Paramore’s Hayley Williams talks self-titled album re-issue

It’s coming to that time of year where we all start reflecting on the past twelve months and, always ahead of the curve, Hayley Williams has returned from a blogging sabbatical to put 2014 to rest. In a year that’s seen her band headline the Reading & Leeds festival, extensively tour America with Fall Out Boy and do their own cruise, there’s a lot to get through.

“I just don’t know that there’s been another year in our career that has felt both this sentimental AND this triumphant all at the same time,” she starts. “It just keeps getting better.” Hayley, who recently won the Trailblazer award at the Billboard Women in Music Awards, then uses the struggles of her year to offer hope to others.

“2014 really changed me in a lot of ways. I grew up a lot and the process wasn’t really expected, nor was it always fun. The reason I’m saying this is to show you that even when things look simple or wonderful on the surface, there’s always a battle to be fought. Don’t let it stop you from getting where you want to be. We are constantly learning along with you. Existing along with you. Singing along with you. But more than that, we are always FOR you.” She then concludes with a few words of inspiration.

“I hope that, at the end of this year, you realize how the hard times made you. I hope for you that you allowed those times to make you better. I would bet that you’re better.”

Paramore are gearing up to release a deluxe version of their self-titled album on 24th November and Hayley shares some new information about it.

Despite the band having no original plans to do anything with them, the album “includes (eight) tracks from our favorite show on Monumentour, Red Rocks, Colorado.” She goes on to explain that “We just loved the show so much and felt it embodied the rawness and the fun that we had with you over the summer.”

Joining the B-sides ‘Escape Route’ and ‘Native Tongue’ on the re-release are is a previously unheard track. ‘Tell Me It’s Okay’, is a leftover from the Self-Titled recording sessions that remains “very true to that particular time in our band’s life. Maybe I’m giving too much away here but… it IS okay to be happy NOW.”

Meanwhile ‘Hate To See Your Heart Break’ has been bolstered by the addition of The Civil Wars’ Joy Williams. It’s described by Hayley as “an amazing tribute to the inspiration she’s given me.” The pair met when Hayley was just twelve years old and Joy has been a “friend and mentor” ever since.

The deluxe version of ‘Paramore’ is out on 24th November. You can watch the epic conclusion to Paramore’s headline slot at Reading Festival below.