Jacob Collier Answers Music Questions From Twitter | Tech Support | WIRED

[@jonibarguren6675]

the 5 finger polyrhythm is wild.. his coordination is beyond admirable

[@zukacs]

this was wild

[@Jamesonfp]

it’s quite literally INSANE

[@jamesheufve5265]

Especially while counting the time signatures 🤧

[@NotGabe001]

Fun fact: if you speed it up enough (or technically, even if you don't), it's a major chord

[@thelittlehooer]

That, folks, is what perfect pitch sounds like. A meeting of supreme talent and skill. I'm so envious.

[@noeliav.9878]

The speed in which he communicates without losing clarity is genius

[@stripedpants1668]

Jacob was struck by lightning and still gave this WIRED demonstration. Respect.

[@softlyspokensounds2001]

😂

[@march4652]

Idk maybe he's just sitting on a tesla coil

[@IDTT137]

The theramin definitely did that

[@senpaiii623]

LMFAO

[@MitchellMilkov86]

Good one. I guess you figured out he compensates for his Uber neediness by dressing like a Canterbury square hipster porcupine

[@powerbastion1083]

Imagine having him as your tutor for 3 years at University. That would just be the most inspiring time of your life

[@jalava78]

Or lecturer, he could be the Walter Lewin of musical studies for rhythm and harmony.

[@cowboygareth]

he guest lectured at MIT, and performed there as well.

[@iangreer4585]

Bring him to the Curtis Institute!

[@orionthatman9390]

Non music people will not realize how insanely impressive him singing those microtones is. With actual separation between the tones and not sliding.

[@Megabooy1]

Me personal is a trainwreck when it comes to anything music and I have no fiber in my body that believes that any of what he just did was remotely easy xD

[@fullup91]

It was also crazy funny 😂

[@gubblfisch350]

My choir choir had a piece where a descending minor third was sung with 3 notes instead of 2 in between. That's precisely the easiest example he gave in this video :)

[@schwesterino1111]

Arabs do this effortlessly

[@lukeshioshio]

It's not impressive if you know how to sing I'm sorry but stop

[@Molemanski]

I love how he's really encouraging about learning, trying and just exploring things. He never said that something sounds wrong.

[@dawgstudioswoohoo]

Yeah, he never said “wow, that’s wrong”, or “woah, you’re off”, he always said “I disagree” or “let me convince you otherwise”. I find this to be amazing, and it shows that he understands that music is subjective and can be interpreted in infinitely different ways.

[@somethingbl]

Singing those microtones with perfect clarity and distinction is ridiculous

[@DjTikkikun]

And so casual while doing it

[@futur_sunds]

That was insane

[@eamonshea4566]

“A fun game he plays” this guys so awesome

[@miikamartin7026]

I actually like groaned like this guy is wayyyy too talented wtf was that. Every time I see him do something he blows my mind and I don't even know anything about music. I can't imagine what people who make music for a living are feeling when Jacob is cooking.

[@n1k0n_]

That little part will be lost on so many people. Unreal

[@adamsteinken1185]

Well that polyrhythm finger trick confirmed you’re beyond human. This is my introduction to this man and is already a favorite musician of mine.

[@mrjamestiu]

The way he explained and demonstrated the microtones in such precision is creepy good. And did it so casually too WTF LOL

[@vanclyde]

The speed at which he counted the notes, and the precision of the gap between those microtones is unreal

[@GizzyDillespee]

The "one hand, 5 rhythms" part was just as amazing, too

[@vanclyde]

@@akirathedog777 I dunno who pissed in your cereals but okay. People are not like "wow microtones" it's the speed and accuracy at which he does it, being it's not the usual scale here.

[@RobnDaHood]

Give this man a TV show like Reading Rainbow for music! Would be so great to have him teaching kids the joy and mystery of sounds

[@RijuChatterjee]

He has a youtube channel

[@Will-zs6ln]

Jacob saying "I'm a musician" is the biggest understatement ever.

[@Jc2260]

Messi: "I play soccer"

[@adamplaza3935]

That dude IS music 😂

[@koreboredom4302]

Martin Scorsese: "I make videos."

