innovation and tone

Paramore shot onto the pop-punk
scene in 2005. Since then, they
have released three full-length records,
been featured in major motion
pictures and prominent video
games (Twilight, Guitar Hero,
Rock Band) and have been nominated for
three Grammys. Rocking out of a Tennessee
music scene often stereotyped for its country
roots, Paramore’s first album All We Know
Is Falling sold over 500,000 copies and the
2007 follow-up Riot! surpassed 1.4 million
sales… just in the US. However, just when
Paramore began to enjoy the success of
their 2009 release, Brand New Eyes, (which
peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200), the
Farro brothers, Josh and Zac, two founding
members, gave notice.
Fast forward to 2013. After a few years of
soul-searching, meeting with various producers
and redeveloping their songwriting style,
singer Hayley Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis
and guitarist Taylor York are fresh off SXSW
and amping up to release PARAMORE.
For this exclusive article, Williams took
a break to discuss the new record, world
tours, how Paramore overcame what initially
seemed like a fatal blow and what the newly
recast power-trio have in store for 2013.
Music Connection: So you’re in Malaysia right
now, heading to Australia for the Soundwave
festival. What’s the biggest difference between
an Australian festival and one in the States?
Hayley Williams: Anytime we do festivals
outside of the States, they are a lot more metal.
We always end up being the “pop band” on the
metal bill, unlike the States where we may fit in
a little more. Sometimes we’re even the heaviest
band [in the US], which is really weird.
MC: Do you enjoy being the odd ones out?
Williams: I like it. I enjoy having something to
prove. I think sometimes I go off just a little bit
harder at festivals that are more testosterone
filled, saying, “Yeah, I’m gonna prove that
we’re not just the chick band!” (laughs). It’s
weird, but we have a really good time at these
festivals. We were playing a festival one time
in Europe and I looked over to the side stage
and saw Tom Morello. I thought, “What is
happening?! This would never happen to us
in the States!”
MC: Does the crowd respond well to you in that
situation?
Williams: Lucky for us, we do okay no matter
the billing. When we first started, we would
get a lot of hecklers, a lot of older guys. Then
I learned to heckle back. I learned that the
microphone is power and I can use that [to my
advantage]. I go out, have a good time and [if
someone] walks away loving us, that feels like a
win, even if it’s just one person.
MC: Let’s talk production. Why did you go with
Justin Meldal-Johnsen (M83, Neon Trees) to
produce the new record?
mo par
PARAMORE
By Andy Mesecher
36 April 2013 www.musicconnection.com