Pharrell Williams says the secret to making great music is ditching your ego.
The 'Happy' hitmaker insists a big ego can often make people delusional, helping them to believe they did an excellent job when they haven't, and thinks the best tunes are a result of musicians tapping into their "feelings".
He told Red Bulletin magazine: "Is the music legible to people's interpretation?
"It might not be because your ego told you that you killed it. But if you could remove your ego and only use your feeling, that is when the best stuff comes out."
The 40-year-old singer also believes the music industry works "off emotion" but insists success isn't his "doing" since he can't control the records people buy.
He said: "Our business works off emotion, and it is not really easy to quantify it outside of what it is. It is like saying 'Well, are you afraid of how the ball is going to react to the ice hokey rink?'
"No, because that is not what it is meant for. The puck is for that world and the ball is for another world. Emotions are just emotions. So when a song works, you should just be thankful, because that is not why you do it.
"So any kind of success that I have ever had on a song is not my doing. So you don't do it for that, because I can't control that. I do it because I feel like it feels good and it may resonate with other people. So it is not really good to mix the idea of what success is and the purity of why you do something."

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis locked lips for the Kiss Cam at an LA Clippers game.
The newly engaged couple put on a rare public display of affection during a basketball match on Saturday (22.03.14) when their image was projected up on the big screen for the whole crowd to see.
Mila, 30, looked mortified and covered her face in her hands when she realised the Kiss Cam was lingering on them, but Ashton took the incident in his stride.
The 'Jobs' actor jokingly played up to the cameras, twisting his baseball cap around to one side before leaning over and confidently planting a smooch on his fiancée's lips.
The lovebirds' kiss drew appreciative cheers from the crowd as a blushing Mila pulled away, giggling.
The former 'That 70s Show' co-stars have been together since April 2012 and sparked speculation they were engaged earlier this month after the brunette beauty was pictured with a diamond sparkler on her ring finger.
Mila and Ashton are famously low-key about their romance and avoid talking about it in the press, spending most of their time at sporting events or family gatherings.
However, they have been more open in expressing their love since Ashton's divorce from Demi Moore was finalised.

Courteney Cox's daughter Coco loves to sing.
The 'Friends' actress' nine-year-old daughter - who she has with her ex-husband David Arquette - could reportedly follow in her famous parents' footsteps and carve out a showbiz career as a pop star.
The New York Post's Page Six claims that Courtney was discussing Coco's new-found talent at a Tribeca Film Festival reception in Los Angeles last week.
A guest at the Stardust Penthouse at the Beverly Hilton told the paper: "She was saying that Coco is interested in singing and has a good voice."
And musically-inclined Coco will no doubt be getting tips from her mother's boyfriend, Snow Patrol rocker Johnny McDaid.
Courteney, 49, has reportedly moved in with her new beau and is said to be delighted with how well the Irish musician gets on with her daughter.
A source recently said: "What has really impressed Courteney is how good Johnny is with Coco ... Also, David approves of him - they've met a few times and are even planning a dinner with David and his partner Christina.
"They're all comfortable around each other. Johnny doesn't feel at all awkward about it."

Aretha Franklin celebrated her 72nd birthday with Denzel Washington.
The soul legend threw a private party in New York City on Saturday night (22.03.14) ahead of her birthday this coming Tuesday, and was joined by some of Hollywood's finest to mark the occasion.
'Flight' actor Denzel was one of the guests of honour and attempted to slip through the entrance of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel incognito, dressed down in a baseball cap.
According to the Huffington Post, Aretha had been to see the star in a Broadway performance of 'A Raisin In the Sun' earlier in the day, and personally thanked him for coming.
The 'Respect' singer's famed musical collaborator, Clive Davis, was also a guest at the party as well as Andre 3000 and Babyface, who are working on new music for the superstar.
Meanwhile, Aretha was quizzed by a TMZ photographer about her ideal birthday present as she left the venue and confessed she wants her talented family members to land record deals of their own.
She told the gossip site: "It was a good birthday present! I love Denzel. [But] I'm looking for a record deal for my granddaughter Victorie and my son Kecalf and Jordan, who is going to school for the arts at the end of the year, so he's on the way."
The glamorous diva added: "[I feel like the] Queen of the night, it's my birthday, I had a wonderful time, I'm thrilled to be in new York with all of these fabulous people!"

