Pharrell: ‘I was stern with Madonna – and she liked it’
By Nick Levine
Pharrell Williams recalls his experiences working with Madonna on her 2008 album Hard Candy on The Graham Norton Show tonight (May 23).
Williams co-produced half of the album alongside Madonna, including the hit single Give It 2 Me, and says he wasn’t afraid to stand up to the Queen of Pop in the recording studio.
“She doesn’t like super softies,” he tells Norton. “I was stern in my position in terms of producing and giving her advice – she likes it. It’s a pleasure to work with an icon, someone I looked up to and thought was hot when I was young.”
Williams is currently one of the most in-demand producers in the world – and has recently crafted hits for Kylie Minogue and Paloma Faith.
Explaining how he finds time to work on his own music as well as tracks for other artists, he tells Norton: “[I have] no social life. It’s work and family. At this point in my life, at 41, that’s the most important thing to me.”
The Graham Norton Show airs tonight (May 23) at 10.40pm, and in addition to Pharrell Williams features interviews with Dame Julie Andrews, Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill.
Meanwhile, Pharrell Williams recently opened up about a “scuffle” he had with Madonna while working on Hard Candy – click here for the full story.