[@dannywarnock8822]

"I make stuff" -God

[@adderon]

"I Me stuff" Me

[@stewiegriffin993]

The way this guy motivates me every single day...he just makes you realize there's no perfect or wrong approach to what you're doing musically, as long as you are satisfied with what you're doing. I literally picked up learning new instruments BECAUSE of Jacob Collier

[@MrPek-fe9fp]

Good job, Stewie Griffin.

[@SilentHillWomble]

Bass is one of those things where you don't notice it until it's gone. Things just sound empty when it's not there

[@ethandemille2585]

@@BassHeartRiffsHell yeah

[@brunosarramide572]

it's like eyebrows

[@yikmop]

I'd like to think that the person who asked that question outed themselves for only listening to music through phone speakers hahha

[@m.dave2141]

@@yikmop And never went even close to a club

[@alexkaplan6581]

It's the bridge between the guitars and the drums. Hard to pick out, but essential, and you'll know when it's gone.

[@patrikkis3584]

I'm not a big fan of his music, but I can appreciate his knowledge and creativity. The microtones and the one hand polyrhythm is amazing.

[@DLEE012]

Try bridge over troubled water!! The making of it is mind boggling

[@plebbythepleb099]

You can tell he just lives and breathes music and I am so here for that.

[@tj03297]

Jacob is actually a G-half sharp incarnated as a human

[@plebbythepleb099]

@@tj03297 truly lol

[@kailynfarmer]

each time he gets a different level of recognition on a platform, i'm so proud. more people get to excavate his colorful lil self, i love it.

[@panavcreative]

That man did a 5 finger polyrhythm in such a flex that my fingers just fell off and ran away

[@ItsNessaTho]

The mental image of that is hilarious 😂

[@futuramabender2078]

@@ItsNessaTho Fingers be like "nope not playin that! Cya!" LOL! 🤣

[@SonasRecording]

Been following Jacob since he was 16. There isn't a single person on earth with a greater natural understanding of music and harmony to the point of people wondering if he is even human because he is so talented :) Despite the depth of his knowledge, he has a great gift of being a musical educator. He can make difficult things sound understandable. All of the people I aspired to being when I was young were on a pedestal but Jacob makes music accessible to everyone on their own level. Such a rare talent.

[@Pfpfpfpfpf2020]

​@@yolomorgannwg7713lolumad?

[@pitpride1220]

Living in his brain would be equally beautiful and terrifying! Fantastic artist.

[@anzeerjavec297]

Or a nightmare

[@parkman29]

Bro imagine just walking up to an instrument and just be able to play it

[@ThatColin]

@@parkman29that’s what happens when you learn piano and guitar

[@BenjamintheTortoise]

Lol, totally agree

[@daveski7]

​@parkman29 Learn music then you can do it too. You don't need to be amazing, as a player Jacob isn't anything special, he's just mental when it comes to theory and notation. A bit of practise and education and you could play any instrument you get your hands on. It's not that far out of reach.

[@jeffyen]

The most incredible thing is his respect for the various questions. He answers the most basic and 'insignificant' questions (difference between weighted and unweighted keys) and to highly technical (polyrhythm, say) with the same respect and attention to the respective subject matters.

[@JalenJaguar]

Music theory definitely is an encyclopedia of a thousand languages, and he seems to be fluent in an unusually high number of them

[@sethy2746]

The craziest thing about that, and I'm not undermining your statement by any means, is that music is also a universal language. It can be expressed and enjoyed by anyone, no matter your background. It's a true testament to Jacob's brilliance and understanding of sound. :)

[@nickkohlmann]

Agreed.

[@Rukiman_no16]

Nah, music theory ain't that hard.

[@kang018]

@@Rukiman_no16 it is at first

[@Robloxxx6969]

Fax, like the first 2 semesters rly

[@JakeBodenhamer]

I respect the J. Dilla shout-out so much man. RIP to one of the greatest to ever do it. If you haven't listened to Donuts by Dilla already, go do it. And even if you have, spin it again.

[@arothmanmusic]

Jacob is like a cartoon mad scientist, but as a human and musical savant. We are all truly blessed to be living in the world at the same time as such an astonishingly gifted human.

[@gnulen]

have you listened to his music? It's not very good

[@dingaia]

and how many grammys have you won? and how many has jacob won ?????? @@gnulen

[@sam-sn5pu]

Give yourself more credit. "Blessed to live at the same time as..." Man what a weird thing to say. His music is cringe and annoying af.

