Interview

PHOTO BY MARC HOM, DECEMBER/JANUARY 2006

PHARRELL WILLIAMS

At a certain point in 2003, almost half of the songs (43%) being played on American radio was produced by the Neptunes. Of this, the decade of the super-producer, Pharrell is the one doing it with the most style, musically and sartorially. Kanye is a fashion frenetic, but Pharrell has a sensibility that is all his own—even if we have to overlook the occasional pair of knee-length man boots. And how he finds time to design jewelry and a clothing line with all those hits to make, that's beyond us. 

BRIAN GRAZER: So, you try to free yourself up of things that can diffuse your vision?

PHARRELL WILLIAMS: Yeah, because I could be missing something.  I've found at times that I turn things that bother me into songs, which is super-therapeutic.  You know, Einstein said something to the effect that energy can't be created or destroyed, only conjured.  Those weren't his exact words, but if we have this energy within us that makes us mobile and makes us aware of things, imagine all the things that we can do if we can just harness it.  I hope that doesn't sound too bizarre or too crazy.

GRAZER: Don't go Yoda on me.

WILLIAMS: [laughs] Yeah, I don't want to go that way.  But there is a lot of energy out there, and it's up to each of us to use it.  Music just happens to be my channel.


NEXT: JESSICA ALBA