Pharrell Williams—two decades into his career and moving fast. Who knew that the producer-songwriter behind Britney Spears' 2001 single "I'm a Slave For U" would later tack on singer-mogul-curator to his repertoire, even garnering fandom from children everywhere with this year's smash hit, "Happy"? (Watch this video. One minute and forty seconds of cuteness.)
If you had to pinpoint the 41-year-old's success, it would be his freeform creativity or his self-professed curiosity for the world: as a sartorial weathervane and otherwise, he goes where the change goes. Even if it doesn't come as quick as we'd like. On his charity, From One Hand To AnOTHER, Pharrell said, "We're making change, decimal by decimal. It's kind of like trying to fill the ocean one spoonful of water at a time." The formula works... as long as there is awareness. Here, on the occasion of his latest collaboration with adidas and its campaign for equality, Opening Ceremony shot Pharrell a few questions via email.
JEANINE CELESTE PANG: Pharrell, it's safe to say that you've supplanted the competition as the multitasking renaissance man. You must like staying busy.
PHARREL WILLIAMS: I’m just gracious to adidas for giving me the opportunity to have yet another platform for self-expression.
We're lovin' the recent collab with adidas Originals. Why the neon colorways?
What’s wrong with a little color?!
If we did a word-association game, what does electric green and orange mean to you?
I suck at this...
OK, OK. So the overarching campaign message about equality is really critical. Do you have advice to our readers, maybe a way to get into a more conscious headspace about our everyday interactions with others?
There just needs to be balance, in order for us to survive as a species. As things become unbalanced, they are literally that—lopsided. That’s where gravity is off; that’s not a good space to be in. We have the ability to change things with awareness. When you’re aware of something, then you have the ability to change it. When it’s beyond your senses, that’s when you’re lost. I just think honesty gives you trust, and trust in a society gives you order, and without trust in society, there’s no order and you have chaos. That’s what happens when you have no balance.
Speaking of balance—you've had your hand in wide-ranging projects, from Kaws-designed perfume to Ladurée macarons to strawberry creme liquor... is there a collaboration you've been dying to do? Something with OC?
It would be my honor... I love what OC does so much. We have an ongoing joke, because when we see things we really like, I’m like “Damn, I wanted to do that!” and it’s always Opening Ceremony. They are the ones that not only beat me to the punch on the things I want to do, but do things I coul
If you had to pinpoint the 41-year-old's success, it would be his freeform creativity or his self-professed curiosity for the world: as a sartorial weathervane and otherwise, he goes where the change goes. Even if it doesn't come as quick as we'd like. On his charity, From One Hand To AnOTHER, Pharrell said, "We're making change, decimal by decimal. It's kind of like trying to fill the ocean one spoonful of water at a time." The formula works... as long as there is awareness. Here, on the occasion of his latest collaboration with adidas and its campaign for equality, Opening Ceremony shot Pharrell a few questions via email.
JEANINE CELESTE PANG: Pharrell, it's safe to say that you've supplanted the competition as the multitasking renaissance man. You must like staying busy.
PHARREL WILLIAMS: I’m just gracious to adidas for giving me the opportunity to have yet another platform for self-expression.
We're lovin' the recent collab with adidas Originals. Why the neon colorways?
What’s wrong with a little color?!
If we did a word-association game, what does electric green and orange mean to you?
I suck at this...
OK, OK. So the overarching campaign message about equality is really critical. Do you have advice to our readers, maybe a way to get into a more conscious headspace about our everyday interactions with others?
There just needs to be balance, in order for us to survive as a species. As things become unbalanced, they are literally that—lopsided. That’s where gravity is off; that’s not a good space to be in. We have the ability to change things with awareness. When you’re aware of something, then you have the ability to change it. When it’s beyond your senses, that’s when you’re lost. I just think honesty gives you trust, and trust in a society gives you order, and without trust in society, there’s no order and you have chaos. That’s what happens when you have no balance.
Speaking of balance—you've had your hand in wide-ranging projects, from Kaws-designed perfume to Ladurée macarons to strawberry creme liquor... is there a collaboration you've been dying to do? Something with OC?
It would be my honor... I love what OC does so much. We have an ongoing joke, because when we see things we really like, I’m like “Damn, I wanted to do that!” and it’s always Opening Ceremony. They are the ones that not only beat me to the punch on the things I want to do, but do things I coul