Grammy Awards.[4] NPR's Ari Shapiro describes Djesse Vol. 4 as the "culmination" of the four-album series starting with Djesse Vol. 1 (2018).[5]

Promotion and singles

"Never Gonna Be Alone," featuring Lizzy McAlpine and John Mayer, was released on 10 June 2022; it was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals.[6] The song was later revealed to be the first single off Collier's upcoming project Djesse Vol. 4.[1]

"Wellll", the second single, was released on July 14, 2023, alongside a music video featuring Collier on a custom five-string electric guitar.[7] "Little Blue," featuring Brandi Carlile, the third single, was released on September 21, 2023, with its music video.[2][8] The fourth single, "Wherever I Go", features Lawrence and Michael McDonald and was released on 27 October 2023.[9] The fifth single, "Witness Me", was released on 21 November 2023 and features Shawn Mendes, Stormzy, and Kirk Franklin.[10]

Two new singles were released in early 2024. The sixth single, "Mi Corazón", featuring Camilo, was released on 19 January 2024.[11] The final single, "Bridge over Troubled Water", featuring vocals by John Legend and Tori Kelly, was released on 22 February. It is a cover of the song of the same name by Simon & Garfunkel, and features uncredited vocals from Yebba.[12]

Tour

Collier has announced a North American tour to promote the album, which will be playing[needs update] from April to June 2024.[13]

Reception

Sputnikmusic reported that Djesse Vol. 4 had received unusually divided reactions from audiences; while some listeners applauded the musical proficiency displayed on the work, others shared feelings of "visceral disgust".[14] A Times reviewer commented on the talent Collier shows by combining several genres on the record, but felt that it "begins to feel like showing off" and loses its "charm" through excess.[15] The Observer's Ammar Kalia also noted the wide range of genres represented on the album. Though he felt the dense production could overwhelm many listeners, Kalia found the record "invigorating and irrepressible".[16]

Track listing

All tracks are written and produced by Jacob Collier, except where noted.

Djesse Vol. 4 track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."100,000 Voices"
 4:44
2."She Put Sunshine"  3:30
3."Little Blue" (featuring Brandi Carlile)  4:25
4."Wellll"
 2:38
5."Cinnamon Crush" (featuring Lindsey Lomis)
  • Collier
  • Lomis
 3:47
6."Wherever I Go" (featuring Lawrence and Michael McDonald)
  • Collier
  • Clyde Lawrence
  • Gracie Lawrence
  • Jordan Cohen
  • Collier
  • The Diner
2:46
7."Summer Rain" (featuring Madison Cunningham and Chris Thile)  4:51
8."A Rock Somewhere" (featuring Anoushka Shankar and Varijashree Venugopal)
  • Collier
  • Shankar
 5:09
9."Mi Corazón" (featuring Camilo) 3:06
10."Witness Me" (featuring Shawn Mendes, Stormzy and Kirk Franklin) 3:45
11."Never Gonna Be Alone" (featuring Lizzy McAlpine and John Mayer)
  • Collier
  • McAlpine
  • Mayer
 4:09
12."Bridge over Troubled Water" (featuring John Legend and Tori Kelly)Paul Simon 5:52
13."Over You" (featuring Aespa and Chris Martin)
  • Collier
  • Martin
  • Aespa
  • Francesca Haincourt
 2:53
14."Box of Stars Pt. 1" (featuring Kirk Franklin, Chika, D Smoke, Sho Madjozi, Yelle and Kanyi Mavi) 5:16
15."Box of Stars Pt. 2" (featuring Metropole Orkest, Suzie Collier, Steve Vai and Voces8)  6:12
16."World O World"  6:14
Total length:69:17
Djesse Vol. 4 – Japanese edition (bonus track)
No.TitleLength
17."Little Blue" (Mahogany Session)7:33
Total length:76:50

Notes

Personnel

Adapted from the album's liner notes and TIDAL.[18][19]

Additional musicians

Additional technical personnel

Charts

Chart performance for Djesse Vol. 4
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[20] 149
Scottish Albums (OCC)[21] 22
UK Albums (OCC)[22] 26

References

  1. ^ a b Grein, Paul (21 September 2023). "Jacob Collier announces fourth volume of Grammy-lauded Djesse franchise". Billboard. Archived from the original on 24 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b Coward, Teddy (21 September 2023). "Jacob Collier announces the final installment of Djesse album series". Whynow. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Jacob Collier – the vocalist/multi-instrumentalist YouTube sensation". Jazzwise. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  4. ^ Hewett, Ivan (17 July 2018). "Meet Jacob Collier: the jazz sensation that's gone from YouTube to the Royal Albert Hall". The Telegraph. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  5. ^ Shapiro, Ari (29 February 2024). "Jacob Collier on the four-album project Djesse". All Things Considered (Podcast). NPR. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  6. ^ Sissler, James (10 June 2022). "Jacob Collier shares sentimental single featuring Lizzy McAlpine and John Mayer". Live for Live. Archived from the original on 10 June 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  7. ^ Horsley, Jonathan (14 July 2023). "Watch Jacob Collier get wild with his custom Strandberg 5-string and unleash his inner child on new single 'Wellll'". Music Radar. Archived from the original on 18 July 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  8. ^ Krinsky, Alex (21 September 2023). "Jacob Collier details Djesse Vol. 4 culmination of Grammy-winning series, shares song with Brandi Carlile". Jambands. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  9. ^ Boisvert, Lauren (27 October 2023). "Jacob Collier recruits Michael McDonald and Lawrence on groovy new single". American Songwriter. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  10. ^ Schube, Will (21 November 2023). "Jacob Collier recruits Shawn Mendes, Stormzy, and Kirk Franklin for 'Witness Me'". uDiscover Music. Archived from the original on 22 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  11. ^ Mier, Tomás (19 January 2024). "Jacob Collier and Camilo share sweet memories on bright single 'Mi Corazón'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  12. ^ a b O'Brien, Andrew (24 February 2024). "Yebba, Jacob Collier transform Simon & Garfunkel's 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'". Live for Live. Archived from the original on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  13. ^ Liebig, Lorie (17 October 2023). "Jacob Collier reveals 2024 headlining tour in support of upcoming album Djesse Vol. 4". American Songwriter. Archived from the original on 28 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  14. ^ "Djesse Vol. 4 Review". Sputnikmusic. 4 March 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  15. ^ "Jacob Collier: Djesse Vol. 4 ". The Times. 1 March 2024. p. 9. Gale A784546113.
  16. ^ Kalia, Ammar (3 March 2023). "Jacob Collier: Djesse Vol. 4 review – mind-melting final instalment of vast six-year project". The Observer. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  17. ^ @jacobcollier (21 February 2024). "Bridge Over Troubled Water feat. @johnlegend & @torikelly - OUT AT MIDNIGHT!!!!! ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥". Archived from the original on 26 February 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2024 – via Instagram.
  18. ^ Djesse Vol. 4 (booklet). Hajanga. 2024.
  19. ^ "Credits / Djesse Vol. 4 / Jacob Collier – TIDAL". TIDAL. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  20. ^ "Ultratop.be – Jacob Collier – Djesse Vol. 4" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  21. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  22. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 March 2024.