We have snuck backstage at MasterCard's Priceless Gig with Pharrell, and he's right here. Are
you excited?
I am.
You're playing an intimate one today. How different is it for you playing ones like
these and ones for example on Saturday when they're in front of huge audiences?
Well, I think this one is much more private, and I think when they asked me to do it, I
think it was connected to something - a concept that I liked. What I consider to be priceless
doesn't have anything to do with money. I think happiness is priceless. Happiness and time.
Because you can never get time back.
You can never get time back.
If you could relive one moment in your career, what would it be?
I don't know. You know, I feel like all of the journey has been so exciting and riveting,
it's like a film. Your life is like a film. It just keeps moving, and I'm afraid if you
rewind, you may miss what you're supposed to be experiencing now. So you know because
now is a gift. That's why they call it the present. So for me, I think that's more important
to just continue to enjoy the moment. That's where all the magic is. It's just like that
and the moment's gone. So enjoy that moment. That's priceless to me.
I've never heard that item before. That was perfect. Now, we're talking about the present.
You really are the man of the moment.
-No. -I mean you are...
-We are just loving... -No no no no.
We are loving your duet with Ed Sheeran.
Well listen, I've had a wonderful time with him in the studio, and he's really a genius
artist. He really is. I think he is the very definition of the singer-songwriter, and I
think he leads the charts in this day and age as a singer-songwriter. Like it's him.
There's Adele. You know... There's a good hand full of really good singer-songwriters,
and they're changing music. They're changing the way people think about music, and the
way people are starting to recognise very specific cravings in terms of what they like
in music, and I really honestly think that Ed Sheeran is one of those answers. I'm only
as good as my collaborators, and I'm only as good as the opportunity that's given to
Well, talking about opportunities. The Voice is coming up for you. And now, why did you
say yes to that? That's so exciting.
Well because it gives me the opportunity to not only coach the people that are on my team,
but everybody out in TV land or anyone out in TV land if they ever have question. Hopefully,
I'm answering them. So you don't even have to be on the show to receive some advice.
Who gave you the best advice, and what was the best advice you've ever been given?
Oh, I've had so many. All of my music teachers conspired. You know, whether they knew I would
end up here or not, they just kept nudging me in that direction and every time... It's
like physics. Every time something gets nudged, you're giving it more momentum. And though
the ball may not know where it's going, it's definitely rolling. You know, I definitely
attribute all of this to all of my teachers because they kept pushing me, even when I...
I mean, I'm from Virginia. There's no music industry there, and there's no Hollywood there,
but for whatever reason, they kept saying stick with that, like there's something there.
And so, I attribute all of this to my teachers.
Okay, so now we have our get to know Pharrell in 60 seconds round. So these are our quickfire
questions. Are you ready?
I'm not sure I'll be able to answer them as fast as you ask them.
But I'm going to try to keep up.
We're going to go. Okay.
Most enjoyable collaboration you've ever done.
All of them.
Best cover you've ever seen of Happy.
I don't know her name, but there was this French-African girl that plays guitar. Her
first name starts with an I. Last name starts with a B.
Okay we'll look out for that one.
Describe your perfect date.
With my family.
Best perk of your job.
Discovering new sounds and directions.
What's the first thing you do when you arrive home?
From a day at work or like being out of town? Because I've only been home twice this year.
When you've been out of town.
Plop on my bed.
Who's the first person you call when something great happens?
My wife.
Where do you call home?
Miami and Virginia and Tokyo.
What's your guilty pleasure?
Mario Kart.
Favourite food?
Ben and Jerry's Red Velvet Cake ice cream.
Favourite person you've met recently?
Donald Fagen from Steely Dan.
Amazing. And lastly, all of your fans have tweeted us with questions all day, and we
picked out our best ones. First of all, this one was just because we had sheer quantity.
Rumours about you collaborating with One Direction. Is this on the cards?
What cards?
The One Direction cards.
They make cards? I'm just playing.
Yeah, I would do it for sure. I mean, I've never shied about from popular acts. I mean,
contrary to how some people feel about it, I feel like as long as there's airwaves, then
we should do what we can to feel amazing when people listen to them.
And you've been spending some time with Liam Payne, and everybody's been going crazy over
it because they think this is the start of something together.
I mean, I'm here.
Okay, that's great. And lastly, when you were little, when was the first moment you had
an inkling that you might be singing to large groups of people?
Never.
In fact, this whole entire year has been... This whole last twelve months is still a surprise
to me.
You're probably the most humble person I've ever met in an interview, so thank you so
much for your time.
I actually enjoyed your interview. It's awesome.
Aw, thank you! Oh well, I really appreciate that.