by Paramore frontwoman Hayley Williams recently opened up about her complex relationship with the band and how it paralleled her religious deconstruction. She shared her thoughts in an interview on Popcast.
Williams discussed the cyclical nature of her relationship with Paramore. She explained how she had to deconstruct the band in a similar way to her evangelical upbringing.
“What are we? What even is Paramore? Paramore is not ever going away. If I woke up tomorrow and hated it, and was like, f*ck Paramore, it’s not going away. But I love it. It’s my favorite band,” Williams said. “And I think we need breaks. I don’t get to say, like, ‘Well, this is what exactly what we’re going to do next.’ Because, like I’ve been saying my whole career, Paramore’s a band. I don’t get to decide.”
The singer explained her decision to pursue solo work with her album ‘Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party’ while the band takes time apart.
“And it wasn’t time to make another Paramore record, but I had a lot of sh*t to say. So I’ve done what I’ve done for myself, and made this record,” she continued. “I’m finally willing to let that happen, and it’s OK that it’s me by myself and not Paramore right now. Paramore will always have its time because it’s just what we do. We cycle back in and out of it. We resent it one minute, we want to wear matching clothes the next minute.”
Williams drew parallels between deconstructing her faith and her relationship with the band.
“While I was deconstructing my faith and my religious upbringing from around age 19 to forever, I really didn’t realize how much of Paramore, for me, was a religious experience, a God — pillar in my life,” she said. “You got to deconstruct this system that you were a part of on multiple levels. I got to tear down Paramore the same way I had to tear down my evangelical upbringing. I have to do it for me to grow up because I don’t want to be stuck in a traumatized 18-year-old’s headspace for the rest of my life.”
Williams’ reflections on faith and band dynamics come from years of navigating both personal and professional challenges that have shaped Paramore’s journey.
Wikipedia reports that Williams is the only constant member of Paramore, a band formed in 2004 in Franklin, Tennessee. The current lineup includes lead guitarist Taylor York and drummer Zac Farro since 2017. The band has experienced multiple lineup changes throughout its career while Williams remained the consistent frontwoman.
The intersection of faith and music has been a recurring theme in Paramore’s history. Wikipedia notes that Williams has been open about her Christian faith and its influence on her music. She has criticized the judgmental attitudes she encountered within some Christian circles. This tension between personal beliefs and artistic expression has been a source of both inspiration and conflict for the band.
The faith-related challenges Williams describes weren’t limited to her personal journey. Paramore Fandom documented that differences over faith were among the reasons cited by former members Josh and Zac Farro for leaving Paramore. These differences were especially concerning the lyrical themes in the album Brand New Eyes. This context underlines the deeper personal and spiritual challenges Williams confronted alongside her deconstruction of her role in Paramore.
Williams’ current approach to balancing solo work with Paramore reflects her growth in understanding both her individual artistic needs and the band’s collective identity. Her willingness to step away when necessary demonstrates the maturity she’s gained through years of navigating the complex relationship between personal faith, artistic expression, and band dynamics.
The comments provide insight into Williams’ personal growth and the band’s ongoing evolution as they navigate breaks and reunions.
