interview Music video by Praiz performing 'Mercy'. (C) 2014 X3M Music. ( Resource: Praiz - Mercy
Praiz needs no introduction in the Nigerian music scene as he shot himself to limelight after winning MTN sponsored Project Fame some years back.
Just last year, the R&B singer joined the big league, when he was endorsed by the telecommunications giants as one of their ambassadors. In this revealing interview, the handsome dude whose latest single, Mercy, has been enjoying massive airplay, talks about his forthcoming album, dropping in June and his nomination for the World Music Award.
What are you working on right now?
Nothing much, just working on the video for my new single, Mercy which was premiered recently. I am also working seriously for the release of my debut album and the introduction of the brand Praiz, which is set for June this year.
So, when is the album due to drop?
The album is due to drop June this year.
What's the idea behind Mercy?
Basically, Mercy is a song about a girl called Mercy. She is very beautiful and I composed the song to show my appreciation, trying to tell the world how she drives me crazy.
Was music what you had in mind while growing up?
No. I loved Soccer, I was a huge fan of football and I play well too. I studied Computer Science in the university. I had this dream that I was going to be a big soccer star. I was dreaming to play for Barcelona FC because that has always been my club. I have played in several football clubs in the country back then in the North. For me, being an entertainer was something I never thought or dreamt of. But as nature has it, in everything we are doing, God has another plans for us. He knows where to place you and how to use you to inspire people.
So, you stumbled into music?
Well,I would say that I started liking music because of my environment. Before I went into the higher institution, I had this friend who used to be a music producer. So most times, I used to go to the studio with him and from there, I learnt how to do many things. I learnt how to make beat, and how to produce some sounds. For me, my love for music started developing from there. That is what I can say about my adventure into the music world.
When you went to audition for Project Fame, did you have in mind that you were going to win?
Well, it is over 12 years now since I won the competition. I have been part of most music competitons in the country before I won that event. I have tried in different competitions but never went through. So, finally, I decided to go for the audition of that season's Project Fame. I travelled from Kaduna where I was staying with my parents to Abuja for the auditioning. In the first stage of the auditioning, I came third and proceeded to the final stage of the show. From there, I would say, my journey into the music industry begun. It was not easy at the beginning because you needed to take yourself away from some kind of people and pursue your dream.
How many tracks are contained in the album you are about to drop?
It's about sixteen tracks but we have not made the final decision.
How many artistes did you feature in your album?
Quite a lot of them. We have the likes of Sound Sultan, Timaya, Sean Tizzle and some South African singers too.
Praiz is a brand in the Nigerian music industry, what do you think is the secret?
To make a hit, you've got to get personal, says Pharrell Williams
By Eric Kelsey
LOS ANGELES Tue Jun 3, 2014 3:28pm EDT 0 Comments
inShare1 Share this Email Print
Pharrel Williams arrives at the 27th Annual Kids' Choice Awards in Los Angeles, March 29, 2014. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok
1 of 2. Pharrel Williams arrives at the 27th Annual Kids' Choice Awards in Los Angeles, March 29, 2014.
Credit: Reuters/Danny Moloshok Related Topics
Entertainment » Music » People »
(Reuters) - Pharrell Williams pauses, takes a breath and considers how the past year has unfolded for the R&B producer and singer: four Grammy Awards and three mega hit singles including a song that has galvanized countless fans to express how they're "happy."
And the key, says the 41-year-old known simply as Pharrell, in the midst of a career second act, has been tapping into audiences' thirst for sincerity and heartfelt personal stories.
"I think we've entered a new singer-songwriter era, regardless of the genre or music," said Pharrell, who produced and performed on Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines," the raunchy R&B hit that was last year's top song across the U.S. Billboard music charts.
"People want a story. They want a story they can connect to," he said while promoting his Tuesday concert from New York's Apollo Theater, which will be live streamed and directed by Spike Lee as part of American Express' "Unstaged" series.
"It's not about what you have or what you don't have, it's more about your journey and your perspective that's important to people," the musician told Reuters.
Pharrell said he noticed a shift in audiences' tastes over the past year in particular with the runaway success of "Happy," his up-tempo song from the "Despicable Me 2" soundtrack that received little fanfare upon its release but has turned into an international viral hit.
Countless videos populate sites like YouTube with people from Portugal and Macau to Abu Dhabi and Iran singing and dancing along to the song with the exuberant chorus that declares, "Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof ... clap along if you know what happiness is to you."
After seeing how far his song traveled, the singer broke down in tears during a televised interview with Oprah Winfrey.
"It isn't how great the execution is, it's the level of intention, it's the level of connotation that you put behind it," Pharrell said.
"It's just encouraging to people who have something to say, something to express," he added.
Pharrell has cemented himself as a master collaborator who was behind hits with rappers Snoop Dogg and Jay Z a decade ago, as well as with his own hip-hop band N*E*R*D.
This year, he won the Grammy award for best non-classical producer for his work with Thicke and French electronic music duo Daft Punk on their album "Random Access Memories."
The success over the past year has demonstrated to Pharrell that people are searching for personal and emotional links, perhaps as an antidote to reliance on mobile devices in the virtual age, he said.
"People want to feel. They're over-inundated with thinking," the singer said.
