I’VE GOT SO MANY CLOTHES I COULD START A F**KIN’ HARRODS
The Voice UK coach chats companions, clothes and Tom Jones with Gemma Calvert
IIt’s 2.15pm on a Friday in mid January, and in the dimly lit basement bar of London’s Tape private members’ club, Will.i.am’s got a certain Jenny From The Block on his mind. “Later, I have to go to the studio to write a song for a collaboration with J-LO,” he reveals, leaning sideways towards the bar, one leg flung over the back of his stool. “Hopefully I get the gig.”
Hang on a minute. This is Will.i.am – singer, songwriter, rapper, entrepreneur and frontman of The Black Eyed Peas, who have sold more than 35million albums,120million singles, 3million concert tickets and headlined over 300 concerts across 30 different countries since he formed the band in 1992, aged 17. Surely with his kick-ass credentials, the Jen job’s a good’un? “Everything’s an audition,” replies the 45 year old, matter-of-factly. “You only get complacent when your ego gets in the way and you think success is automatic, based on past successes.”
It’s no wonder that Will, who’s into his eighth year on The Voice UK (the only coach to have appeared on every series since it launched in 2012) is one of the show’s most respected mentors. Worth a thrilling £57million, the seven-time Grammy award-winner is proof that, with a bit of graft, focus and talent, dreams really can come true.
Growing up in East LA’S poor Boyle Heights neighbourhood, Will.i.am – born William James Adams Jr – and his three siblings were raised by their single mum Debra. After steering clear of gangs and guns – all rife in the community – Will formed a close bond with school friend Allan Pineda Lindo, aka Apl.de.ap, and later formed The Black Eyed Peas, fired by a hunger to pull his family out of poverty.
For all his generosity, kindness, ambition and talent, Will, who once managed Cheryl Cole, has a capacity to disappear down conversational rabbit holes, which makes him one of planet celebrity’s most tricky stars to interview. He’s also notoriously guarded about his private life, meaning he can close down.
Today, the only off-limit topic is Stacy Ferguson, aka Fergie, who joined the Peas in 2003, but is no longer in the band (they’re back to the original three –Will.i.am, Apl. de.ap and Taboo, aka Jaime Luis Gomez). And, luckily for heat, Will is not only in the mood to spill, he’s also brilliantly entertaining.
Boom Boom Pow, indeed!
Will, we love you on The Voice UK. What’s been your series highlight so far? Meghan Trainor. She’s supersassy, super-talented, fearless, and has amazing depth, as far as her ability to write songs and produce. I like her a lot. Is it nice to have a refresh of the judges when a new series begins? It’s nice to have a refresh, but imagine going to The Shard and saying, “Floors 30-40? We’re going to take those out and replace them with this.” You can’t just take ten floors out, the building’s up! It’s scary at first, but when it works, you’re like, “Yo!” That was the fear with J-hud [Jennifer Hudson] leaving, but that’s why I love Meghan – she’s fearless. Did you expect to still be doing The Voice UK eight years on? Nope, but I’m happy I have been. Are you the glue that holds the show together? Would it work without you? I want to say no, but I think it could. Olly Murs is really good and Tom Jones is awesome. I used to be the only ball of energy and now Olly has this wild flair. I’m quirky, but at the same time, very thoughtful and Tom has this wisdom. The balance now is great. I’m not as much the clown of the show, like in past years. They don’t have to depend on me any more for the comic relief. On The Voice Kids, it’s a hoot. I still bring the comedy with me and Danny Jones, and Pixie Lott’s in the clouds. I freakin’ love Pixie’s energy. What have you learned most from Tom’s wisdom? Yo, here’s what Tom taught me: whatever you think you’ve done, he’s done it already. He’s like, “This road you’re on? You think you’re on by yourself ? I’m the one that paved that road.” To me, he’s a pioneer. How often are you in the UK these days? Ten days a month. Where do you hang out when you’re not working? I’m in this room. I was here last night. I was in the studio. Were you tipsy? I didn’t drink last night. The last time I was tipsy was in the last decade. What kind of drunk are you? I don’t get drunk. I get a little, what do we call it? Vibey? I get a little vibey. My vibe never gets distorted. Is it a control thing? Er, I just don’t like