Interview Summary
This person selected a song called “The Sun is in Your Eyes” by Jacob Collier. What this person likes about this art, is the lyricism and how simple it is. The song tends to make references to nature making it a vivid experience while listening to it. They also enjoy that the song is unedited, so they feel it’s the most vulnerable it could be, and they enjoy paring the lyrics with guitar.
They chose this song because they themselves are a musician and believe that music is one of the art forms that speaks to them the most. This song reminds them of someone, they love dearly, and a different time in their life.
When they were a kid, they used to a sing in a choir, and wanted to explore more deconstructive harmony, which led them to this artist, however, they discovered this song on their own.
When listening to this song, it brings them peace at first and then nostalgic towards the middle, by the end, they feel at peace again. It made them rediscover a part of their self when they were a kid, because as a kid they wrote a lot of poems about nature but lost it as they grew up. Rediscovering this artist, encouraged them to reopen.
When they first listen to it, they saw it as a love song, and the more they heard it, they believe it could also be a grieving song.
Recognizing the authenticity in Collier’s song is important to his person because they believe there is a façade of nonchalance towards human feelings. There is a sense of bliss listening to this song, and you feel grateful for everything, and you learn to appreciate what you have, especially with the allusions to nature.
This person was 21 when they first heard this song and was in love at the time. They believe this to be a great song.
Interview Transcript
Interviewer: Okay. So, in the interview we are interested in asking you to tell us about interacting with an artwork created by another artist. And to describe that experience in detail.
And we'd like you to focus on your interaction with the particular artwork that someone else created. It might be a famous artwork or one that's not well known.
Participant 18: So, I did choose a song that was important to me. The artwork is it's a song by Jacob Collier, called the Sun is in your eyes, and then the one he released as a voice Memo. So, it's a very raw version of probably like the rawest form of expression like unedited.
Interviewer: Sure. Could you, maybe talk about some of the important details that you notice in that song?
Participant 18: So, the one thing that I really, or one of the few things that I really like about this piece is like the simplicity of the lyricism that he uses, and I think this is a trend in a lot of his work, but he makes a lot of references to nature, and compares like how somebody else makes you feel to like experiences in nature. So, when he says, like the sun is in my eyes, or when he compares somebody’s smile to like cold water.
It’s a very vivid experience, and I think the universal way of expressing that emotion. And another thing I like about this is, I think I mean I touched on it briefly, is that it's like a very unedited version of this of his song so, like probably the most vulnerable it'll be since it's a voice memo and not like produced or like re-recorded or anything.
And then there's this one the one part of the song where he where he says, like I’ll be a world of your projection, and then, like the guitar is like accented right after that it’s kind of like throws that word a little bit.
It's a nice touch of the instrumental to pair with whatever the lyrics are doing. But yeah, those are most of the things that are important in this song.
Interviewer: Thank you. and so, you talked about this a little bit already. But why did you choose to talk about this song for this study?
Participant 18: I am a musician, and I think music is one of the art forms that speaks to me the most. And so, I was thinking of a song that is emotionally salient to me. And this song really came up because like, it reminds me of somebody who I love dearly. And you know, even when they're not here, I can play this song and be like oh, you know it kind of feels like you are here, so you know it just reminds me of a different time in my life. That you know adds permanence to something that is not very permanent
Interviewer: Great. Thank you. So now, can you tell me a little bit about the experience and process of interacting with this song?
So, what led up to the interaction with this song. What motivated you to explore this piece?
Participant 18: So, I think if I understand your question correctly. I have been following this artist for quite a long time. because I used to sing in a choir when I was a kid, and then I wanted to explore more into like deconstructivism harmony. and Jacob does a lot of that in his work which I found fascinating so, I think it mostly stemmed from that, wanting to understand how his genius, mind, you know experiences music. but then, you know, on top of all this complex musical theory stuff.
He also has on occasion pieces like these that are very emotional, and maybe not as harmonically complex. But still touch you in a different kind of way.
Yeah. And that's why I like this one.
Interviewer: Sure, Thank you. and then when and where have you interacted with this song? And has anyone else been involved besides you.
Participant 18: I think I was. Oh, I was definitely alone. When I discovered the song. I mean it did remind me of somebody, so I don't know if in that sense I was completely alone in experiencing the piece. But yeah, I was physically alone when I discovered the song.
