Time is money in the world of Pharrell Williams. If it’s not
making hits for Madonna, it’s designing clothes for his Billionaire Boys
Club/Ice Cream lines. If it’s not recording the N.E.R.D. album, then it’s
collaborating with other artists. If it’s not touring, it’s something. See?
Time is money.
Pharrell is constantly finding new ways to raise his game. One of those ways isSeeing Sounds, the new N.E.R.D. album that drops in June. It’s been
nearly four years since the Rock/Hip-Hop/Funk trio consisting of The Neptunes
(Pharell & Chad Hugo) and Shay Haley last released an album. Seeing
Sounds promises to deliver a new, experimental sound that has influences
ranging from everything from the Discovery Channel to European electronic
music. They are currently touring with Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco and Rihanna on
the eagerly anticipated Glow in the Dark Tour.
AllHipHop sat down with Pharrell the day after the tour's first
show in Seattle to see what else he is up to.
AllHipHop.com: How were the fans feeling the new material?
Pharrell Williams: It was crazy man, they were super charged. I didn’t
expect that, we have had our sleeves rolled up to work and kind of convert,
because we know that it’s Kanye, Lupe and Rihanna’s ticket, you know what I
mean? Everybody keeps telling me that it’s kind of like all in the same world.
So it’s a wonderful feeling, but we’re figuring just in case, we’re preparing
to roll up our sleeves and work. And it was just nice man. We put [on] a couple
new records and you know their faces, their energy and their hands in the air
was just…a wonderful experience.
AllHipHop.com: Was it true you apologized last night for using profanity
during your set?
Pharrell Williams: Yeah, yeah, yeah, because there was a five-year old
girl in the front row and I didn’t see her!
"I
can’t talk about it. There were a couple of conversations said about it, but
you know, we took an oath to be quiet about it until it’s time." -Pharrell
[on CRS]
AllHipHop.com: What can fans expect out of the Glow in the Dark Tour?
Pharrell Williams: Kanye’s show is incredible. Rihanna’s show is
energetic and sexy. Lupe’s show is super-energetic…it’s a lot of energy man, I
think we’re like all turning it into one big cause. We want to make sure this
is the hottest ticket of the summer.
AllHipHop.com: Obviously touring with Kanye and Lupe along with the “US
Placers” song, there a lot has been a lot of speculation in the media about
this super group, C.R.S. What can you say about that?
Pharrell Williams: I can’t talk about it. There were a couple of
conversations said about it, but you know, we took an oath to be quiet about it
until it’s time.
AllHipHop.com: So what did you guys try to do with the new album?
Pharrell Williams: The criteria was make sure it was the soundtrack to
the experience of our show. Make music that is completely conducive for the
environment that you expect to be at our show.
AllHipHop.com: Explain the whole seeing sounds concept.
Pharrell Williams: It’s based on synesthesia; a tendency and
condition that people have where their senses sort of gives them a little more
insight than literally expected. For example, when you hear music you not only
hear it in your mind but you kind of have a visual picture, usually colors are
associated with synesthesia dealing with hearing.
AllHipHop.com: Is it true you guys got a little inspiration from the
Discovery Channel documentary dealing with synesthesia?
Pharrell Williams: Absolutely.
AllHipHop.com: Obviously a lot of people are familiar with what you and
Chad bring to the group. Not too many people know about Shay. What's his role
and what does he bring to the table?
Pharrell Williams: Well it’s pretty much like a 360 degree effort. And
Shay was on this album way more than usual. He’s on “Everyone Nose”. If you
considered it real estate, I only really had one verse. Like one verse and the
bridge, he’s on all the choruses. And its fun because it’s a whole different
aesthetic.
AllHipHop.com: Why did you choose "Everyone
Nose" for the first single?
Pharrell Williams: “Everyone Nose” is the first single because we feel it
was the opening to that whole ideology that we’re pushing right now. In terms
of just energy and just offer that energetic experience into shows. And it’s
basically a social observation on what’s going on in America’s nightlife. You
know, the avocation if you will or the judgement of it. It’s just a social
observation, it’s the “America, this is what's goin’ on in your
nightlife.” And the musical backup is just a fun backup, because if you
are dawning on something super-serious, then people perceive it as us preaching
it and we don’t want to do that.
AllHipHop.com: So it’s more of an observation instead of a moral message?
Pharrell Williams: It’s an observation. It’s not necessarily a moral
message. If anything, I have a conversation with a girl in the third act of the
song where she doesn’t want to hear it, she just wants to party. So the music
goes back to 140 bpm.
"[Clipse]
are standing on their own two right now, and they’re getting a lot of
impressive work done. To see how far they’ve grown is pretty incredible."
AllHipHop.com: Are you still working with the Clipse? I know they are
really pushing the Re-Up Gang, were you involved with that at all?
Pharrell Williams: Man, they are standing on their own two right now, and
they’re getting a lot of impressive work done. I’m really in support of it. To
see how far they’ve grown is pretty incredible.
AllHipHop.com: What is your take on this whole Hipster Rap/Hip-Hop thing
that is going on?
Pharrell Williams: I mean, in music we encourage evolution period. And at
the end of the day, whatever carries the torch is important, 'cause it is what
it is. As long as it sounds good, I don’t care.
AllHipHop.com: Has it been tough to focus on music with all your other
projects going on?
Pharrell Williams: It’s not tough at all, because I feel compelled by
inspiration. I don’t really have that much of a social life, so I’m not really
missing anything. I love what I do. Like making your own sneaker is not like a
job, it’s a 100 percent pleasure. I consider it a privilege so I don’t abuse
it. I never look at it as a job, you know designing clothes or my affiliation
with Louis Vuitton and doing jewelry for them and having done the sunglasses –
The Millionaire - and see how that’s taken off. That’s not a job, that’s a
pleasure. And it’s amazing that I can be paid for it. So I’m very thankful.
AllHipHop.com: Since you opened the New York store and Japan store for
your clothing line Billionaire Boys Club/Ice Cream, what are the next plans as
far as retail is concerned?
Pharrell Williams: We have three stores: one in Tokyo, which is in the
Harajuko section. And also one in Hong Kong on Lan Street which is next to
Neighborhood. We’re very thankful. And also the one in New York in West
Broadway. I feel very fortunate and we’re concentrating on just growing the
brand slowly but surely. And just staying in the good graces of our fans the
people who support our work. It’s a pleasure to design and get it done.
"To
get bored is to become complacent and to lose touch with the fact that we’re
fortunate. That is scary to me."
AllHipHop.com: It seems like you have accomplished nearly everything
there is in this business. What keeps you motivated?
Pharrell Williams: Aww man, you always want to see different versions of
things. And there will always be things that don’t exist. There will always be,
like I said before, versions that you’d like to see happen, and that is what
inspiration is for me. Inspiration is the lack there of. Inspirations for me.
There’s other people that live under their own conditions, but for me, what
works for me is like trying to bring to market a different version of something
or something that doesn’t exist. And as long as we are in existence there will
always be the need for something new…in a plentiful and diverse fashion.
AllHipHop.com: So you don’t see yourself being bored anytime soon?
Pharrell Williams: Aww man, it’s too much of a privilege! To get bored is
to become complacent and to lose touch with the fact that we’re fortunate. That
is scary to me.