the perception of it. I don’t even like to be seen holding a drink. No one in my family really drinks and the ones who did drink don’t drink any more. Do you hang out with Tom, Meghan and Olly? Not really. I wish we could, but… What, you’ve asked them out and they’ve declined? No, not like that. Look at you, journalist, trying to get some juice! Yeah, I asked Tom if he wanted to go out and he was like, “F**k that shit!” [Laughs.] Can you believe Tom is 79? Tom’s not 79. Tom is Tom. There’s certain people that don’t have an age, and Tom? He doesn’t have an age. I don’t have an age. I’m the same age I was, when I was… [Thinks for a moment and laughs.] No, I’m 45 and I’m proud to be 45. Your skin looks really good. Are you still vegan? Big-time vegan. I’m going on my third year, but, warning to all vegan would-bes, you can f**k up and over-carb it. Eat cereal all day with almond milk – frosted flakes and Crunchy Nuts – and think you’re vegan, but you just get love handles, tyres and man titties. Are you talking from experience? I don’t eat frosted flakes and
Crunchy Nuts for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Are you crazy? I’m healthier at home in LA, because I have a chef there. I don’t have a chef here. What’s the best bit about being Will.i.am?
I don’t give up. I’m like, “Don’t worry, it’s all going to work itself out.” And I don’t say that to be lazy. I’m pessimistic to identify the pitfalls, so that the optimistic aspiration can be accomplished. What’s left to achieve? A shit ton. I can organise better, I need to plan better, I need to let go quicker. I hold on to shit too long. I’ve got a lot of f**kin’ clothes. I need to freakin’ let go. Is it true you’ve got an entire wardrobe in London? I’ve got wardrobes in San Francisco, New York, London, LA. I don’t travel with bags. I either keep them at the hotels I stay at, or I keep ’em in storage. Yeah, I got clothes. I got clothes!
‘Tom Jones is not 79. Tom Jones is Tom Jones’
I could start a f**kin’ Harrods! There’s a department store of my shit. if you could create a robot, what task would it do? I would like to make something for me that everyone else will like, too – a companion robot that helps them with learning, decision making, something that you can trust. There’s a lot of lonely people in the world and robots are going to give people companionship in the future. Do you have a companion in life? Hell, yeah. A partner? That all depends on your perspective of partner. A lover? That’s a shallow companion. My soul mate is Apple.de.app. My companion, as far as my soulmate who I was put on Earth to meet, is him. Do you have a girlfriend? Yeah, I got a girlfriend, but what does that have to do with companionship?
Can you tell us who your girlfriend is? Hell, no. Why would I want to do that? That’s like [puts on an English accent], “We all use the restroom, can you tell me how many times you wipe?” What? It’s too personal. who was the last person to give you advice? My mom. She gives me good advice. She said the other day, “Have you arrived?” I’m like, “What? I just came from London two days ago.” She said, “I’m not talking about that kind of arrival, Willie. You haven’t arrived yet, because the person you are today isn’t the person you’re going to be when you are a father, so you need to make room so you can arrive.” She was putting pressure on you to become a dad? It’s not a pressure. It’s giving a perspective of why a person is spiritually going through the things they’re going through, because that’s your higher self making room for your other self that’s going to arrive. Have you ever had therapy? Yeah, I had relationship therapy with my ex. We went to counselling in the past. Did it work? Well, we’ve broken up. But just because you’ve broken up doesn’t mean it didn’t work. It helps you overcome that separation better, it helps you have the strength to realise the reality of the connection and not live in the hope and accept it for what it is. the Black eyed Peas are back and we love your new track ritmo, featuring Jaden Smith. what’s he like? He doesn’t have a conventional mind structure. Popular-culture conditioning hasn’t worked on him. Paloma Faith is not conditioned by popular culture – she’s odd, like, “Hmmm, there’s something unique about you.” That’s why Pharrell is unique, and why Kanye is in-between worlds. well, you’re certainly not conditioned, either… No! And I’m happy about it. n
RITMO is out now and features on The Bad Boys For Life soundtrack