In the recent issue of “Today”, the magazine that is being published in Singapore, there is an article including new interview with Hayley. The author, Christopher Toh, got 10 minutes to talk with Hayley which resulted in a frank conversation. She talks how it’s really to be in a band and how they manage to keep together after recent Farro brothers departure. Paramore will perform in Singapore on August 21. For more information about the show, check out Tour section.
Below you can read the article:
I ADMIT, I wasn’t a fan of Paramore until last year. I mean, I’d heard of them, but they didn’t really strike a chord with me. Then I saw their show at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in March last year. Hands down, they were the most exciting show of the year. And they’re heading our way again, with a show on Aug 21.
So, naturally, I was excited to talk to lead singer Hayley Williams – even if they only gave us 10 minutes of talk time. Of course, a lot has happened to Paramore since the last time they were on our shores.
“We’ve been through a tonne … Life has basically taken a few turns, but now, looking back on it, it’s been very positive,” said Williams over the phone.
One of the turns was, of course, the departure of the Farro brothers, guitarist Josh and drummer Zac, last December. The brothers had been with Paramore since the group was founded in 2004, and there was a hint of bitterness when they left, with Josh blogging that the band was just riding on the coattails of Williams.
Williams sounded tired at having to dredge the whole issue again.
“We were all best friends growing up and playing music together, and it’s kind of hard,” she said. “It’s like when people you know who are married just get a divorce. You’ve known them that way for so long and now they separate.
“It wasn’t a shock. We knew that it was sort of brewing, we knew that it was coming, but nothing can prepare you for something like that,” she added. “It was definitely tough, but like I said, now looking back at it, I feel so positive and that it was meant to be. I’m one of those people who believe that everything happens for a reason no matter how tough it is, no matter how hard or challenging, and this has been a test for us. I think that so far, we’re trying our best to ace. We’ll see what happens from here on.”
One bright thing that happened was the release of their latest single, Monster, last month. Recorded last December, the song was featured on the soundtrack for the blockbuster movie, Transformers 3: Dark Of The Moon. And like many Paramore songs, this one is a great blend of crunching guitars and singable choruses.
But of course, fans and netizens have already been commenting about the song, not for its musical content as such, but the implication that it’s a “forget you” note to the Farro brothers.
Williams sighed: “I mean, I really think that everything that I needed to say about the situation is in the songs that we wrote – Monster or some of the others. Everything that I need to say is there, and it’s up to the fans to interpret all of it, because honestly, there’s been so much drama surrounding our band. Even though, yes, we did write songs that have to do with our situation, I’m just so over talking about it.”
Williams said she didn’t want to let the situation give the impression that being in a band wasn’t fun at all.
“Honestly, I want people – especially young people who are starting bands and playing music – I want them to know that being in a band is so much fun,” she explained. “It’s not miserable, no matter how busy you get. It’s always going to be tough, but it’s tough if you’re a waiter at a restaurant too. Everything you do is going to get tough at some point, but being in a band is so much fun. You know, I just don’t want to keep going on about: ‘Oh this song is about this or that’. I think our fans know how to interpret it.”
But as anyone who’s ever been to a Paramore concert knows, fun is one thing that you’re guaranteed of at their shows. At last year’s gig, Williams’ energy, combined with the bands pulling out all stops, gave fans a night they wouldn’t forget so soon. And Williams said that this year’s show was going to be even better.
“If that was fun last year, this year’s show will – well, hopefully – blow people away,” she laughed, adding that it was a little scary for the band when they toured South America earlier this year.
“It was our first time going on stage, with just the three of us, and we didn’t know how people were going to take it,” said Williams. “Then I turned around and saw Jeremy (Davis, bass) and Taylor (York, guitar), and I was going: ‘Oh my god’, they were more intense and unstoppable I think than they’ve ever been. It was as if someone fed them Pixy Stix (a powdered candy high in sugar) or something! They were absolutely out of their minds,” she laughed.
“I’m excited, you know,” she continued. “It’s still new for us and I want to get out there, because we’ve been home for months now and I want to pull my hair out!”
The band has already performed on the Vans Warped Tour and Williams said they’ve been hitting their stride.
“The first three shows coming back from being at home were really tough. If you looked closely at me, I was like choking for air. It really hurt! But I love it, and once I power through it – like about the fourth show on – my body gets used to it, and it’s just like, here we go!”
Of course, if you’re on tour with Paramore, you might just want to bring some fire retardant along. Because when you’re on the road with Paramore, anything can happen, like, say, setting fire to a restaurant in Japan.
“This was in the middle of Tokyo,” recalled Williams. “It was so rock ‘n’ roll … We were at a restaurant like a Korean barbecue, where you know, you cook everything yourself. And for some reason, in this restaurant, above the grill, there were these hanging cloth lanterns.
“Anyway, the flame on the grill was too high and one of the guys tried to turn it down, but we actually turned it up! And the lantern caught on fire and there was smoke everywhere and the alarm was going off,” she continued.
“We were laughing because we thought it was hilarious at first, and the next thing we know, the building starts shaking and then no one was laughing any more, and we’re like: ‘Get out, get out of here’, running and screaming out into the streets. We counted nine fire trucks out there. I’ll never forget it.”
Williams also said that she was looking forward to being back in Singapore, calling their last visit to our shores “exciting”.
“We’re definitely coming back to Singapore a different band, a new band, and we’re really excited. We can’t wait to see you in Singapore!”
We can’t wait to see you too, Hayley. Although I’ll probably stand near the fire extinguisher, you know, just in case.
(source: TODAYonline)