[@santicarbajal3927]

​@@gnulenand that invalidates his talent?

[@Joshsclips]

@@sam-sn5puyou’re cringe and annoying for hating on good musicianship and boundless creativity. Lighten up

[@derekfcw]

The 5 finger polyrhythm shows how every fibre of this man’s being is music

[@ChrystalWater97]

He is unbelievable. That polyrhythm on one hand.... insanely talented

[@richhamilton]

Any decent piano player could do the same thing with all 10 fingers

[@ADollarMight]

@@richhamiltonthat is not true and you know it lmfao.

[@richhamilton]

@@ADollarMight Thats literally what playing a piano is

[@numerohvh]

​@@richhamiltonit is definitely not.

[@richhamilton]

@@numerohvh You either don't play piano or you don't play with any proficiency because that is exactly what playing a piano is but with two hands instead of one.

[@Strong_storm]

I went to one of his concerts last night, he seems like a genuinely great person. He even sung happy birthday for an audience member who turn 100 that day. He gives off such a playful vibe and I love it

[@biggysmallz22]

5:22 goddam he matched that PERFECTLY

[@pineweaselsalad]

this is because the harmonic series of any given note is constant! harmonic overtones are a physical phenomenon based on the fundamental frequency (the intial note he sings) and he very likely just knows what the series is. not that this makes it any less impressive obviously! jacob is incredible

[@NoobViolin]

He has Perfect Pitch

[@dannysairpids]

This is probably the most insane display of musical abilities I have ever seen

[@timtabutops4611]

The microtones and finger polyrithm are clear indicators that this guy in a genius.

[@ukeblajwlog]

i like that while talking about funk he played "play that funky music white boy", it was quite fun to notice that

[@smksukcdc]

I'm here trying and failing to pat my head and rub my belly at the same time, while the man is playing 5 different rhythms on just one hand. Madness.

[@sanchitagolder]

you got me patting my head and rubbing my belly ngfl

[@euanwalker4436]

"This is E major, one of my good friends. and this is E minor, another one of my good friends." *everybody liked this*

[@circeus]

"I'd recommend yelling in cathedrals in general" is a sentiment I approve XD

[@tj03297]

Especially if it’s directed toward a priest

[@blue-cs3fk]

Jacob Collier, the perpetrator of chaos

[@altuervo]

​@@blue-cs3fk*perpetrator of gospel

[@weshard1]

6:23 The riff reminded me of a mashup of Play That Funky Music, by Wild Cherry, and New Frontier, by Donald Fagen.

[@C36B]

Been playing music for over 30 years. I both understand everything and not much of what Jacob says. Amazing.

[@mattchewhughes]

@3:47 “I like playing games for fun.” Jacob’s entire mind in one sentence. And we’re all here for it.

[@orionthatman9390]

You have no idea how much joy it brought me to hear him mention and give praise to J Dilla. LEGEND.

[@Keychain-]

yo if youre a fan of Dilla get yourself a copy of the book DILLA TIME by Dan Charnas if you havent already! Im not a heavy reader but its a must read for Dilla fans imo P.S. i was also super happy to hear him credited for the sound in this video but after reading the book it makes perfect sense lol

[@arnowtc4674]

It got me too!!!

[@CupOfJav]

There are other people that can do some of the things he can, but I doubt there's anyone that can do all the things he can. I don't love all his music but his knowledge and enthusiasm are incredible.

[@skibaa1]

this is exactly what I think every time, he is so incredible in technicalities, but his songs rarely make me move my head, let alone impress me emotionally :( And then you take some artists who hardly can tune their guitars, and everybody (including me) listens to their songs in loops

[@Serendipideemusic]

I agree. There’s no doubt he’s an absolute genius and I commend him for that, and although I like some of his music, he tends to get caught up in making it the most technically advanced, groundbreaking thing possible so that it loses emotional value and connection I think.

[@cmflyer]

The pitch circuit in a theremin consists of two oscillators, one fixed and one variable. The variable one is changed by altering a capacitor's charge with your hand (the hand becomes a capacitor plate, in effect). The pitch played through the speaker is the difference between the frequencies of the two oscillators, which have been designed to create audible tones.

[@Bobbias]

Very neat and super simple design.

