Thundercat Reflects on Creative Chemistry With Pharrell & N.E.R.D [Video]

Photo by Rolling Stone. Thundercat sat down on Derrick Gee’s Podcast where he talked about his collaboration with Pharrell and N.E.R.D on the 2017 track “Deep Down Body Thurst.” He highlights the unique creative process, noting that while he was unsure what would catch Pharrell’s ear, the result became one of his favorite musical moments. Thundercat recounts how he was first introduced to Pharrell by Scott Vener, recalling a memorable interview appearance involving Puffy, Chelsea Peretti, and Pharrell.

When they finally began working together, Thundercat felt a sense of mutual respect, noting, “I’m sure Pharrell had to know that was me that wrote that [“Them Changes“].” Thundercat describes the recording session for “Deep Down Body Thurst” as a moment where he was simply “noodling” while Pharrell pulled up different sounds. He expresses deep appreciation for the trust Pharrell placed in his bass work: “It’s almost like you, I wouldn’t know what would catch Pharrell’s ear. … I think I was just kind of just messing around, noodling on, you know, as he’s pulling stuff up. And he was like, there was one, this song ‘Deep Down Body Thurst,’ and it’s a simple song, but it was like what he heard, I guess what he heard, he was like, ‘That’s it, that’s it.'”

“Nobody ever actually wants me to articulate that little small thing, the little small things like that. Sometimes they do, but it’s not always like the first instinct for somebody to allow something of this nature of a bassline to just be such a driving factor in the song. So when this happened, it was just like he was like, ‘That’s it. That’s it.'” Showing his continued admiration for the duo, Thundercat says, “Shout out to Pharrell. Shout out to Chad. I know that, you know, you guys are in a weird place and [expletive] and all that, but you guys are legends and we love you. You know, business and music is complicated, but we love you no matter what, bro. Both of you.”

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