Interviewer: What were you thinking and feeling at different times throughout the process of interacting with this song.
Participant 18: I felt very at peace in the beginning. And then, you know, when he gets to the middle section of the song with the little more oral chords. I think that's when it gets a little bit more nostalgic, maybe. And then you know, with the repeat of the like. The sun is in your eyes at the beginning, and then at the end, when it says like. I see your eyes in my reflection, and the sun is in my eyes, then it's like full circle, and you feel at peace again.
Interviewer: Nice. And then can you describe any high points low points or challenges, or turning points in your interaction with this on?
Participant 18: It's like a tough question.
I kind of read through the lyrics again just to remind myself. I think the one of the high points for me. It was when he says again, like, throw me the cold water of your smile again, because I think those particular lyrics are very. I mean they're not very common, at least in these types of songs.
So, it was refreshing like the cold water, so I guess that was a high point. and obviously the low point is the end of the song because I wish it could go on forever.
And I guess for turning points. I know I talked a little bit about like the full circle thing, but if I were to like Map it out on a graph it would be like the beginning is like this, and then the middle part, where it gets a little bit more nostalgic than it goes like this, and then it goes like that. So, I don't know if that counts as a turning point at all. But yeah, just because it's a really short song.
Interviewer: Great. Thank you. So, let's talk a little bit about the impact of this song on you and your life. Why have you learned from interacting with this song? How did you learn anything about yourself?
Participant 18: I kind of rediscovered a part of myself that I probably shoveled away as a kid. When, I was a kid. I used to write like a lot of poems about Nature.
And I think I don't know, for whatever reason I lost that throughout, like high school, middle school, and college.
But like rediscovering an artist, that also uses nature to express feelings, I think encouraged me to reopen that part of my creative pursuits.
So just like understanding that this is something that I have like a natural affinity to, and maybe I should follow that natural instinct.
Yeah, that's mostly what I learned, and also that I am probably more emotional than I will publicly ever admit.
Interviewer: Do you think that the artist intended this song to affect others or the world in any particular ways?
Participant 18: I think he knew that it would have an impact because I mean an artist of his caliber. You know he has a following for a reason, but I don't think he produced it for that purpose.
I think that was like his expression, and he probably knew that people could relate to it, so he wanted to share it. But yeah, I don't think he created it for that purpose. But he knew that it would.
Interviewer: Yeah. Did your experience with this song affect your understanding of others, or of the world in any ways?
Participant 18: I think this song particularly like for me. It was when I first listened to it. It was more of a love song. But then. Like listening to it over and over again. I feel like it could also be like a grieving song, or like to get over
a loss or to help people through loss.
In experiencing that shift and understanding kind of prompt me prompted me to think about like the similarities between the two.
And how similar those feelings are, and how scary that those two feelings feel that similar.
Interviewer: So, when some people think about themselves, they see some parts of themselves as deeply true, real, or authentic.
If this idea resonates with you, did you learn anything about your true nature during the process of interacting with this song? Did you have any insights about your own authentic or inauthentic self?
Participant 18: Hmm. So, I think I touched briefly on this with like the poetry stuff when I was a kid and wanting to reopen that part.
But I also think like in just reading the lyrics alone, I mean, especially in this day and age. I think there's a lot of irony or sarcasm as you especially for our generation like used, as a humor for coping mechanisms and paint a facade of nonchalance towards very human feelings and issues and I think you know, recognizing the authenticity in his song, really encourages me to be more authentic with feelings. and expressing those feelings particularly through art, where irony and other kind of tools to deflect the depth of a subject might.
I just feel like irony, undercuts the depth of material that a lot of artists want to portray like this is so raw and so like unfussy.
I think this is how I was when I was a kid before, like all the before growing up happened, you know.
I think it's refreshing, and it gives me a sense of peace that other people are also experiencing the same things without the facade of sarcasm.
Interviewer: great. Thank you.
So, the next prompt is, some people believe in ultimate meaning.
This is defined as deep underlying meaning that transcends subjective personal meaning. It is about the nature of existence and identity. It may include ideas about the significance of suffering as well as spirituality.
If this idea resonates with you. Did you learn anything about ultimate meaning during the process of interacting with this song?