Kim Kardashian is "over the moon" about her VOGUE cover.
The reality star has reportedly brushed off negative comments about her long-awaited cover and spread in the prestigious US magazine, and is grateful to Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour for making her dream a reality.
A source revealed to E! News: "She's thrilled about it - completely over the moon. For her, this is a dream come true.
"[Kim] doesn't spend time worrying about the haters. She's not stressing about the backlash, she honestly doesn't pay attention to stuff like that."
The controversial decision to put the 33-year-old beauty and her fiancé Kanye West on the cover of VOGUE's April edition caused outrage in the fashion world, with celebrities including Sarah Michelle Gellar threatening to cancel her subscription to the elite magazine.
The announcement caused shockwaves when the image - which sees Kim looking demure in a Lanvin bridal gown as Kanye nestles up to her - was unveiled on Friday (21.03.14), since Anna was previously said to have declared the 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' star would only appear in the publication "over her dead body."
However, Kim is thrilled with the result and it seems no one was more surprised than her friends, who were kept in the dark about her career landmark.
The insider added: "She didn't tell anyone it was coming. Everyone found out with the rest of the world. But everyone's really excited for her."

Tom Fletcher rushed his son to hospital on Saturday (22.03.14).
The McFly frontman was quick to reassure fans on Twitter that baby Buzz Michelangelo was doing fine, but took the opportunity to rant about the hospital service he and his wife Giovanna received after the anxious parents were kept waiting in the emergency room for five hours.
The 'Obviously' hitmaker posted on the site: "Today has been eventful. 5hrs in a NHS waiting room with a 9 day old baby. We were "next to be seen" for 3hrs. #CouldHaveWatchedTitanic".
He added: "Buzz is doing fine. He's just cranky at the hospital for not prioritising a newborn over silly accident prone kids with twisted ankles ;)"
Tom was quick to recover from the alarming incident and even shared a selfie this evening (22.03.14) of him scoffing a pizza from the hospital.
The new father - whose band has recently teamed up with Busted to form poptastic supergroup McBusted - also joked that being a dad was eerie similar to his life on the road due to the lack of sleep, poor hygiene and abundance of junk food.
He wrote: "Not showered, not shaved, not slept, surviving on fried foods and cake...being a Dad is VERY similar to being in a band."
Tom and Giovanna - who were childhood sweethearts and tied the knot in 2012 - welcomed Buzz into the world two weeks early on March 13, and have been closely documenting their son's progress on social networking sites.

Kaley Cuoco is selling her house.
The 'Big Bang Theory' actress recently snapped up Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom's former marital home in Tarzana, California, for $5.49 million, and has now put her own home on the market.
Newlywed Kaley - who tied the knot with tennis pro Ryan Sweeting on New Year's Eve - is offloading her old property in Sherman Oaks for $2.795 million.
The price is a small increase from the $2.4 million she originally paid for it, according to TMZ.
The plush 5,233 sq. ft. pad boats five bedrooms and five bathrooms, but the bubbly blonde is clearly after an upgrade.
Khloe's old home is a lavish seven bedroom, 8,000 sq. ft property which would be perfect for Kaley to settle down in and start a family.
The 28-year-old actress previously expressed her desire to have kids with Ryan in the near future, however, she insisted they wouldn't be rushing into it since they got hitched just six months after meeting each other.
She enthused: "I can't wait! Probably not any time soon but I feel like I'm born to be a mom and my husband wants them too.
"We're trying to take a little time to be married since we got married really fast. So we're trying to enjoy marriage first, but it's definitely in the cards."

