Pharrell Williams
Finds His Balance
with Humanrace

A Conversation About Rituals, Visions, And Faiths

Interview: Recho Omondi
Photography: Awol Erizku

The scope of Pharrell Williams’ career is as all-encompassing as an artist can get. Over the past 20 years, his work has made him a contemporary visionary in music, art, design, and fashion: he is a collaborator with brands like Chanel and adidas, as well as artists such as KAWS, Takashi Murakami, and Nigo, making cameos in films both in front of and behind the camera, as well as on their soundtracks. He has been on the cover of almost every major fashion and lifestyle magazine, including the one you’re holding right now. His own personal style extends over everything he surveils.

Now, Williams has launched his own global product company, Humanrace, which began as a three-step, three-minute skincare ritual for wellness that was crafted to be as much from the outside in as it is from the inside out. SSENSE and Williams have partnered on an exhibition space at our flagship store in Montreal, designed to be a physical expression of the brand’s ethos: In order to care for others, you need to care for yourself—through product, routine, and being comfortable in your skin. Pharrell has curated this universe to guide consumers on their journey.

For our Fall-Winter 2021 issue, Williams spoke with Recho Omondi, the fashion designer, critic, and host of the podcast “On The Cutting Room Floor” that devoted listeners follow for exactly the mix of insight and candor below. Their discussion revolved around faith, fighting cynicism, perception, perspective, accepting wellness as a practice, and design as an offering. Williams points out that to stay sensitive to the moment is to understand how much of what we believe in is waiting for us in the future. In other words: when all else fails, don’t forget to exfoliate.

Pharrell wears Alexander McQueen shirt. Top Image: Pharrell wears Jacquemus sweater, Jacquemus trousers and Humanrace Sičhona x adidas sneakers.

Pharrell wears Y/Project x Canada Goose jacket, Bianca Saunders trousers and adidas Originals sneakers.

Pharrell Williams is comfortable in his own skin. There’s something beguiling about him; the way he relaxes into his own confidence. He has that peaceful glow. You know the one I’m talking about. The proof that he and himself...they get along. They’ve made friends. They take care of each other. That he’s found what works for him and that he might even have the answers to your questions, if only you’d be brave enough to ask.

I shuddered at the thought of being the cliché pen and paper journalist, yelling over a crowd at a press conference, “Pharrell! Tell us your secret!” But the truth is, I wanted to know.

Perhaps the difference between routine and ritual is the state of consciousness. A routine is automated. A tried-and-true, fixed yet reliable program. A ritual is a thing of ceremonial awareness, the space between being the quality of intention. It seems Williams has found the balance between them.

Pharrell Williams came into public consciousness over 20 years ago. First, as one half of the musical production duo The Neptunes, and later as a member of N.E.R.D and solo recording artist. Most recently he’s expanded his aesthetic intelligence through his product company Humanrace. In late fall 2020, Humanrace first launched a clean skin care line; a three-step, three-minute, self care practice, centered around a simple ethos: Take care of yourself. Then you can take care of others.

On an evening in July, I called Pharrell. We talked about the wellness of mind, body, and spirit, his sensibility for design, and his own best practices for skincare. But after spending time in the reflected glow I mentioned earlier, something told me Pharrell Williams had instead learned to outrun his skin. That his presence was pure wind now. The rest of us were just waiting to catch up.

Pharrell wears Maison Margiela blazer, Hood by Air shorts, Bottega Veneta socks and Humanrace Sičhona x adidas sneakers.

Recho Omondi

Pharrell Williams

Have you always had such a clear understanding of the difference between the physical world and the spiritual, unseen world or was that something you arrived at?

I was raised...you know, faith was huge. And how we perceive life. Faith is the evidence of things unseen. So I always operated under that context. I mean, we've never seen the wind, right? There's all these unseen forces that are out here working all at once but the greatest force is God; the creative force. All that is, all that ever was, and all that ever will be.

So few of us talk about health of the spirit. How would you describe spiritual warfare?

We are in the Age of Aquarius. This sounds far out but follow me.

I’m following...

Like, everything was gonna change when the internet was born. And within that place it allowed people to be who they really wanted to be; that they couldn't be offline. People are able to assume any personality and there are no rules. So, it's how they really, truly spiritually identify. This is what people inherently feel from the bottom of their hearts. It’s where their spirits are at. It's where their spirit really is.

It’s funny, several years ago when the song “Happy” came out, I hated it. Every time I heard it, it just made me mad. And the other day it came on in the gym and I broke down crying. And I feel like I understood the song for the first time; which had everything to do with me and nothing to do with the song itself. Maybe in a way I was a vibrational match for that song for the first time.

Exactly. When I say that we're in a place of spiritual warfare, it's like the truth doesn't matter to people. There's all kinds of negative things that are happening online that can completely change the world's perception altogether and then that's what they think and feel and believe.

How do you recommend someone practice wellness in a way that doesn't cost money?

You don't need money to begin that process. It starts with a routine. Being self-aware. Recognizing that you are a unit of awareness and that you are a co-creator and that the change that you want to see is going to start in you. As a brand—Humanrace—we're not the solution for the world. We're not even a solution for our species. We're just trying to bring convenience to those who understand the importance of routine, the importance of having rudiments. We want to go out and source all of the best ingredients for whatever product it is or product line that we're offering. My biggest job when it comes to Humanrace is holding that as high as I can, which is our North Star. This is about you being your best self so that you can help out someone else. That's the only way that we're going to get there.

Wellness…

Yeah. And being in a state of gratitude and having empathy to think about someone else. And being humble. When you add those three things together, you can get to a place of love. It's interesting you say you hated “Happy,” and when you heard it differently, it made you weep. I'm honored the message reached you because I know if you're not ready to hear that, it's not going to make sense. It's gonna be annoying.

