Pharrell Williams

HE GOT LUCKY!

The music producer, songwriter and singer has had hit songs with "Get Lucky" and "Happy". Stars around the world think he's a genius; Pharrell thinks he is just lucky. Someone must have helped him to become so successful. But who?

1. HIS GRANDMOTHER

When Pharrell was in seventh grade at school, his grandmother persuaded him to take a music class because he used to clay drums in her kitchen. "I used to take all of her little pots and pans and the whisk and the soup spoons", he says. "And she just said to me, "You like the drums, so why don't you learn?"".

2. HIS NEIGHBOUS

Pharrell grew up in a multicultural community in Virginia, USA. He thinks that this influenced him a lot. He met Chad Hugo, his songwriting partner, there. Pharrell and Chad have different origins - Chad's family were from the Philippines, Pharrell's family were black American - but  they connected through music.

3. A MUSIC PRODUCER

When Pharrell was in high school, music producer Teddy Riley opened a studio next to his school. Pharrell was lucky to meet him and work with him: he was in the right place at the sight time! "It looks like things were just sent my way", says Pharrell.

4. HIS BRAIN

When Pharrell hears music, he sees it in colour. This is called "synesthesia". Pharrell says that many great artists and mathematicians have synesthesia. "The way they process information is slightly different", he explains.

5. POP STARS

Pharrell has worked with mega stars from Beyoncé and Shakira to Jay-Z, Robin Thicke and Daft Punk. They rely on him to produce and write their hits, but Pharrell says he has never created and artist. He compares himself to an interior decorator and says that the musician is the house... he just adds some colour.

6. HIS FANS

Pharrell is modest. He says it's the fans, not him, that create a hit. If fans don't buy a song or share it with their friends, it won't be a success. "I'm not special or different", he says. So is Pharrell just an interior decorator or is he a modern musical genius? What do you think?