Pharrell Williams

Episode Overview

• Pharrell Williams discusses the unconventional origin of his LEGO-animated biopic, Piece by Piece, explaining how objectifying his story helped him overcome his ego.
• He details a profound spiritual awakening around age 40, triggered by the humbling, simultaneous success of three songs he was commissioned to write for others: "Happy," "Blurred Lines," and "Get Lucky."
• Pharrell reflects on his early influences, from the eclectic musical landscape of Virginia Beach to the improvisational and spiritual energy of the Pentecostal church.
• The conversation explores the themes of creative service, the power of humility over ego, and finding purpose in the act of creation itself rather than in commercial success.

Key Concepts

• Creativity Through Objectification: Pharrell's core idea for his biopic was to tell his story through LEGOs, which provided the necessary distance to view his life without the insecurities of his ego, making the project creatively compelling.
• Humility and Divine Intervention: The massive success of songs he wrote for other projects taught Pharrell that he was not in complete control of his destiny. He views this as a humbling lesson from the universe, leading to a decade of profound gratitude and a deeper spiritual connection.
• The Influence of the Church: Pharrell credits the Pentecostal church as his first exposure to "urgency and improvisation," describing the dynamic, un-rehearsed energy between the preacher and organist as a foundational musical and spiritual experience.
• Artistic Service vs. Ego: A recurring theme is the realization that Pharrell's best work emerges when he is in service to a project or another artist, rather than when he is creating from a place of ego or for himself.
• Fatherhood and Grounding: Pharrell explains that being a father has made him more disciplined and focused, and he believes in providing "guided struggle" to prepare his children for the real world.

Quotes

• At 5:08 - "I just knew that my story if it got objectified... I might like it enough to do it." - Pharrell on how turning his life into LEGOs provided the creative distance he needed to find the project interesting.
• At 20:02 - "In French, the way you would say 'the ego' is 'l'ego,' and it would be pronounced 'Lego'." - Pharrell making a clever connection between the film's medium and its theme of overcoming ego.
• At 21:12 - "Happy, Blurred Lines, Get Lucky—three songs that I was commissioned to write... and eventually got attributed to me due to circumstances, and they were also, like I said, they were commissions." - Pharrell explaining that his biggest hits weren't originally intended as his own, which was a key part of his humbling realization.
• At 24:03 - "And it just made me ball." - Pharrell describing his emotional reaction upon realizing the universe had conspired to give him his biggest successes through commissioned work, proving he wasn't fully in control.
• At 27:00 - "I've seen the spirit do the wave." - Pharrell uses the analogy of a stadium wave to describe how the spirit would move through the congregation in his church.

Takeaways

• To overcome creative blocks or ego-related hurdles, try "objectifying" your work by viewing it through a different medium or from a third-person perspective.
• True creative fulfillment and breakthrough success can often be found in serving others' visions rather than solely pursuing your own.
• One's most formative creative lessons often come from unexpected places, like the improvisational energy of church music or the unique cultural mix of a hometown.
• Embracing humility and recognizing that you are not in complete control can lead to profound personal and spiritual growth.