'Voices of Fire': Pharrell Williams to hunt for talented gospel choir singers in unscripted Netflix show
Celebrated singer-songwriter and producer Pharrell Williams is now set to wade into the world of gospel music, after giving us some of the biggest hits in hip-hop, electronic and pop music over the last two decades. The popular former judge of 'The Voice' and one half of The Neptunes production duo recently revealed that he would be appearing in an unscripted Netflix gospel music series called 'Voices of Fire' that will premiere on the streaming giant's platform later this year.
The new show sees Pharell team up with his uncle, Bishop Ezekiel Williams, as they look to build one of the world's most inspiring gospel choirs in the area of Hampton Roads, Virginia. This project is close to home for Pharell, as the 47-year-old hip-hop star's hometown is in Virginia Beach.
According to Netflix, the 'Voices of Fire' series will show "Pharrell’s uncle and a well-respected musical genius in the area, Bishop Ezekiel Williams and his core team of influential gospel leaders," as they "venture out into Hampton Roads to find undiscovered talent." The 'Voices of Fire' docu-series, for which Pharell Williams also serves as an executive producer, will be searching for people of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds in their search to assemble a great gospel music choir, underscoring the makers' belief that these diverse backstories can give their collective voice a greater meaning. Pharell and his uncle made the announcement during a conversation this Sunday at the Essence Festival 2020, which became a virtual music event this time around due to the ongoing coronavirus restrictions.
The 'Voices of Fire' series has been described by people close to the venture as an upbeat, feel-good project, which is just what we need right now, considering the world is currently in need of healing and positivity in these current times of upheaval and suffering. In addition to this, Pharrell is also reportedly in talks with Netflix to create a Juneteenth-themed musical with the creator of 'Black-ish', Kenya Barris. The star producer had also recently lobbied with governors on social media to make June 19 an official holiday in their respective home states.
'Voices of Fire' is the latest unscripted venture for Netflix, as the streaming platform recently came out with a slew of alternative themed shows in the recent year, including the music-centric show 'Rhythm & Flow' and dating shows like 'Love Is Blind', 'Too Hot To Handle' and 'Say I Do'. Joining Pharell on executive production duties for 'Voices of Fire' will be Mimi Valdés of Pharell's multimedia company I Am Other, along with Arthur Smith and Frank Sinton of A Smith & Co, as well as Bianca Barnes-Williams. More updates on this docu-series will be released as soon as they are announced.