Hayley Williams Drops “Simmer” Lyric Video & Finishes Album
The last month has been a whirlwind of new music and videos from Hayley Williams. She’s taking a short break from fronting Paramore to release her first solo album, Petals For Armor, out on May 8th. We’ve already heard five songs on her new EP, and three of them got music videos. It all started with “Simmer,” and today we get to revisit that single along with a new lyric video. Its footage comes from the recording studio and the set of her “Simmer” music video. Hayley wrote “Simmer” with Taylor York (Paramore’s guitarist) and Joey Howard (the band’s touring bassist); Taylor also produced the track.
“Simmer” is a dark and shocking song. It opens with heavy breathing, humming percussion, and keyboard synths, not unlike Billie Eillish’s popularized style of music. But Hayley’s song goes into unique territory, filled with barely-contained rage and sorrow. Indeed, the first verse tackles the feeling and how uncontainable anger is. After the low, whispering verse, the chorus comes in with higher, chanting vocals. It ends with the refrain to “simmer simmer simmer simmer down.” On the second verse, the heavy song grows even heavier, Hayley confronting a bad man head-on and describing a child she’d protect. “Simmer” is an intense and direct song, and unlike anything we’ve heard from Paramore. It’s at once more vulnerable, raw, harrowing, and unabashed about the anger running through it.
In the lyric video, we see behind-the-scenes footage from both the music video set and the recording studio. We get a glimpse into how Hayley, director Warren Fu, and the rest of the crew shot the music video for “Simmer” in the house and nearby forest. Additional footage comes from the recording studio, where we see how Hayley and her team of musicians, producers, and engineers developed the music. This lyric video is a great way to celebrate everyone who went into making this music and its accompanying music video.
Watch the lyric video for “Simmer” below:
You can listen to “Simmer” – plus four other new songs – in Hayley’s Petals For Armor I EP, available now. Stream or download the EP from all the major music platforms here. Those songs and more will appear on Hayley’s upcoming full-length album, Petals For Armor, due out on May 8th. You can pre-order the album now here.
Album Completed
That’s not all! Last night, Hayley also revealed that her new album is officially mixed, mastered, and completed. Taylor York (Paramore’s guitarist and primary songwriter) produced the album. Carlos de la Garza, who has worked with Paramore before, served as mixer and engineer.
Hayley shared this message:
Today, these two – @tayloryorkyall & @musicfriend – officially delivered a completed Petals For Armor. It’s done!! I have to take a second to publicly celebrate them both. My fav producer and my fav mixer/engineer.
Taylor, thank you for agreeing to produce my album (and for encouraging me to make it!). I know you were nervous about taking on the responsibility but your work on this project is proof that you were made for it. I’m so proud of you.
Carlos, thank you for agreeing to join our team before you even heard one song. Your belief in me and the guys makes us better. T & I have now made 3 whole albums with you and you not only consistently get the best damn sounds but you are a joy to know, personally.
I truly love you both. Thank you for helping me make something that I love so much I can’t even believe! And congrats on gettin it done! (Also, sorry I didn’t have a better pic on my phone of you two together but this one ^ is most accurate).
Check out Hayley’s heartfelt post about finishing her debut solo album, Petals For Armor:
Touring & Paramore’s Future
Hayley will tour for her solo album. She hasn’t yet given details on where or when, but stay tuned for more announcements on that in the coming months.
Hayley has 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
Enjoy the new “Simmer” lyric video, and be sure to listen to all five songs on the Petals For Armor I EP. Don’t miss the music videos for with “Simmer,” “Simmer Interlude,” “Leave It Alone,” “Leave It Alone Interlude,” and “Cinnamon.” Hayley has stated that her song “Sudden Desire” will also get a music video.
Hayley’s upcoming debut solo album, Petals For Armor, will be available on May 8th.
Stay tuned for more news on Petals For Armor – including full tracklisting and more singles and videos. Keep checking back here for all the latest Hayley Williams music news.
- Green Day Announces ‘BBC Sessions’ & Shares “2000 Light Years Away” - October 22, 2021
- The Weeknd & Swedish House Mafia Team Up for “Moth To A Flame” - October 22, 2021
- See Lana Del Rey’s Music Video for “Blue Banisters” - October 20, 2021
