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The Intersection of Faith and Creativity with Pharrell Williams
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00:00hey hey what's up y'all you are at the essence festival of culture and this session powered by
00:12netflix is the intersection of faith and creativity with none other than pharrell
00:17williams and his uncle bishop ezekiel williams my brother pharrell how you doing today i'm good man
00:25grateful and thanks for having us man listen it's a blessing to be alive i'm glad you're here
00:30what's up williams hey i'm blessed i'm blessed and thank you thank you so much for having me today
00:36of course of course it's an honor for us to be able to talk about uh the connection between faith
00:41and creativity but before we jump in real quick bishop most people don't know that you are pharrell's
00:47uncle so just in in one word what was pharrell like growing up well you know what pharrell growing up
00:55was a very very you said one word that's very difficult but i know i know a bishop can't stick
01:00to one word so go ahead he was very unique very unique um creative um genius um i have so many
01:12words that i could use you just haven't met a young man like pharrell williams nice nice amen right on
01:20i'm glad that uh you know it's amazing back then that you had the perspective and look at what he's
01:25done in the world so pharrell man listen there's so much going on right now uh and you are on the
01:30front lines of activism you're on the front lines of artistry and you know we have a history of seeing
01:36artists especially in the creative community use their art to bring about change uh so my big question
01:42for you is one how do you define the creative community and two what role do you feel that
01:48artists in the creative community should play in a time like this
01:52i mean the creative the creative community is i would say is pretty much like uh you know
02:04i don't know a community that's creative but i think i can answer the second question a bit better
02:14which is that um your creativity is a gift and because it's a gift it's meant to be shared
02:22um and we make you know it's up it's up to you as to whether you want to participate but there's just
02:32so much going on in the world right now that we
02:35again it's up to you but i just feel like there's a compulsion in anyone who's creative
02:44to uh to to be inspired by these moments and at the very least do something or create something
02:55that is a reflection of of what you're feeling um it could be a reflection of the problems it could
03:02be a reflection of the solution it could be a reflection of your pontification like when you're
03:09thinking about what's going on um but i leave that up to the creators you know god gave us free will
03:17and he didn't try to tell us what to do with it right so he's not going to tell you what to do with
03:21your gift either but i don't know if you don't feel like you have any kind of contribution to
03:28this moment even if it is just within your own household and you're creative i just don't know
03:36i question that creativity um god like you've got like this is a moment this is very different this
03:44is not you know this is not uh when the civil rights were being were you know when civil rights
03:53bills were being passed you know we didn't we didn't have lebron james at that moment you know
04:00we had our heroes but not to the tune of the amazing uh uh business accomplishments and and and
04:10and uh the kind of path that lebron has and the kind of trajectory that oprah has and the and the
04:21and the yellow brick road that jay-z has uh created and you know there's just so many people who are in a
04:29very different position um than where we were during those times and so how could you not want
04:35to be you know a thread in this amazing american fabric that's being woven right now how could you
04:42not want to be especially if you're creative because if you're creative then you've been gifted
04:46right and that gift was given to you by you know the greatest of all time in space god
04:53so how could you not um but you know what that's a rhetorical question it's not a real question
04:59if you if you're creative and you don't feel compelled it was a rhetorical question
05:03uh pharrell what what compels you because you you use your creativity and your artistry
05:09and you've always uh done it in a way that is speaking out for those that don't speak for
05:15themselves so what what is the thing that compels you to continuously consistently use your
05:19your art to make change the force from the beginning
05:23the beginning of all things god that's where it all comes from like how could i again how could i not
05:33how could i not how could i not give back to that which has given me everything and for me when i think
05:40of god you know um you know no disrespect to any of the renaissance painters and their images of what
05:47they felt like god looked like but for me you know when i think of when i think of uh the universe
05:53embodied in a man i think of of jesus when i think of jesus uh the inside of jesus um and what he was
06:01made of i think of the universe and the universe has given me everything i'm born in it i'm gonna die in
06:10it we were all born in it we're all gonna die in it it was here before us it's gonna be here after us
