Pharrell Williams is riding higher than high these days. Indeed, the hitmaker is quite literally smiling at the top after smash ‘Happy’ bounced to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week.
With new album ‘G I R L’ due in a mere matter of days, Columbia Records’ latest signee sat down with GQ to promote, promote, promote.
During the candid chat, the 40-year-old (yes, 40!) dished on what fans can expect from the set, as well as her first foray into the world of solo-dom – 2006’s ‘In My Mind’.
Refreshingly frank, the Neptunes frontman admitted that the project “had no purpose”.
Via GQ:
Pharrell on his first solo record in 2006, ‘In My Mind’:
“I wrote those songs out of ego. Talking about the money I was making and the by-products of living that lifestyle. What was good about that? What’d you get out of it? There was no purpose. I was so under the wrong impression at that time.
The money was too loud. The success was too much. The girls were too beautiful. The jewelry was too shiny. The cars were too fast. The houses were too big. It’s like not knowing how to swim and being thrown in the ocean for the first time. Everything is just too crazy. You’re like, flailing and kicking and whatever, and you know what happens, don’t you? You sink. My spirit sank. I just felt like, ‘Fuck, what am I doing?’ ”
That (music) was just bragging. I wanted to be like Jay. I wanted to be like Puff. Those are their paths. I got my own path. But I didn’t know what my path was. I knew that I was meant to do something different. I knew that I needed to inject purpose in my music.”
On the name of his new album:
“I instantly knew that the name of the album was called G I R L, and the reason why is because women and girls, for the most part, have just been so loyal to me and supported me.
There is no breathing human being on this planet that did not benefit by a woman saying yes twice. Yes to make you, and yes to have you. Point-blank.”
*********
Granted there will inevitably be a portion of the public who’ll suggest Williams is only being honest about past missteps because of the success of his current project, we find his openness warming. For, in an industry so full of smoke and mirrors, his brand of “real” is refreshing.
‘G I R L’ hits stores on March 3rd.
Photo Credit: Paola Kudacki / GQ
I know most of the commentators aren’t here for male artists even though they have been slaying the females for the past year or two. I love Pharrell’s vampire self! His music is such a refreshing break from the typical “money, h***, weed, c******” R&B singers and rappers out here. “Happy” is my motivation song right now and I can’t wait to cop his album next week! Bruno and Pharrell are killing the game and hopefully Usher will make a good comeback!!
I feel this more-or-less unexpected album is being rush-released fresh from the success of Happy, and it’s Oscar nomination.
So is one hidden purpose to cash in…?
^ isn’t he with sony? I have a feeling that they’re gonna be taking the rush-release route more often since Beyonce. That doesn’t mean the album was rushed. More artists should release their albums sooner while the hype is still fresh, instead of making them
Wait 3-4 months & risk leaks and pushbacks.
I agree with your comment. In fact, sometimes I happen to actually prefer some of the men in Pop to the females. I’m Happy (no pun intended, lol) that Pharrell is doing his thing and WINNING same for Bruno (I’m not a big fan but he’s so talented). R&B is too close to Hip Hop and all I hear are these wannabe thugs who sing about nothing but redundant crap. Tbh, I’m here for Usher to DELIVER with his 8th album. I mean, 2014 will mark his 20th year since he released his first album and Confessions is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary. Hopefully, that’ll bring luck to him this time around.
@ROSEGOLD I agree with your comment. In fact, sometimes I happen to actually prefer some of the men in Pop to the females. I’m Happy (no pun intended, lol) that Pharrell is doing his thing and WINNING same for Bruno (I’m not a big fan but he’s so talented). R&B is too close to Hip Hop and all I hear are these wannabe thugs who sing about nothing but redundant crap. Tbh, I’m here for Usher to DELIVER with his 8th album. I mean, 2014 will mark his 20th year since he released his first album and Confessions is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary. Hopefully, that’ll bring luck to him this time around.
Yes, love my boo. I will be listening to the album. It’s about time we heard some real music.