artists
When it comes to music, i am OTHER artists don’t fit neatly into a box. They were all hand-picked by Pharrell Williams for their talent, creative instincts and willingness to break barriers.
Alyssa Bernal
Every now and then, a new artist comes along who seems to effortlessly capture the imagination. Singer/musician Alyssa Bernal, a relatable girl with an unforgettable voice, is just that artist. Alyssa was your everyday American teenager, busy with classes and cheerleading practice, when her heartfelt, acoustic YouTube clips caught the eye of Pharrell Williams. Raised in a music-steeped household in San Antonio, Texas, Alyssa taught herself how to play guitar. Currently, she’s in the studio with Pharrell cooking up a new brand of playful pop music that’s both edgy and sweet.
Buddy
Buddy (born Simmie Sims) is a rapper from Compton, California with personality for days. Battling it out in the LA entertainment scene at industry showcases since he was a child, he eventually caught the attention of Pharrell Williams after an introduction by his co-manager Scott Vener (former music director of Entourage). Buddy’s debut track “Awesome Awesome,” produced by the Neptunes, is full of stomping beats and slick word play and reflects his fresh approach to hip hop. He’s already recorded collaborations with Snoop Dogg and Kendrick Lamar (“Staircases”) and is completing his mixtape, Idle Time.
Leah LaBelle
Born in Canada, but raised in Seattle, Leah LaBelle is the child of immigrants who escaped then communist Bulgaria. Although Leah’s parents were pop stars in their country, they gave it all up to pursue a better life in America. Now Leah is LA Reid’s newest signing at Epic Records and both Pharrell Williams and Jermaine Dupri are Executive Producers on her forthcoming album later this year. Her music is a return to classic R&B with a modern, pop twist—fun grooves and incredible melodies. Her debut single, “Sexify,” produced by Pharrell, is like girl talk between friends on how to keep your man happy and satisfied.
Maxine Ashley
Bronx-born Maxine Ashley is a sassy misfit with one helluva voice. She eschews convention, sometimes wears her hair half fluorescent pink, half brunette, loves the Smiths as much as Beyoncé, and has trouble keeping her big mouth shut. Discovered by Pharrell Williams on YouTube, Maxine is busy honing her international sound—an eclectic mix of pop, dance, and R&B that would be equally at home on the streets of the Bronx, London or Tokyo. Maxine likes to call it “grimy melodic pop.” Her song “Cookieman,” produced by Pharrell, is the soundtrack for Lanvin’s Spring/Summer 2012 advertising campaign shot by Steven Meisel.