06:16how could i not be in lockstep as much as i can because i ain't perfect
06:21none of us are not to my to to my level of cognition to my to my consciousness my understanding
06:32my metacognition that there's something greater that's giving me everything that i have how could
06:39i not contribute and tie and do my and do my job like i said i ain't perfect i am far from perfect
06:46right but i know who i work for amen amen as the word says let he without sin cast the first stone
06:53so none of us are are fit right so let's bring you right well bishop let's bring you into the
07:01conversation you know we're talking about faith um and this is a really powerful moment you know
07:06this intersection between faith and creativity and a lot of people are talking about you know what
07:11role the church should play so you know from your vantage point uh you know being a bishop and
07:17and you know pastoring you know in norfolk virginia you know what is your point of view right now about
07:22the role that the church should be playing in this moment well i think my role my my point of view
07:29uh remains the same i um i've said it from the beginning i'll continue to say it that jesus is the
07:37answer for the world today at the end of the day i don't care how difficult life becomes i don't care
07:44what we have to face in life if we can look to christ if we can look to jesus then we can make it through
07:51he said he'd be the friend that sticks closer than any brother he empowers us he equips us he gives us
07:59fortitude longevity and the ability uh to stick to it and to press through you know there's a
08:06scripture that talks about i press toward the mark for the prize well we must press we must continue
08:13the press and when when you all were talking about uh the creativity uh in this time in this difficult
08:21time i i think that um every good and perfect gift comes from above from the father of lights
08:28and at the end of the day it's during the difficult times that those who are create created are able to
08:36produce some of the most ingenious things that we will ever witness those who write songs those who
08:43make movies to get their point across this is your time this is the time where you will shine you think
08:50about um the olive and the oil that is uh produced from derived from the olive well the olive has to go
08:59through a crushing process there has to be pressure there has to be uh difficulty if you will in order
09:07to produce the oil from the olive life is the same way the lord has given us these wonderful gifts of
09:15creativity that we have but during this pandemic when when the world really doesn't have the answer
09:21and they don't know what else to do i think this is the time when we turn on those gifts uh where we
09:27turn on our faith and we trust god as we've always done um some of the lean times or the the lighter times
09:37we trust god but this is the time where we put what we've been practicing into action and i guarantee
09:44you we're gonna make it through this we're gonna be okay we're gonna we're gonna see you know uh so
09:50we can go ahead and just pass the offering plate right now like that was the word the oil and oh you
09:57know being pressed lord have mercy i'm about to run around here man better watch out bishop you started
10:03something over here you started something my goodness yes i i love what you're saying i think
10:08it's so apropos it's interesting you know when you go back to the beginning go back to genesis
10:13yeah uh you know the one of the first statements is let there be light uh that is a creative statement
10:19so there's always been from the beginning a really strong connection between faith and creativity and so
10:25i want to throw this question open to both of you you know what really um is the way that the
10:31creative community and artists can work together right now you know with the faith community
10:37to achieve progress in this moment you know how do we link the church uh with artists right now in
10:42order to produce the change that we really need right now all right all right i would say that
10:51the church the faith community has always been a catalyst of hope and i think at this time it's our
11:00utmost responsibility our number one responsibility to to communicate that hope to a people who are
11:07looking for answers who for people who are wondering what is the next step that i should take
11:13i think this is the time that we bring what it is that we have that has caused us to be successful all
11:19the way uh and present that to the world now there are many believers in the world there are many
11:26individuals who believe in god believe in christ and their faith may be secure but even if you are a
11:32christian during days and times like this your faith can become shaky and you have to go back to the word
11:40of god and and uh and i um i've been involved in music for over 30 years and i'll tell you right now
11:48outside of preaching i think that music is the greatest method of communication that there is and
11:56so i would even say to those who create music this is our time this is our time to put that message of
12:04hope that that that that message of salvation that message of light into lyrics into music so that
12:14people can believe it's something about it that that even when you can't articulate it it's a feeling