'Homeland' actor James Rebhorn has died aged 65.
The star - best known for playing Frank Mathison, the father of intelligence officer Carrie Mathison in the hit TV drama - has sadly passed away from a long battle with skin cancer, TMZ reports.
James is said to have died in his home on Friday night (21.03.14) after his condition "drastically worsened" over the past weeks.
Aside from starring opposite Claire Danes in 'Homeland', the actor will be remembered for his roles in big Hollywood blockbusters, including 'Scent of a Woman' alongside Al Pacino and playing Secretary of Defence Albert Nimziki in 'Independence Day'.
James began his career in the 50s and notched up parts in multiple TV shows including 'Third Watch', 'Law & Order', 'Boston Legal', '30 Rock' and 'The Good Wife', as well as playing Reese Hughes on 'White Collar'.
Tributes have already come flooding in on Twitter, with film fans and former colleagues paying their respects to the late star.
Mike Birbiglia wrote on the social networking site: "So sad to hear about the passing of James Rebhorn. He played my dad in Sleepwalk With Me. I feel so lucky to have known such a great person."
Another fan wrote: "James Rebhorn, RIP. On behalf of all film buffs, we took for granted you'd always be there & be great, 'cause you always were."

Reese Witherspoon went bowling for her birthday.
The 'Legally Blonde' actress celebrated her 38th birthday on Saturday night (22.03.14) with her mother and a group of close friends at a bowling alley in Nashville, Tennessee.
The mother-of-three - who has 14-year-old daughter Ava and 10-year-old son Deacon with actor Ryan Phillippe, and 17-month-old son Tennessee with her husband Jim Toth - seemed to be having a blast as she posed for pals to document her attempts at bowling a strike.
She wrote on her WhoSay account: "Having a ball at my birthday! #nashvegas#goodfriends#bowlersnotballers".
Reese also shared an adorable selfie of her smiling alongside her mother Betty, thanking her for her support over the years.
She posted: "Thank you to my amazing mother! #happybirthday#9months#birthandbeyond".
The star kicked off her acting career age 12 in Tennessee and has spoken openly in the past about how grateful she is that her parents kept her grounded as a teenager.
She said: "Thank God my parents did this, but they told me I had to stay in school. I was allowed to work in the summers but I couldn't work in the school year. They said, 'You're not moving to California, that's where crazy people live'."

L'Wren Scott's body is being flown to Los Angeles today (23.03.14). Preparations are being made for the late fashion designer's funeral and her coffin was seen coming out of the side entrance of the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel in Manhattan at 10a...

Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom have been talking constantly.
The reality star filed for divorce from her husband of four years in December following allegations of the basketball player's infidelity and drug abuse, but sources claim the pair haven't given up hope on their marriage just yet.
An insider told Us Weekly: "They're talking all the time. It's not over yet."
The 29-year-old brunette has just moved into Justin Bieber's former Calabasas, California, mansion - which cost her a cool $7.2 million - and is said to be building an inside basketball court in her new home, which Lamar hopes could be a sign of a potential reconciliation.
Another source added: "Her installing a basketball court really says something. He thinks he could get Khloe back."
The 34-year-old sports star is currently back in the US after quitting Spanish basketball team Laboral Kutxa due to an injury.
Khloe recently admitted she found it heartbreaking watching her marital troubles play out on her family's E! reality show, 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians'.
She confessed: "It's definitely not anything I'm through. I'm going through it, but I'm not through it. It's really hard to watch yourself on TV too.
"It's definitely different in that the world has to watch too. It's definitely not the easiest thing to do but it's my life now I guess."

Ciara celebrated her baby shower with Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner.
The R&B singer invited a dozen of her closest pals including the 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians' stars to a special bash held in a private residence in West Hollywood, California, on Saturday (22.03.14).
Kim shrugged off her VOGUE magazine cover controversy by dressing to impress in a white maxi skirt with a thigh-high slit teamed with a matching crop top, while her mother Kris arrived laden with a basket full of presents for the baby.
The reality stars were joined by presenter LaLa Anthony as they posed for photos with proud mother-to-be Ciara, who looked gorgeous in a Naeem Khan lace-embroidered kaftan.
Sharing a picture of her "BFFs", Kim wrote on Twitter: "Celebrating @Ciara's baby shower today with @lala #mommymemories."
Kris chimed in:"@ciara what a fun afternoon at your Baby Shower!!!! #youwonallthebabygames."
The 'Goodies' hitmaker is reportedly having a son with her rapper fiancé Future, although she has yet to confirm the sex of the baby.
The couple - who got engaged in October - announced they were expecting a child in January and Future let slip their firstborn was going to be a boy by referring to the baby as "him" during a recent interview.
According to the MailOnline, the Kardashians' present seems to have confirmed the rumours since the giant basket contained items including a blue car toy and a pirate's hat.