Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
“I really need to figure out who I am beyond this band,” the singer reflected on her time with Paramore.
Hayley Williams Reflects on Finding Herself Outside of Paramore
Hayley Williams is opening up about taking a step back from Paramore to explore her identity as a solo artist.
On Tuesday, December 2, the 36-year-old singer appeared on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast, discussing her upcoming first solo tour supporting her new album, Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party.
Williams previously announced in September that Paramore is on hiatus, though she emphasized that the band is not breaking up. Since then, she has released her solo album and is now focused on promoting her tour.
She shared that creating her third solo album has helped her begin to “find” herself.
“I’m feeling a bit nervous because, for my own growth, I really need to understand who I am outside of the band,” she explained. “It’s time.”
“I’m approaching 40, which isn’t that far off, and I feel like I should probably know who I am beyond this entity,” she candidly added.
Williams expressed excitement about her upcoming shows, noting they might challenge fans’ expectations of her performances.
Reflecting on her years with Paramore, Williams acknowledged the pressure of being seen as the “ringleader” of the band.
“It’s a huge responsibility to be the mouthpiece for a group of people,” she said, referring to her bandmates Zac Farro and Taylor York. “We’re all very different individuals, and I want to speak for myself.”
Her solo work has also allowed her to connect with women in a way she hadn’t before. “Growing up, there were no women around,” she noted. “It really is something to be the only girl in a gang.”
Williams discussed how she intentionally writes songs in a neutral way, avoiding giving the impression that her perspective is strictly that of a young woman. By Paramore’s fourth album, she felt more comfortable experimenting with femininity in her music.
In a September interview with The Face, she reiterated that while Paramore is on a break, she holds her bandmates in the highest regard.
“There are no better musicians in the world,” she said. “No better performers than the touring musicians, affectionately known as the Parafour. It’s just magic.” She added that it feels validating to know that Paramore’s impact cannot be dismissed.
