Pharrell Williams | Broken Record (Hosted by Rick Rubin)

Inspiration

Pharrell Williams shares how his creative process is deeply influenced by emotions, memories, and existing music. He often seeks to reverse engineer the feelings evoked by certain songs, creating new works that capture similar emotions. Pharrell describes his inspiration as a mix of nostalgia and innovation, drawing from childhood memories and unexpected musical experiences. He recalls being profoundly moved by songs like Thundercat's "Them Changes" and Kim Burrell's "Holy Ghost," which he listened to repeatedly to understand their emotional impact 1.

I love that which doesn't exist. That's like my favorite.

--- Pharrell Williams

Pharrell's approach to music is about capturing the essence of a feeling and transforming it into something entirely new 2.

   

Collaborations

Pharrell's collaborations with artists like Rihanna and Daft Punk highlight his unique creative process. When working with Rihanna, he focuses on capturing the emotions she wants to convey, reverse engineering those feelings into music. Pharrell's work with Daft Punk on "Get Lucky" involved a memorable session in France, where he was inspired by the duo's algorithmic approach to music creation 3.

It's really her at the end of the day, what she wants. But sound wise, I was trying to just make something that looks and feels like she does.

--- Pharrell Williams

His ability to adapt and innovate in these collaborations showcases his versatility and commitment to artistic integrity 4.

   

Mentorship

Pharrell credits much of his musical development to influential figures like Teddy Riley. Working in Riley's studio provided Pharrell with invaluable insights into music production, shaping his path in the industry. Pharrell describes his time with Riley as a transformative experience, likening it to learning the intricate details of a craft 5.

Had Teddy not been in Virginia, I wouldn't be here.

--- Pharrell Williams

The formation of The Neptunes was another pivotal moment, where Pharrell and Chad Hugo began as a performance group before evolving into renowned producers 6.