In 2012 will.i.am became the first recording artist to send a song to space (Reach For The Stars, which was played back from Mars). And now, in 2016, it turns out that trying to pin the L.A. born polymath down is much like trying to pin down a rocket.

Words by Hollie Moat, Photography by Dani Brubaker, Styling by Anya Ziourova

Lera wears: Hat by Études Studio from Voo Store, Dress by Yigal Azrouel from Yigal Azrouel. will.i.am wears: Hat by Études Studio from Voo Store, Shirt by Givenchy from Hirshleifers.

We finally get to chat to the Black Eyed Peas frontman and seven time Grammy winner as he heads to LAX, fresh off a brainstorm with the team at i.am+, his tech company. ‘Really it’s just like a domino building session where someone says let’s do this and we might say no that’s not a good idea but let’s go down that path and see how we can turn it into a great idea’ he explains.
The brand launched their first creation – an iPhone camera accessory in 2012, but more recently they’ve branched out into the dial - a smart watch, and some wireless Bluetooth headphones, named i.am EPs, that you can wear as a necklace. Airport bound, we spoke to Will - who studied at California’s Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and is certainly no slouch in the style department - about his world of wearable tech.

So will, can you tell us about life as the head of a technology empire?
‘I’m the CEO and founder of the i.am + company, but I have an amazing team and everything we do, we complete as a unit [even though] we’re spread out across four different countries. Our headquarters are here in Hollywood, our A.I team is in Israel, our O.S team is in India and our hardware team is in Singapore. And together we’re all thinking about creating things that look beautiful and have awesome functionality. And you can see how strong the team is by how far the tech can go. So our team is pretty strong, and we’re still out searching to make it stronger.’

Lera wears: Top by Theory from The Shop at Bluebird, Earrings by Delfina Delettrez coming soon.

So far you’ve given us the i.am+ dial – a smart wrist device, and the i.am+ EP headphones, which are both wearable. Is smart fashion your focus?
‘I don’t think it’s a question of smart fashion - it’s just the way everything is going. We’re gonna get to a place where we’re saying “I can’t believe I used to wear a jacket that didn’t do anything.” And we’re only ten years away from that reality - less than ten years. Already we’re creating devices you can wear on your wrist that do everything that a device you put in your bag can. These are things you live your life on - so why not make them beautiful to wear!’

You think what we wear needs to work harder…
‘I love and appreciate freaking awesome fashion but there comes a point where I want the pieces to do more than one thing. Because I’m living my life on devices and I want to live my life on something that looks amazing so that I can express myself while I’m doing it. [With our] i.am + EPs, they’re a striking, technical piece of equipment that looks like jewellery.’

Lera wears: Shirt by Neil Barrett from Mantovani, Trousers by Saint Laurent from Browns, Cuff by Maison Margiela from Vitkac. will.i.am wears: Hat by Études Studio from Voo Store, Shirt by Neil Barrett from Mantovani.

And is that a reflection of the world we live in now?
‘Eleven years ago if I’d told you that you’re going to live your life on your phone and you’re going to carry it around and take pictures with it every thirty minutes you’d say there’s no way in hell I’m gonna live that way. We have gone so far away from anything normal - yet it’s become the norm, we’ve accepted it and that’s the way life is - to always be on. It’s kind of crazy I think.’

‘I’m living my life on devices and I want to live my life on something that looks amazing so that I can express myself while I’m doing it. And our i.am + EP headphones are a striking, technical piece of equipment that looks like jewellery.’

Lera wears: Dress by Versace Collection from Profil, Ring by Delfina Delettrez coming soon.

Did moving into technology seem like a giant leap from your music career?
‘It’s no different to being in a music group - every time I made a record I learned more about music, from trying our hardest to execute the idea. And that’s the same as what we’re doing with the hybrid of technology and fashion, with software developing. We’re always learning, and that’s an awesome job.’

Music, technology, fashion…is there any other area you’re planning on dipping a toe into?
‘I love being in this configuration in my life, where it’s cross-disciplinary and tech’s involved, creative’s involved, and I have creative people around me - coders, developers, electrical engineers, marketers, thinkers, designers - the whole shebang. I like being in this version of my world right now. I don’t think there’s anything else I could possibly dream of wanting myself to do – I already have two full-time jobs!’