Pharrell Confirms New Album in Collaboration with BTS
Pharrell Williams revealed the exciting news about his collaboration with popular boy band BTS, who will be featured in one of the songs on his upcoming album Phriends.
Calling all BTS and Pharrell Williams fans, Williams has finally announced his new album Phriends. But that’s not all. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, the singer-songwriter explained that BTS would be featured on his upcoming album. BTS, also known as the Bangtan Boys, is a boy band from South Korea formed in 2010. You may know them from their famous song, “Butter,” which went viral on TikTok.
In early September, the group leader of BTS, RM or “Rap Monster,” sat onstage with Pharrell Williams in an empty auditorium at the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art. During the interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, BTS’ RM and Williams explored topics such as life, music, and mental health. RM expressed that it feels “embarrassing” to talk about his artistic journey in front of “my own idol.”
Williams states, “Well, my project, it’s called… it’s [under] my name, and the title of the album is Phriends. It’s the volume one. You guys [BTS] are on there. And I’m actually talking about this way more than I’m supposed to, but it’s a song from my album that [BTS] sang, and it’s amazing, and I’m super grateful.” To which RM responded, “I just love this song.” Pharrell asserts that everyone who hears the song will love it too.
At the end of our #RMxPHARRELLxRollingStone conversation, @Pharrell makes #RM an enticing offer: he wants to produce for his upcoming solo project.
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) November 1, 2022
“I’m honored and grateful,” RM responds. https://t.co/AiXphK6BB7 pic.twitter.com/XEyoR1xbC2
BTS’ RM gave Williams a peek into his musical endeavors during the interview. Williams questioned, “Like, where are you in that process right now? Because you’re working on a solo record, right?” RM admitted he was 90 percent done with his solo record and would temporarily step away from the group to focus on his own music. He has recently released some mixtapes, but this album will be RM’s first official solo album.
Williams later expressed that he would be there if RM needed help with the other 10 percent of his album. The K-pop idol replied, “I always needed you for 15 years”, and, “I’m honored and grateful.”
In our new Musicians on Musicians conversation, @Pharrell confirmed a collaboration with @BTS_twt and #RM said his solo project is about 90% done. #RMxPHARRELLxRollingStone
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) November 1, 2022
Full details: https://t.co/AiXphK6BB7 pic.twitter.com/RxuY1RwZlP
RM revealed how he has grown as an artist and the mental effect this growth has had on him. “My first performance was in front of 10 people in some small clubs when I was, like, 15.” BTS is now one of the biggest boy bands in the world, performing at sold-out shows in giant arenas. RM opened up to Williams about how he can get consumed with his fans’ satisfaction with the performances, “I have to offer them the best night ever in their lives. So it’s a mess, and it’s too much energy. I’m a human, and I really get nervous, and I really sometimes get depressed by, and even get swallowed by, all the energies.”
RM further expressed the struggles of being a K-pop star and what it entails compared to how he started as a rapper and poet. “So that was a tricky part actually because K-pop is like a mix. It’s the mix of American pop music, other visuals, Korean and social media, and stuff.”
The interview ends with the reveal of this collaboration between BTS and Williams for a song on his upcoming album and some heartfelt advice from Williams to RM, “Keep moving forward and remain curious. Don’t put pressure on what you do by saying different absolutes like, ‘Oh, I will never do music again.'” He continues, “No nerves. Just stay along for the ride. Just keep going.”
pharrell talking about how strong bts and joon are for handling the amount of responsibility they have every day means a lot to me tbh, seeing someone from the industry having compassion for them recognizing and admiring their strength
— lau⁷ (@jvnggkuk) November 1, 2022
This duo really warmed our hearts in this interview, and we can’t wait to listen to BTS’ and Pharrell Williams’s new collaboration. Click here to read the full Rolling Stone interview and watch the video below.