[@NiliMoto]

Interesting, i didnt know that. That must mean the variable oscillators resonant frequency is not only determined by the distance of the hand but also by the area? So at the same distance the full hand will produce a higher frequency than a finger? At first i thought it was the other way around since low distance/big area = higher capacitance = lower resonance, but the output is the other way around. I guess that has to do with the output being the difference between fixed and variable osc and not just the variable osc itself. Please correct me if im wrong, this is fascinating!

[@tdhoward]

Ahh! I KNEW it wasn't electromagnetic radiation. Thanks!

[@iijj]

I am a musician but I didn't know minor chords don't exist naturally. This blew my mind

[@CamiloSoto]

I would like to know more on this

[@stephenbeck7222]

Look up the overtone series and undertone series. The major chord is the 4th, 5th, and 6th overtones but you can’t get the minor chord directly (with consecutive overtones)?unless you go to the undertones, which are not naturally produced by instruments.

[@factzilla1868]

overtone vs undertone series is the idea at the heart of the whole negative harmony thing Jacob's famous for, aka harmonic dualism. but it's worth pointing out there's also the harmonic mononist school of thought who believe only the major triad exists and all other chords are some sort of alteration of that model

[@antoniusnies-komponistpian2172]

Major is 4:5:6, minor is basically 1/6:1/5:1/4. These frequency ratios also exist in the overtone series as 10:12:15, but higher and not as direct neighbours, so I prefer to see it as part of the undertone series.

[@SamRoads]

He's under-informed! Here are the overtones of a C fundamental: C C G C E G Bb C D E F#(but a bit flat) G Note the G Bb and D, which make a minor chord of Gmin. A great example of this is the slow movement of Vaughan Williams' 3rd Symphony, when played on a natural trumpet. It sounds quite mournful, as it leans on those minor overtones.

[@theyertishere7831]

Jacob looks more and more like an eccentric art teacher everyday

[@TyranBatten]

I think it's safe to say he IS an eccentric art teacher

[@andrewdotcom6770]

8:33 the snare tone is absolutely orgasmic i’m losing my mind

[@rickadias]

I think Jacob is the best example of humble genius. He knows so much about music and yet has the attitude of someone that still has so much to learn.

[@fakejellybean]

YES! people say he's pretentious but I just don't see that? he's always so genuine and enthusiastic about music

[@rickadias]

@@fakejellybean I think people might confuse his enthusiasm with pretentiousness. But I agree with you, to me it does sound very genuine, not a character.

[@SmileytheSmile]

​@@rickadias As one of pretentious croud, it always weirds me out how this man always manages to dress up like an asylum escapee, who paints his oversized stray jacket in different colors before appearing in public to ward off any suspicion and get the feds off his tail.

[@unknown6390]

​@@SmileytheSmileyou're just an unhappy person to interpret his pedestrian fashion in such a negative way 😂

[@SmileytheSmile]

@@unknown6390 Whatever his fashion is, "pedestrian" is not the word I would use to describe it.

[@mickcollins1921]

I've been a musician since my elementary school. I play a few instruments and understand the roles of most others. I can hear nuanced differences in the depths of a song's composition. I appreciate subtle base line changes and modifying the place of different instruments in the mix for emotional or narrative effect. I fancy myself a bit of a music nerd. I don't know who this dude is, but he has made me feel simultaneously astounded and woefully inferior all in the same moment. I thought I was fluent in music. Turns out, this guy is fluent and I can basically only order a beer and ask where the bathroom is.

[@morkovija]

Welcome, you should check out his steve wonder breakdown where he refers to himself as humble fan of Steve =)

[@ProcrastinatingGameCat]

Welcome to the Collier fan club. It is a ride for sure.

[@Hoschi.]

His hair matches his personality perfectly. Its like theres an equal amount of intent and chaos!

[@YaddyHyrule]

Brutha I've been a musician for over two decades and I think you doing a 5-way polyrhythm with all the fingers on one hand is one of the most absolutely astounding things I have ever seen hahaha

[@CurrentlyYouTubing]

Here is to hoping JC creates an online music course one day. What a masterful musician and teacher with an infectious energy! ❤

[@paveldoltu9339]

Actually he did on skillshare

[@dans_ythandle]

check out his logic session breakdowns on KZbin, they're an amazing resource for learning his style of production and arrangement.

[@CurrentlyYouTubing]

i didn't know this, thanks @@paveldoltu9339!

