Hayley Williams Surprises Fans With “Simmer Interlude” Video
Last week, Hayley Williams of Paramore formally announced her debut solo album, Petals For Armor, out May 8th. Her announcement also came with her lead single, “Simmer,” along with its horror-like music video. The song is a surprising departure for her, minimalist and sinister as she sings about rage. Today, Hayley surprised her excited fans with a “Simmer Interlude” music video.
In an Instagram post, Hayley wrote, “wrath & mercy: an interlude.” The “Simmer” chorus talks about wrath and mercy, and the new interlude draws on those themes. Murmurs of “simmer,” “wrath,” and “mercy” skitter through the silence before a deep cello and screeching strings create an ominous soundscape. Its sounds reinforces the vibes of a horror film set in medieval times.
The music video picks up where “Simmer” left off. Naked Hayley, shocked at the cloaked Hayley she killed, drags her body into an empty room. She crouches by the corpse’s side, and over time, the two become enveloped in a web taking up the full room. It appears to be a cocoon, and by the end, we see a flowered eye opening as we hear a sharp breath.
It seems the story started in “Simmer” is just beginning. It’ll be exciting to see – and hear – what’s next!
Watch the “Simmer Interlude” video below:
You can stream or download “Simmer” from all the major music providers here. The song will appear on Hayley’s upcoming debut solo album, Petals For Armor, out May 8th.
Going Solo
Coinciding with the release of “Simmer” last week, Hayley also appeared on Radio 1’s Future Sound with Annie Mac. They discussed her decision to go solo, what inspired “Simmer,” what to expect in 2020, and the future of Paramore.
It’s no secret that After Laughter was borne out of a difficult time in Hayley’s life. But, following that album cycle, Hayley experienced a sort of “emotional whiplash” as things quieted down. Her turmoil began creeping up, leading her to do a lot of intensive therapy. It was suggested she get back to writing to get those feelings out.
Although it wasn’t meant to be anything specific, after writing around 4-5 songs, Hayley realized it might be developing into a body of work. Taylor York suggested Hayley talk to their manager about perhaps doing a solo album.
Writing “Simmer”
Hayley explained in the interview that she felt a lot of anger. As she points out, everything on the planet should be making us angry right now. Amen to that. When she started writing the song, she thought it would be a straightforward angry song, but it ended up leading to trigger points in her life. Hayley admitted that the second verse of “Simmer” was really hard for her to write and record.
In developing the new music, Hayley had creepy visions of flowers growing out of her. She eventually realized that there was a lot trying to grow out of her, but it would hurt at times. “Petals For Armor” is Hayley’s mantra to stay soft in a hard world. For Hayley, the way to protect herself is to allow herself to be vulnerable and feel the whole spectrum of feelings; she can’t have her firsts up all the time. The album’s title, Petals For Armor, appears in the bridge for “Simmer.”
Touring & Paramore’s Future
Hayley confirmed that she will tour for her solo album. She didn’t give details on where or when, but she did say that, although it won’t be a Paramore concert, she will have many of her same crew members with her. She admitted she’s afraid to tour without Paramore, but also excited.
Hayley also confirmed that Paramore is not over. They will make music together again, though it probably won’t sound like her forthcoming solo material. In any case, Hayley indicated that this solo album is an important step that will only help the band grow.
Petals For Armor
“Simmer” and now “Simmer Interlude” are our first tastes of Hayley’s upcoming debut solo album. She’s still in the studio working on music, but Petals For Armor will be available on May 8th! After that, fans can see her on tour.
What do you think of “Simmer Interlude” and its music video? How do you feel the story will continue from “Simmer” to the next song and video? Let us know!
Enjoy the “Simmer Interlude” music video, and stay tuned for more news on Petals For Armor – including tracklisting and cover art. Keep checking back here for all the latest Hayley Williams music news.
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