Participant 18: So, for this piece in particular, I don't feel like that was the aim or a goal of the artist. But I think because his pieces are.
I think they speak on universal emotions. People might be able to like grab on that red thread that he puts on and like discover that for themselves. And if it does have meaning great, and if it doesn't, then I guess that's that too
Interviewer: Great. Thank you. So, then, some people believe or perceive a reality beyond the physical or material world. This may include religious beliefs and experiences such as perceived interactions with God but may also include mystical or transcendent experiences or interaction with spirits.
Did you have any of these kinds of experiences during your interaction with this song?
Participant 18:I would say no.
Although I was in a weird space like religiously when I first came upon this song, so that might have an influence on.
Just like the feeling of being connected with another human being. I think that in itself is a very spiritual experience.
The sense of bliss listening to this song was you know, very calming, and you know, in the moment you're very grateful for everything that you have around you, and you learn to appreciate. You know what you have and especially with when allusions to nature and natural experiences are thrown in there, I think it encourages you to be more aware of your surroundings.
And more attuned to what you're feeling or experiencing in the world around you. and then in that sense, well for me at least, it kind of made me wonder like you know, this is maybe quoting Tuesdays with Morrie. But like this is 2 grand a universe for it to be an accident.
Interviewer: thank you.
I just have a few quick quicker follow up questions. How old were you when you first interacted with this song?
Participant 18: 21
Interviewer: How do you perceive the quality of this song?
Participant 18:
I think it's a great song. Technically, you know the audio quality might not be great, but I think that's what makes it very special.
Interviewer: And then you've talked about this a little bit, but I wondered if you wanted to share anything more about what was going on in your life around the time that you interacted with this on
Participant 18: I unfortunately fell in love when I when I found this song, so it was a very emotionally turbulent part of time of my life, I guess. And then, you know, I think religiously.
I had just finished the Evolution of God like this.
I was raised in the church, but then, you know, you know, with college and everything, it's like. No, maybe I should start questioning.
So, you know, just taking that step away from something that you've grown up with is also mildly taxing on the soul, I guess.
Interviewer: Great. Thank you.
This person selected a song called “The Sun is in Your Eyes” by Jacob Collier. What this person likes about this art, is the lyricism and how simple it is. The song tends to make references to nature making it a vivid experience while listening to it. They also enjoy that the song is unedited, so they feel it’s the most vulnerable it could be, and they enjoy paring the lyrics with guitar.
They chose this song because they themselves are a musician and believe that music is one of the art forms that speaks to them the most. This song reminds them of someone, they love dearly, and a different time in their life.
When they were a kid, they used to a sing in a choir, and wanted to explore more deconstructive harmony, which led them to this artist, however, they discovered this song on their own.
When listening to this song, it brings them peace at first and then nostalgic towards the middle, by the end, they feel at peace again. It made them rediscover a part of their self when they were a kid, because as a kid they wrote a lot of poems about nature but lost it as they grew up. Rediscovering this artist, encouraged them to reopen.
When they first listen to it, they saw it as a love song, and the more they heard it, they believe it could also be a grieving song.
Recognizing the authenticity in Collier’s song is important to his person because they believe there is a façade of nonchalance towards human feelings. There is a sense of bliss listening to this song, and you feel grateful for everything, and you learn to appreciate what you have, especially with the allusions to nature.
This person was 21 when they first heard this song and was in love at the time. They believe this to be a great song.
Interview Transcript
Interviewer: Okay. So, in the interview we are interested in asking you to tell us about interacting with an artwork created by another artist. And to describe that experience in detail.
And we'd like you to focus on your interaction with the particular artwork that someone else created. It might be a famous artwork or one that's not well known.
Participant 18: So, I did choose a song that was important to me. The artwork is it's a song by Jacob Collier, called the Sun is in your eyes, and then the one he released as a voice Memo. So, it's a very raw version of probably like the rawest form of expression like unedited.
Interviewer: Sure. Could you, maybe talk about some of the important details that you notice in that song?
Participant 18: So, the one thing that I really, or one of the few things that I really like about this piece is like the simplicity of the lyricism that he uses, and I think this is a trend in a lot of his work, but he makes a lot of references to nature, and compares like how somebody else makes you feel to like experiences in nature. So, when he says, like the sun is in my eyes, or when he compares somebody’s smile to like cold water.