12:22that comes over you that you you you hear you hear it being sung you hear it being played you walk away
12:29from the at the end of the day and you feel like you know what i'm gonna be okay everything's gonna be
12:35all right and i think that's part of our responsibility we gotta communicate hope we gotta communicate
12:41our faith there are many people who don't believe in god who who are not involved in christianity
12:49but i also believe that in a time like this people are open to try new things and this is where we have
12:57to be dead on the money if you will and we have to be there giving that message proclaiming the gospel
13:05so that people can look and live as they say amen amen amen uh you know pharrell on on that on that
13:14point which i thought you know what the bishop is saying is is fascinating especially about the musical
13:18point you know when in this time uh does this motivate you to create when you're when you're
13:25thinking about what's happening in the world and you're thinking about uh the change that you want
13:29to you know continue to be a part of how does that factor into your creative process uh when you're
13:34writing songs and when you're producing music right now i think i'm just you know in a moment like
13:42this again you know you're just inspired by what you feel um and you're you're inspired by what you
13:50feel and you're inspired by what the universe gives to you um i speak in terms of the universe a lot
13:57because not everybody believes in god um but i know what they cannot argue with is the fact that there
14:03is a universe and it is the you know the alpha and the omega that's god and so you know when we're
14:14when we're thinking about being creative you got to remember the ultimate creator is the universe
14:20that's where it all began so we're co-creators if anything you know we're just contributing to
14:28the all that is all that ever was and all that ever will be so for people who subscribe to a more
14:36scientific point of view you call it the universe universe one song and then us you know we have a
14:46a personal relationship where we have dialogue you know we say god yes i think when you're when when
14:57you're not faith-based you have to know that like in these moments that we need to galvanize
15:04come together and you know working with the faith-based community
15:08and the community in the faith-based community working with the creative community it's only um
15:15it's only
15:18it can only be something good when we all come together and see
15:23power that that comes from numbers you know and you just have to remember that like
15:30like this universe is an awesome this is awesome a lot of it is heavy but man as heavy as all the
15:39stuff is going on in the earth for whatever reason it's still twisting around at a thousand miles per
15:44hour that's how fast it rotates all this weight all this heaviness we're dealing with and still the
15:51earth travels 55 000 miles per hour around the sun 365 days a year never misses that's how good god is
16:01that's how powerful god is and that's just this solar system and remember you know if you you know you
16:08you you you you look at the darkest thing on this planet cold right well what science tell us what does
16:16science tell us tell us about god's process for what happens to coal you take coal you take a lot of
16:24pressure you take a lot of time and it makes a diamond god is one of the god is the greatest of all time
16:32in all space you're talking about creativity i mean right better than that and like i said you don't have
16:42to say jesus you don't have to say god you cannot argue with the universe
16:45universe and they call it universe for one reason it ain't it ain't a it ain't a double it ain't a
16:50triple ain't quadruple it is a universe one song and so when we come together the face the faith-based
16:58community and the creative community it can only be the same thing you know we're under a lot of
17:03pressure times are really dark but god knows how to turn those things into bright shiny objects
17:09wow man listen i'm gonna pass the plate to you i didn't know we had two bishops on this on this
17:15office right here yes we do that's some powerful work my lord no but it's a good segue when you talk
17:24about that creativity you talk about two things you know coming together and and uh you know creating
17:29the diamond um you know pharrell i hear that you know you and and your uncle you know bishop williams
17:35have created a diamond uh that you all have partnered up to create this new show you know
17:41building a choir like i don't want to steal your thunder tell everybody you know what it is that
17:46you all have created and what they can expect uh coming out very soon well um
17:52i think this show is a show of a really interesting uh group of journeys you get to meet these people
18:10you get to see why they are special and you're special because see special is as special does
18:19so you're special because you were born into special circumstances that not everybody could
18:26have survived but the fact that you survived makes you special and so you're probably going to sing and
18:35sound that way too good or bad but special nonetheless and that's what the show is about this show
18:42you know i feel like it is a collection of unicorns people who have really unique stories but they
