Pharrell Williams, who has debuted as a coach in the seventh season of AXN’s The Voice, talks about reconnecting with fans through the show
What motivated you to take this direction in your careerIJ
I just instantly looked at it as an opportunity to reach more people. I knew that we would have access to more people than just the contestants that we were working with who may have some of the same issues or some of the same questions or, you know, we may give some suggestions or advice that they didn’t even know that they may need, and so I just instantly looked at it as, you know, this enabling, great opportunity to reach more people.
What are you going to bring this season in terms of coaching styles, and do you see yourself getting caught up in the competitiveness of Adam and BlakeIJ
That’s a really good question because I don’t know what my style is except for just sort of reading the moment. It’s mostly just like an observation. It’s sort of like reading a feeling of everything that’s happening at that moment because there’s a lot of variables when someone is performing, and half of it has to do with them. Some of it is the song selection. Some of it is the time of day; how many days you’ve been doing it. There are so many factors. You just try your best to sift through all of it to get to those essential points, those elements that can actually be helpful, try to find some anecdotes in there somewhere, and provide as best you can. I don’t know what kind of style that is.
How does it feel like to collaborate with Gwen againIJ
It’s been amazing to work with Gwen, and we had that first opportunity to work with Hella Good. That was an amazing song to do with them. If you would have tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Okay. So, you know, like 10, 12 years from now you’re going to do — you’re going to be on a TV show with Gwen” — on whatIJ And with GwenIJ Wow. I just can’t believe that like, you know, our journey has had so many incredible, great like monads and touch points. You know, it’s just like these great just moments where we’re like wow.
Would you and Gwen team up together and strategise against Adam and Blake since they have been on the show so longIJ
I don’t think that would be possible. Those guys are masters at this. The only thing that I think we can do, and I can’t really speak for Gwen, is be super pure towards what we gravitate towards and get out of the way. These guys are great. I mean, we’re working really hard.