[@CurrentlyYouTubing]

thanks@@dans_ythandle, will do this!

[@leandrometfan]

11:34 As a drummer this is pretty difficult, imagine for a non musician

[@McSpicyYT]

This dude is like if Doctor Who regenerated and got into music.

[@Brothisisprivate]

I SWEAR LMAOOO EVEN THE COSTUME

[@GeoffPlays]

literally was about to comment the exact same thing lmao

[@VeganRevolution]

Just got a long scarf

[@ratboygirl]

most accurate description of someone i've ever seen

[@altuervo]

Tom baker if he was peter capaldi

[@roo.pzz4380]

this guy is amazing. I genuinely cannot believe how talented he is

[@danielcoffey1975]

They could have Jacob on a hundred times and I wouldn't get tired of it.

[@albinjohansson647]

5:27 bohemian rhapsody

[@paperfoe]

Even his talking is so melodic and soothing

[@apsepa4k]

i genuinely think jacob collier is the most intelligent, most dexterous and brightest genius alive right now. the way he can understand and translate the sounds in his mind and apply and command his body to it is absolutely insane. but most importantly he is so kind and such a good human being. so the absolute madlad and i hope he knows he’s got it right and he is a treasure to mankind, if not the best of us.

[@ev3lynxx._]

i can't explain how much i love this man and his literal genius

[@jaykhan7119]

Man left us with more questions than we started with

[@V1ralB1ack]

his coordination and skill is mindbogggling

[@kylepetersen6520]

It's cool that he doesn't always give a literal explanation for some things, it's not how I would explain it I'm a very literal person but i guess that keeps it fun for him and everyone else. we also all have our own ways we approach music and our own way of seeing it so we all think about different musical ideas differently which is super cool

[@zynosgd9982]

Singing microtones perfectly and doing 5 different ryhtms in one hand. Those sound like complete nonsense to most people but to musicians, it further cements Jacob Collier as the messiah for us music theory nerds.

[@MorfMusic]

just casually playing a 5 polyrhythm with his freakin left hand Jacob plz

[@jopo7996]

He explains things so clearly you'll have no treble understanding, so don't fret.

[@andijacobsen9148]

He doesn't really explain a lot, most of his explanations are "it is like that because that's the way it is"

[@zukacs]

@@andijacobsen9148true

[@Mike-er2ih]

When you are on that level and everything is just so natural and easy for you, it is really hard to also be aware of that fact when teaching or explaining to a "normal" person.

[@holliefitzzz]

but for more clarity just boost around 4khz

[@catsinwonderland7473]

He's very talented too, never misses a beat. He has a key understanding of music!

[@clearlyrebecca]

05:14 when Jacob says that the chord E major is his good friend, I FULLY believe he is, in fact, friends with a combination of sound waves. With the concept and existence of a collection of certain vibrations.

[@odgeUK]

04:11 - I've never heard anyone do that before.

[@gumug_]

he's so knowledgeable about the inner machinations of music, it's mind-blowing

[@Pyroific]

4:19 is now my favorite jacob moment ever xD hahaha

[@jeraldr2]

4:00 that was the best explanation of microtones I've ever seen. Genius.

[@Kanamori44]

This guy is genuinely enthusiastic and it's contagious !

[@music72kc]

Okay so I'd watch him answer these questions for hours - the talent and welcoming educational spirit he has is incredible. It's giving Mister Rogers-level of comfort. He explains these concepts so beautifully and genuinely wants to teach others about music. We're not worthy lol

[@rdennisdom]

About microtones; Yes we've heard a simple microtones in western music, try Have Fun Go Mad by Blair MacKichan (1997) around minute 2 where the solo of the saxophone begins. I realized this when I was trying to cover this song with a Korg X3D which can be freely tuned per key.

[@m.dave2141]

also when singers sing instinctively in just intonation, which is technically microtonal.

[@MangertEternal]

At 9:26 when he is waving around the drumstick. I swear he looked like Seamus after blowing himself up in Harry Potter

[@Erlewyn]

I don't think I've liked any music he has produced, but man, this guy is impressive!

[@stevengoodwin6421]

Same. I can listen to him talk about music all day. But I can't just listen to his produced music. It's interesting, but not good for casual listening.

