Pharrell Williams is undeniably a monumental figure in music. His impact stretches back to the 90s with The Neptunes, his groundbreaking production duo with Chad Hugo, which profoundly influenced the sound of modern music. Hearing their innovative work was a revelation, sparking curiosity about the origins of such unique sounds and ideas. Before the world danced to the infectious rhythm of the “happy song” we all know, Pharrell was already amassing an incredible list of accolades, including 13 Grammy Awards and Oscar nominations. He’s the creative force behind iconic tracks for music giants like Kendrick Lamar, Britney Spears, Clipse, and Gwen Stefani. And then came “Happy,” the global phenomenon from the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack, which became the best-selling song of 2014, cementing his status as a global superstar.
Pharrell Williams on Song Exploder podcast discussing his happy song and 'Piece by Piece'
Now, Pharrell’s extraordinary life and career are being celebrated in a unique way with Piece by Piece, an animated Lego film. To coincide with this exciting release, Pharrell joined Song Exploder to dissect the movie’s title track, also called “Piece by Piece.” In this episode, listeners get an exclusive peek into Pharrell’s creative process. He reveals the intricate steps involved in building the song, from early drafts that never saw the light of day to the final, polished version. You’ll hear how he initially constructed “Piece by Piece” using MIDI instruments, meticulously programming each part before bringing in live musicians to enhance and replace those digital elements. Adding a deeply personal touch, Pharrell even incorporated the marching band from his high school, the Princess Ann High School Fabulous Marching Cavaliers, into the song, bringing his musical journey full circle.
If you’re eager to delve into the sonic architecture of “Piece by Piece,” you can listen to the full Song Exploder episode on various platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music, or through other podcast apps. You can also stream or purchase “Piece by Piece” directly here. For more Song Exploder content featuring Pharrell, check out the episode with Run The Jewels where he contributed backing vocals on the track “JU$T” by clicking here.
Illustration by Carlos Lerma