It’s a very vivid experience, and I think the universal way of expressing that emotion. And another thing I like about this is, I think I mean I touched on it briefly, is that it's like a very unedited version of this of his song so, like probably the most vulnerable it'll be since it's a voice memo and not like produced or like re-recorded or anything.
And then there's this one the one part of the song where he where he says, like I’ll be a world of your projection, and then, like the guitar is like accented right after that it’s kind of like throws that word a little bit.
It's a nice touch of the instrumental to pair with whatever the lyrics are doing. But yeah, those are most of the things that are important in this song.
Interviewer: Thank you. and so, you talked about this a little bit already. But why did you choose to talk about this song for this study?
Participant 18: I am a musician, and I think music is one of the art forms that speaks to me the most. And so, I was thinking of a song that is emotionally salient to me. And this song really came up because like, it reminds me of somebody who I love dearly. And you know, even when they're not here, I can play this song and be like oh, you know it kind of feels like you are here, so you know it just reminds me of a different time in my life. That you know adds permanence to something that is not very permanent
Interviewer: Great. Thank you. So now, can you tell me a little bit about the experience and process of interacting with this song?
So, what led up to the interaction with this song. What motivated you to explore this piece?
Participant 18: So, I think if I understand your question correctly. I have been following this artist for quite a long time. because I used to sing in a choir when I was a kid, and then I wanted to explore more into like deconstructivism harmony. and Jacob does a lot of that in his work which I found fascinating so, I think it mostly stemmed from that, wanting to understand how his genius, mind, you know experiences music. but then, you know, on top of all this complex musical theory stuff.
He also has on occasion pieces like these that are very emotional, and maybe not as harmonically complex. But still touch you in a different kind of way.
Yeah. And that's why I like this one.
Interviewer: Sure, Thank you. and then when and where have you interacted with this song? And has anyone else been involved besides you.
Participant 18: I think I was. Oh, I was definitely alone. When I discovered the song. I mean it did remind me of somebody, so I don't know if in that sense I was completely alone in experiencing the piece. But yeah, I was physically alone when I discovered the song.
Interviewer: What were you thinking and feeling at different times throughout the process of interacting with this song.
Participant 18: I felt very at peace in the beginning. And then, you know, when he gets to the middle section of the song with the little more oral chords. I think that's when it gets a little bit more nostalgic, maybe. And then you know, with the repeat of the like. The sun is in your eyes at the beginning, and then at the end, when it says like. I see your eyes in my reflection, and the sun is in my eyes, then it's like full circle, and you feel at peace again.
Interviewer: Nice. And then can you describe any high points low points or challenges, or turning points in your interaction with this on?
Participant 18: It's like a tough question.
I kind of read through the lyrics again just to remind myself. I think the one of the high points for me. It was when he says again, like, throw me the cold water of your smile again, because I think those particular lyrics are very. I mean they're not very common, at least in these types of songs.
So, it was refreshing like the cold water, so I guess that was a high point. and obviously the low point is the end of the song because I wish it could go on forever.
And I guess for turning points. I know I talked a little bit about like the full circle thing, but if I were to like Map it out on a graph it would be like the beginning is like this, and then the middle part, where it gets a little bit more nostalgic than it goes like this, and then it goes like that. So, I don't know if that counts as a turning point at all. But yeah, just because it's a really short song.
Interviewer: Great. Thank you. So, let's talk a little bit about the impact of this song on you and your life. Why have you learned from interacting with this song? How did you learn anything about yourself?
Participant 18: I kind of rediscovered a part of myself that I probably shoveled away as a kid. When, I was a kid. I used to write like a lot of poems about Nature.
And I think I don't know, for whatever reason I lost that throughout, like high school, middle school, and college.
But like rediscovering an artist, that also uses nature to express feelings, I think encouraged me to reopen that part of my creative pursuits.
So just like understanding that this is something that I have like a natural affinity to, and maybe I should follow that natural instinct.
Yeah, that's mostly what I learned, and also that I am probably more emotional than I will publicly ever admit.
Interviewer: Do you think that the artist intended this song to affect others or the world in any particular ways?
