Hayley Williams has released an unexpected collection of 17 new singles, all produced by Daniel James. The new material showcases Williams not only as a vocalist but also as a multi-instrumentalist, contributing a wide range of performances across the tracks. Longtime collaborators Brian Robert Jones and Joey Howard make appearances throughout the project, with additional contributions from producer Jim-E Stack on the song “True Believer.”
The release arrives just days after Williams made a surprise appearance at Newport Folk Festival, where she debuted the new track “Mirtazapine,” signaling that new music was on the horizon.
These 17 songs mark Williams’ first release as an independent artist under her newly launched label, Post Atlantic, which is being distributed through Secretly Distribution. The move follows the announcement in December 2023 that Paramore had officially parted ways with Atlantic Records after more than 20 years under contract, a deal Williams originally signed as a teenager.
The new music reflects Williams’ wide-ranging creative voice and deep versatility. “Mirtazapine” stands out as a late 1990s alternative rock ballad with poignant references to mental health. On “Glum,” Williams experiments with vocal processing to emphasize the song’s themes of isolation. “Whim” delivers a warm, Americana-inspired sound that nods to her Nashville roots, while “Ice in My OJ” blends modern production with witty, self-aware lyricism. Notably, the chorus of “Ice in My OJ” may sound familiar to longtime fans it originally appeared in 2004 on “Jumping Inside” by the Mammoth City Messengers.
This new body of work represents the third solo release from Williams. During the pandemic years, she released two critically acclaimed solo albums: Petals for Armor in 2020 and Flowers for Vases in 2021. Both projects explored themes of grief, healing, and self-examination. Pitchfork praised Petals for Armor as “epitomizing vulnerability and transformative growth,” and noted that Flowers for Vases offered a “purposeful reset,” driven by the raw intimacy of Williams’ voice and the minimal production choices that framed it.
Best known as the frontwoman of the GRAMMY-winning rock band Paramore, Williams has long been recognized as one of contemporary rock’s most powerful vocalists. Billboard recently ranked her at number 13 on its list of the 50 Greatest Rock Singers of All Time, stating, “When it comes to singers in contemporary rock, Hayley Williams reigns supreme.” Her influence can be felt across a new generation of performers, including Chappell Roan, Doechii, and Billie Eilish. In addition to her solo work, Williams has appeared as a featured artist on recent tracks such as Turnstile’s “Seein’ Stars,” Moses Sumney’s “I Like It I Like It,” and Taylor Swift’s “Castles Crumbling.” Paramore notably opened for the opening night of Swift’s Eras Tour in the U.S., as well as the entire European leg of the tour.
Williams’ career began at age 16 with the release of Paramore’s debut album All We Know Is Falling, which was certified Gold and recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. The band’s major breakthrough came in 2007 with Riot!, driven by the success of their six-times Platinum single “Misery Business.” Their 2009 follow-up Brand New Eyes solidified Paramore’s place in the modern rock canon, while their 2013 self-titled album marked a commercial peak, winning the GRAMMY Award for Best Rock Song with “Ain’t It Fun.” In 2017, the band returned with After Laughter, which introduced a more polished and pop-leaning sound, and in 2023 they released This Is Why, an alternative-leaning record that earned them two GRAMMY Awards for Best Alternative Song and Best Rock Album. With those wins, Paramore became the first female-fronted rock band to win Best Rock Album in the history of the category.
Meanwhile, Williams’ bandmate Zac Farro has also launched solo work under his own name. His debut solo album Zac Farro – Operator is out now on his newly founded label, Congrats Records.
