Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and producer Pharrell Williams has always been fascinated with Japanese culture. His frequent involvement with the arts and fashion communities of Tokyo made him a natural choice to lead our exploration. From his two-year collaboration with Tokyo-born artist Takashi Murakami to create the artwork entitled Simple Things that kicked off the official opening of Art Basel Switzerland in 2009 to Nigo of A Bathing Ape fame designing the cover of Pharrell’s solo debut In My Mind, the creative forces of Tokyo have been a constant source of inspiration for Pharrell throughout his many projects. He has been a great supporter of relief efforts for the Japanese citizens affected by the incidents of 3/11. He jumped at the chance to visit the metropolis that has had such an impact upon him as an artist and as an individual.
Pharrell is celebrated around the world for his work as a musician. He has made history for being one of the most successful and prolific entertainers to emerge during the last decade. As part of the beat-making duo The Neptunes, with Chad Hugo, and the alternative rock trio N.E.R.D., with Chad and childhood friend Shae Thornton, Pharrell has helped A-List pop stars sell millions of albums and even earn Grammy Awards for the likes of Justin Timberlake, Nelly, and Usher.
William’s unique style and creative aesthetic has been integral to several successful ventures outside the world of music. He is also a partner in Bionic Yarn, a textile firm based in New York dedicated to developing environmentally sustainable fabrics using recycled plastic bottles. Recently he has expanded into scoring films. His newest work can be heard in Illumination Entertainment’s animated film Despicable Me.