18:49are really unique in themselves and so that has produced them or that has produced their their lives
18:56has has the indentations and the impressions that these people have their spirits have gone through
19:01have had an effect on the way that they hold a note sometimes even the way that they actually
19:09sound their vocal cords and this show does a really brilliant seamless um job of telling you these
19:21stories and then it's led by my uncle who um as much as he's an amazing pastor and you know someone
19:28that i lean on and and in times of just like just needing to understand and just needing that like that
19:35um not religious with that faith scaffolding that we all need he is a gifted musician
19:45and was a child prodigy and it's amazing how still to this day you know he can be in the middle of
19:54and decide he's going to go and get behind that organ and make you feel something that you didn't know
20:02that you were going to feel that day and it's a mess there's a bunch of magic that happens in a lot of
20:07uh african-american churches and african diaspora churches around the world things such as when the
20:14preacher is saying something the organist knows exactly when to modulate up to the half note
20:20progression they're not looking at each other they're not saying anything they're not reading sheet
20:26sheet music they are literally just listening spirit to the ghost that's in that room and that
20:33ghost when it runs around that room you see a wave that comes over peoples and people and it is their
20:41heads moving and their hands moving and you see a wave across these people just like you see the wind
20:47when it's blowing on the trees that is all being captured in the show voices of fire it literally is
20:55voices of fire that church sets on fire with that unique group of people who don't all look the same
21:02they're not all the same color they're not all the same gender some of them are not even the same sexual
21:08orientation because that's not what this is about these doors are open to human beings who want to get
21:15a better understanding of christ and i am so proud of what they sound like because of that
21:23again it's not anything but the grace of god that we got this show and again i'm not like my uncle
21:34i'm not perfect you might be doing and saying some things that might not agree but look i'm being used
21:41and i'm clear on that i know who i work for
21:43that's what that show does for me that's what i feel
21:48amen amen well you know speaking of feeling uh we have a clip of voices of fire that's going to
21:56debut on netflix uh this year so why don't we go ahead and let the people see a little glimpse on what
22:03what you all been working on no tender voice like thine can peace
22:20oh
22:22oh
22:22oh
22:25honey
22:26honey
22:30yeah
22:31i
22:34i need thee
22:38oh
22:40oh
22:41oh
22:42bless
22:43bless me now
22:46My Savior, I come to thee
23:01Okay, wow, listen, I cannot wait to see this show
23:14Bishop, talk to us, wait a minute
23:17What does this mean for you
23:18Who have been a pioneer in ministry and gospel music for decades now
23:23Being able to bring this show to Netflix and the world
23:27What does it mean for you to be a part of this?
23:31Listen, what does the word say?
23:33Now unto him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all
23:37That you ask or think according to the power that worketh within you
23:42Listen, ask or think
23:44It's above anything that I would have ever imagined
23:48That we would have the opportunity to put a choir together
23:53That would literally touch the entire world
23:56But I believe because the vocalists are from different ethnicities
24:02Nationalities and you name it
24:04I believe that what you will find out is that they really
24:09Through the power of the Holy Spirit
24:11Are able to make everyone come together as one
24:16And at a time like this
24:17With what the world is dealing with
24:19And you know the story
24:20You know what we're facing
24:22At a time like this
24:23We need something that can cause all races to come together and unite
24:29And music is the tool that we're doing that with
24:32These voices are absolutely amazing
24:35And as much as singers come together
24:41And they must learn one another
24:43And as they say they must jive
24:46And they must vibe
24:47So that they can flow with one another
24:50And become one voice
24:52The same thing will happen across the globe
24:56I really believe some of the most phenomenal individuals
25:00I've ever heard in my life
25:02And I honestly I am honored to just be chosen
25:06I suppose by God
25:08To just be a part of what's taking place
25:11I don't feel like I really have a major role
25:14Others may say different
25:15But I really feel blessed and favored
25:19To have the opportunity to just be a part of this
25:22It's awesome
25:23And I'm very grateful to Pharrell
25:25Who supports the vision that we had
25:27And Netflix
25:28And all of the people on board
25:30It's just powerful
25:32You'll see
25:32You'll see
25:33Wow
25:35Yeah
25:36Say it again Pharrell
25:38757
25:39Yeah
25:40It's so strong you know
25:42You know
25:43Virginia Beach North of course
25:44With your Newport News
25:46Hampton
25:47You know Suffolk
25:48Chesapeake
25:49Chesapeake
25:50It's like
25:50And outside of our MSA as well
25:55You know
25:55The state of Virginia
25:56We have people from Delaware
25:57You know D.C.