"We're a different species we were 15 years ago," he added. "The only thing we have left that reminds us that we are humans that cannot be duplicated is feeling. It's the most important thing ever."
interview
ReplyDeleteMusic video by Praiz performing 'Mercy'. (C) 2014 X3M Music. ( Resource: Praiz - Mercy
Praiz needs no introduction in the Nigerian music scene as he shot himself to limelight after winning MTN sponsored Project Fame some years back.
Just last year, the R&B singer joined the big league, when he was endorsed by the telecommunications giants as one of their ambassadors. In this revealing interview, the handsome dude whose latest single, Mercy, has been enjoying massive airplay, talks about his forthcoming album, dropping in June and his nomination for the World Music Award.
What are you working on right now?
Nothing much, just working on the video for my new single, Mercy which was premiered recently. I am also working seriously for the release of my debut album and the introduction of the brand Praiz, which is set for June this year.
So, when is the album due to drop?
The album is due to drop June this year.
What's the idea behind Mercy?
Basically, Mercy is a song about a girl called Mercy. She is very beautiful and I composed the song to show my appreciation, trying to tell the world how she drives me crazy.
Was music what you had in mind while growing up?
No. I loved Soccer, I was a huge fan of football and I play well too. I studied Computer Science in the university. I had this dream that I was going to be a big soccer star. I was dreaming to play for Barcelona FC because that has always been my club. I have played in several football clubs in the country back then in the North. For me, being an entertainer was something I never thought or dreamt of. But as nature has it, in everything we are doing, God has another plans for us. He knows where to place you and how to use you to inspire people.
So, you stumbled into music?
Well,I would say that I started liking music because of my environment. Before I went into the higher institution, I had this friend who used to be a music producer. So most times, I used to go to the studio with him and from there, I learnt how to do many things. I learnt how to make beat, and how to produce some sounds. For me, my love for music started developing from there. That is what I can say about my adventure into the music world.
When you went to audition for Project Fame, did you have in mind that you were going to win?
Well, it is over 12 years now since I won the competition. I have been part of most music competitons in the country before I won that event. I have tried in different competitions but never went through. So, finally, I decided to go for the audition of that season's Project Fame. I travelled from Kaduna where I was staying with my parents to Abuja for the auditioning. In the first stage of the auditioning, I came third and proceeded to the final stage of the show. From there, I would say, my journey into the music industry begun. It was not easy at the beginning because you needed to take yourself away from some kind of people and pursue your dream.
How many tracks are contained in the album you are about to drop?
It's about sixteen tracks but we have not made the final decision.
How many artistes did you feature in your album?
Quite a lot of them. We have the likes of Sound Sultan, Timaya, Sean Tizzle and some South African singers too.
Praiz is a brand in the Nigerian music industry, what do you think is the secret?
To make a hit, you've got to get personal, says Pharrell Williams
ReplyDeleteBy Eric Kelsey
LOS ANGELES Tue Jun 3, 2014 3:28pm EDT
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Pharrel Williams arrives at the 27th Annual Kids' Choice Awards in Los Angeles, March 29, 2014. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok
1 of 2. Pharrel Williams arrives at the 27th Annual Kids' Choice Awards in Los Angeles, March 29, 2014.
Credit: Reuters/Danny Moloshok
Related Topics
Entertainment »
Music »
People »
(Reuters) - Pharrell Williams pauses, takes a breath and considers how the past year has unfolded for the R&B producer and singer: four Grammy Awards and three mega hit singles including a song that has galvanized countless fans to express how they're "happy."
And the key, says the 41-year-old known simply as Pharrell, in the midst of a career second act, has been tapping into audiences' thirst for sincerity and heartfelt personal stories.
"I think we've entered a new singer-songwriter era, regardless of the genre or music," said Pharrell, who produced and performed on Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines," the raunchy R&B hit that was last year's top song across the U.S. Billboard music charts.
"People want a story. They want a story they can connect to," he said while promoting his Tuesday concert from New York's Apollo Theater, which will be live streamed and directed by Spike Lee as part of American Express' "Unstaged" series.
"It's not about what you have or what you don't have, it's more about your journey and your perspective that's important to people," the musician told Reuters.
Pharrell said he noticed a shift in audiences' tastes over the past year in particular with the runaway success of "Happy," his up-tempo song from the "Despicable Me 2" soundtrack that received little fanfare upon its release but has turned into an international viral hit.
Countless videos populate sites like YouTube with people from Portugal and Macau to Abu Dhabi and Iran singing and dancing along to the song with the exuberant chorus that declares, "Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof ... clap along if you know what happiness is to you."
After seeing how far his song traveled, the singer broke down in tears during a televised interview with Oprah Winfrey.
"It isn't how great the execution is, it's the level of intention, it's the level of connotation that you put behind it," Pharrell said.
"It's just encouraging to people who have something to say, something to express," he added.
Pharrell has cemented himself as a master collaborator who was behind hits with rappers Snoop Dogg and Jay Z a decade ago, as well as with his own hip-hop band N*E*R*D.
This year, he won the Grammy award for best non-classical producer for his work with Thicke and French electronic music duo Daft Punk on their album "Random Access Memories."
The success over the past year has demonstrated to Pharrell that people are searching for personal and emotional links, perhaps as an antidote to reliance on mobile devices in the virtual age, he said.
"People want to feel. They're over-inundated with thinking," the singer said.
"We're a different species we were 15 years ago," he added. "The only thing we have left that reminds us that we are humans that cannot be duplicated is feeling. It's the most important thing ever."
The concert will be streamed at amexunstaged.com.