[Laughs]

Because it's asking you to reach to the depth of your being and surrender your pride and surrender your resistance.

Right. And the first line is “It might sound crazy what I'm about to say.” That made so much sense because it is a radical idea, to be honest.

Yeah.

What are three rituals in your life, one for your mind, one for your body and one for your soul that you try to perform, if not daily, monthly?

Body? Cleansing. And I mean not just topically, but also internally.

Like juice cleanses?

Oh yeah. But I actually drink only water now.

Wow. No minerals? No lemon?

No nothin’. Just water. I just wanted to do it. So I'm four months in…

How do you feel?

It's kind of crazy how clear I feel. It's unreal.

Mind?

For the mind, I read a lot of esoteric stuff. Just being a highly sensitive person, I try to sponge as much as I can so reading is really important for me, and for my soul. My best friends are like bishops and they're gifted with the ability to prophesize, to see into the future. I do a lot of talking to my friends, my best friends. I love reading about different religions, finding the commonalities in faith-based histories. I want to understand. If you want to speak to people, sometimes you have to speak their language. You have to know enough about their perception and perspective of the world in order to have a conversation, you know?

Pharrell wears Jacquemus sweater, Jacquemus trousers and Humanrace Sičhona x adidas sneakers.

When in your day do you feel the most still?

When I wake up. Before I wake up. I spend 20 to 30 minutes with my eyes closed. I just lay there. That's where I solve a lot of issues and sometimes I write. Other times I have epiphanies. I have break-throughs. And then the other times I take a 30-minute, super hot bath with Epsom salt. That's a lot of reflection there...a lot of things to unlock. Then I take a cold shower. And that's about 10 minutes. Then I start my day.

What's the most healing or nourishing idea that you've adopted into your life over the years?

Honestly, just doing my face. Exfoliating. The cleansing part is fun too. That’s when I’m about my day & it’s actually beginning. I think that moment right there.

The Humanrace packaging is so design-conscious.

I've always been inspired by Japan and we wanted not only the objects to be beautiful but we also want it to feel good when you pick them up and have a kinetic property as well. Green was obviously intentional. To promote life. And for mankind moving forward, how do you consider what's gonna feel good when they see it and pick it up. Every bit of your interaction was important to me.

It's like surround sound intentionality. All five senses are engaged. I can think of only a few people who are as committed to making us feel good from sight to sound, to touch, to color, to everything, as you are.

If you want your intention to be served, you just can't look at it from a 2D perspective. It's interesting you say surround sound because that's exactly right. Think about it. When people go to Disney World, every aspect of their arrival is intentional. Every aspect of their experience is intentional and has been produced from all angles and every square foot. If I'm not gonna compete on that level, then what am I doing?

Okay. This one's a little...just go with me...

OK. I’m going...

If the entire world population had your attention at one time, what would you say?

God is the greatest.

What if they didn't understand that? What do you mean?

It’s hard to understand when you think about the universe, that is very grandiose, larger than life itself. But if I had the opportunity to have them all listen to one thing I would give that glory to the universe.

When I think to that level, I do feel really small, and actually feeling that small makes me feel good.

Okay. So I have a gift for you if you haven't seen it. So do you know who Charles Eames is?

Like the Eames Chair?

Yes! Charles Eames. Yes. So he and his wife, Ray Eames, did a film that will tell you everything you need to know. It's called Powers of Ten. When you finish this call, you have to promise me you’ll watch it. It's only 10 minutes long. It's genius. Your life's going to change. It’s the easiest way for someone to understand how significant and insignificant we all are.

Pharrell wears Jacquemus shirt and Comme des Garçons Homme Plus shorts.

Pharrell wears Alexander McQueen shirt, Raf Simons jeans and Humanrace Sičhona x adidas sneakers.

At what age did you learn to relinquish your ego?

If you do something that’s great, why distract it with all the noise? Why distract it with self-aggrandizement? Honestly, it takes less energy to just stand up for what's right. It takes so much more energy to beat yourself on the chest and pat yourself on the back. You know, bragging? Just say less.

For someone from Virginia Beach, you now have such an abundant lifestyle. Have you ever felt survivor's guilt?

Of course I did. That's what changed me. I used to brag all the time. I felt like that's what I needed to do.

And so when I met Nigo, of BAPE, it was like, man, he doesn't say anything. He just does it. And it kills everything moving. So I started bragging less and putting my hands together. As a show of communal respect between humans. Instead of just givin’ dap.

You move with power instead of with force. That's probably the most notable thing about you to me. In the public and on this call. I used to think that force was power...but I don't think it is.

You're correct. I don't want to force, man. But that power that you talk about? That’s the universe. It ain't me. There was an agreement made somewhere and I’m not fully responsible for that. The people you see fucked up out here—it’s when shit changed for them and they can't understand what happened. They used to be in control, then they realized they don't have the controls. That’s because you never had it. What you had was an agreement with people but you took them for granted and now they don't fuck with you. And you don't know how to deal with that. And you done lost your mind. Lost your life. You lost your self worth because you had it measured the wrong way the entire time. And I don't. I'm very clear.

Recho Omondi is a designer living in New York. After 10 years in the fashion industry, she launched The Cutting Room Floor, a podcast whose mission is to uncover "everything they didn't teach you at fashion school." Through investigative journalism, Recho interviews members of the industry for an intimate look into their expertise. The Cutting Room Floor has since been nicknamed, “Fashion's Only Fashion Show.”

This story is featured as 1 of 2 cover stories from our Fall-Winter 2021 print issue.