26:00Texas
26:01The world
26:01Yeah
26:03Texas
26:04Boston
26:05You name it
26:06As a matter of fact
26:07There are individuals
26:08Who actually relocated
26:10From other states
26:12To be a part of this choir
26:14And are still here
26:15Till this day
26:17Drove up
26:18Drove down
26:19Flew in
26:19Crazy
26:21It's amazing
26:21It's beautiful
26:22It's so beautiful
26:23It's so
26:24Man
26:25My uncle did a really good job
26:27You know
26:28And
26:29I may always call him
26:31But the bishop did an amazing job
26:33It
26:35It's been great
26:37We're honored
26:38And the Netflix folks
26:39Are super happy with it
26:41And
26:41It's awesome
26:43And it's such a
26:43It's such a beautiful look
26:44For you know
26:46Where we come from
26:47Amen
26:48And Pharrell
26:49Pharrell
26:49Let me just say this
26:50Yes
26:51You do call me uncle
26:53And I know I'm the bishop
26:54I know I'm your pastor
26:55And that's great
26:56But the greatest
26:57Greatest term of endearment
27:00That I could experience
27:02Is when you call me uncle
27:03I feel the love
27:04I love you man
27:06And I thank you
27:07Thank you
27:07Wow
27:08I thank you both
27:10For doing this
27:11I mean
27:11I'm a huge gospel
27:12You know
27:13Music fan
27:14Was raised in the church
27:15And the music
27:16Is just
27:17You know
27:18What keeps me going
27:19And I know it keeps millions
27:20Around the world going
27:21But gospel
27:22Still has not reached
27:24The lengths that it can
27:25And through this show
27:26The Voices of Fire
27:27And you all partnering up
27:28To bring it to the world
27:29I personally want to say
27:30Thank you
27:31As a gospel music fan
27:33Thank you for using
27:34Your platforms
27:34And your creativity
27:35And your faith
27:36To put gospel on display
27:38In a dynamic way
27:39This time has gone by
27:41So quickly
27:42It's already
27:43We're already done
27:44So thank you
27:46First of all
27:46To you Pharrell
27:47Thanks for being here
27:48Thank you to the Bishop
27:49Otherwise known as
27:50Unc man
27:51So glad you're here
27:53And thank you
27:53For everyone that is tuned in
27:55Thank you to Essence Fest
27:56Essence Festival
27:57For being here
27:58And thank you to Netflix
27:59For not only sponsoring
28:00This panel
28:01And this conversation
28:03About faith and creativity
28:04But also
28:04Being the platform
28:06Through which Voices of Fire
28:08Will come out later
28:09This year
28:10If you all like the clip
28:11If you like the conversation
28:12It's no comparison
28:14To the power
28:15Of this show
28:16So please make sure
28:18You stay tuned
28:19And thank you all
28:20For coming in
28:21And spending a little bit
28:22Of time with us
28:22I'm John Franklin
28:23I'm your moderator
28:24God bless you
28:25And we're praying
28:26For your success
28:27Yes sir
28:28Thank you to Essence
28:29Thank you to Netflix
28:30And of course
28:32Faith World Ministries
28:33And everybody
28:34Just as
28:35Just as
28:37This man just said
28:39Please come check out
28:40Our Voices of Fire
28:41It's going to be great
28:42It's going to be fire
28:44Y'all
28:44It's going to be fire
28:45That's right
28:46It's going to be fire
28:46All right
28:48Blessings
28:49Blessings
28:50Thank you
28:51And we'll see you next time
28:52We'll see you next time
28:53We'll see you next time
28:54We'll see you next time
28:55We'll see you next time
28:56We'll see you next time
28:57We'll see you next time
28:58We'll see you next time
28:59We'll see you next time
29:00We'll see you next time
29:01We'll see you next time
29:02We'll see you next time
29:03We'll see you next time
29:04We'll see you next time
29:05We'll see you next time
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