[@bikeweiss]

I think his newer stuff has been more approachable and accessible. He stopped throwing EVERYTHING at the wall and instead just throws A LOT.

[@JoshuaMiloMusic]

You guys should check out his more acoustic stuff, e.g. his album "Djesse Vol 2". I find it amazingly beautiful and touching

[@julienlamy6084]

I recommend listening to hideaway. The rythmic construction of that song is soothing

[@Sienna53]

listen to little blue and never gonna be alone

[@zumasa9991]

when i was younger i couldn't hear the bass. it was around the time I was learning to play the guitar. As i expanded my music taste and played more I would hear it but barely. It wasn't until I played in a band when I could HEAR IT. More so the lack thereof. We didn't have a bassist for our first three weeks. Enter the bassist. What a difference. Since then I could hear the bass every time.

[@WandaMaximoff1998]

11:13 HOW DOES HE DO IT

[@MenkoDany]

Poor jacob was struggling to not talk about every question for 13 hours

[@isaiahodierno7116]

I’ve been watching the last interview for so long, I’m so excited for another one! Can’t wait to see Jacob in May!

[@PaarthGuptaYT]

Same here! I'm also going to that concert in SFO!

[@jeffd.3883]

Dude... Between singing micro tones and five different rhythms per finger.... This dude's awesome

[@AtomizedSound]

Jacob is certainly something in the world of music. Child prodigy of sorts in his experience of in the world of music.

[@carolinereidartist]

Most phenomenol musician, teacher, inspirer and singer ever

[@neuronaljunctiondecay5673]

11:40 BRO WHAT THE HECK?

[@MagicTurtle643]

Him singing the microtones gave me chills. That seemed like a subtle glimpse of incredible talent. Also I love the way he dresses.

[@CLGLazarus]

RIP Dilla. I knew when he started talking about dragging or pushing forward the sounds of the drum he was going to bring up Dilla. Changed the game completely.

[@XabierRey]

I was watching this on my phone. I couldn't hear the bass at all. That guy owned you, Jacob.

[@frequency_vibes7822]

I've always wondered what makes major and minor chords so different and similar. Being structural opposites makes so much sense!

[@joezegers]

The minor circle of fifths is just like the major circle of fifths, except it starts at A instead of C.

[@joezegers]

The minor circle of fifths is just like the major circle of fifths, except it starts at A instead of C.

[@LeYoIdBeHe]

"i recommend yelling in cathedrals, it's quite fun" - jacob collar

[@DuranmanX]

J Dilla mentioned. Best support ever now

[@AmandaHuggenkiss]

What up doe?

[@antine1279]

It's so rare to see someone ridiculously talented and able to explain things in simple language. Also, that finger polyrhythm thing was mind blowing!

[@enricsangranavarro2136]

The harmonic series demonstration was also incredible.

[@dangeraardvark]

you don't always hear the bass, but you always feel it.

[@medusasound7396]

please drop these every week lol. jacob is a legend

[@a.vanwijk2268]

1:00 guitar holes are actually Helmholtz resonators, just like bass reflex ports on speakers. On most guitars they are tuned to around 60 Hz, contributing a great part to the bass sounds of the instrument.

[@JacquesLuu]

Jeeez WIRED, i know you prefer short format but im pretty sure Jacob wanted to answer more questions

[@jnb-iv6zu]

Funny this just came out and was recommended to me because i found out about jacob collier about 2 weeks ago and i have been lost every day in the rabbit whole of his music and music theory lessons the whole time. The more you watch him the crazier it gets... he is so fascinating. look into his stuff, but with discretion 😅

[@marshallross]

Obsessed. That finger polyrhythm! What Jacob!!!??

[@Stop_It_Just_Stop]

I love how he needs all these instruments because he’s so proficient in all of them he can answer pretty much any question or give some sort of relative insight

[@BenjamintheTortoise]

For real genius. Fascinating. I wish this video was a full hour at least!

[@altangungormusic]

this guy bro. actually most talented musician ıve ever seen

[@hellopsp180]

His Microtones

[@x9x9x9x9x9]

Love this guy. Been sort of watching him for years. Dude is just a genius when it comes to music. I wish I could have his level of understanding in literally anything.

[@supermilesio5035]

Everything about this man is magical

[@nejiross]

I absolutely love Jacob Collier. What an absolute legend, and he also seems like a really nice guy.