Participant 18: I think he knew that it would have an impact because I mean an artist of his caliber. You know he has a following for a reason, but I don't think he produced it for that purpose.
I think that was like his expression, and he probably knew that people could relate to it, so he wanted to share it. But yeah, I don't think he created it for that purpose. But he knew that it would.
Interviewer: Yeah. Did your experience with this song affect your understanding of others, or of the world in any ways?
Participant 18: I think this song particularly like for me. It was when I first listened to it. It was more of a love song. But then. Like listening to it over and over again. I feel like it could also be like a grieving song, or like to get over
a loss or to help people through loss.
In experiencing that shift and understanding kind of prompt me prompted me to think about like the similarities between the two.
And how similar those feelings are, and how scary that those two feelings feel that similar.
Interviewer: So, when some people think about themselves, they see some parts of themselves as deeply true, real, or authentic.
If this idea resonates with you, did you learn anything about your true nature during the process of interacting with this song? Did you have any insights about your own authentic or inauthentic self?
Participant 18: Hmm. So, I think I touched briefly on this with like the poetry stuff when I was a kid and wanting to reopen that part.
But I also think like in just reading the lyrics alone, I mean, especially in this day and age. I think there's a lot of irony or sarcasm as you especially for our generation like used, as a humor for coping mechanisms and paint a facade of nonchalance towards very human feelings and issues and I think you know, recognizing the authenticity in his song, really encourages me to be more authentic with feelings. and expressing those feelings particularly through art, where irony and other kind of tools to deflect the depth of a subject might.
I just feel like irony, undercuts the depth of material that a lot of artists want to portray like this is so raw and so like unfussy.
I think this is how I was when I was a kid before, like all the before growing up happened, you know.
I think it's refreshing, and it gives me a sense of peace that other people are also experiencing the same things without the facade of sarcasm.
Interviewer: great. Thank you.
So, the next prompt is, some people believe in ultimate meaning.
This is defined as deep underlying meaning that transcends subjective personal meaning. It is about the nature of existence and identity. It may include ideas about the significance of suffering as well as spirituality.
If this idea resonates with you. Did you learn anything about ultimate meaning during the process of interacting with this song?
Participant 18: So, for this piece in particular, I don't feel like that was the aim or a goal of the artist. But I think because his pieces are.
I think they speak on universal emotions. People might be able to like grab on that red thread that he puts on and like discover that for themselves. And if it does have meaning great, and if it doesn't, then I guess that's that too
Interviewer: Great. Thank you. So, then, some people believe or perceive a reality beyond the physical or material world. This may include religious beliefs and experiences such as perceived interactions with God but may also include mystical or transcendent experiences or interaction with spirits.
Did you have any of these kinds of experiences during your interaction with this song?
Participant 18:I would say no.
Although I was in a weird space like religiously when I first came upon this song, so that might have an influence on.
Just like the feeling of being connected with another human being. I think that in itself is a very spiritual experience.
The sense of bliss listening to this song was you know, very calming, and you know, in the moment you're very grateful for everything that you have around you, and you learn to appreciate. You know what you have and especially with when allusions to nature and natural experiences are thrown in there, I think it encourages you to be more aware of your surroundings.
And more attuned to what you're feeling or experiencing in the world around you. and then in that sense, well for me at least, it kind of made me wonder like you know, this is maybe quoting Tuesdays with Morrie. But like this is 2 grand a universe for it to be an accident.
Interviewer: thank you.
I just have a few quick quicker follow up questions. How old were you when you first interacted with this song?
Participant 18: 21
Interviewer: How do you perceive the quality of this song?
Participant 18:
I think it's a great song. Technically, you know the audio quality might not be great, but I think that's what makes it very special.
Interviewer: And then you've talked about this a little bit, but I wondered if you wanted to share anything more about what was going on in your life around the time that you interacted with this on
Participant 18: I unfortunately fell in love when I when I found this song, so it was a very emotionally turbulent part of time of my life, I guess. And then, you know, I think religiously.
I had just finished the Evolution of God like this.
I was raised in the church, but then, you know, you know, with college and everything, it's like. No, maybe I should start questioning.
So, you know, just taking that step away from something that you've grown up with is also mildly taxing on the soul, I guess.
Interviewer: Great. Thank you.
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