Hayley Williams - A New Era

Before I heard any of these songs, I saw online that they had been uploaded to Hayley Williams' website. I was intrigued, and meant to check the website out, but didn't in the midst of everything else to do (having a small child will do that). When I realized that the songs were coming out on streaming, I was pleased and relieved - a much easier way to digest them in my current life and schedule.

There is really so much that is fascinating about this release, how it's done and what it means. The songs weren't released as a traditional album, but instead individually as singles - 17 total. Not only that, but it's her first release as an artist after finishing a 20 year record deal with Atlantic Records (which is wild, considering she is only 36 and signed it when she was 16).

With them being singles and not a traditional album, it does make for a unique listening experience. I love albums - I love the way they tell a story, the way they create a larger piece of art. This release has definitely challenged me, in the way that I usually like to enjoy music. I've listened to all of the songs a couple of times, but I'm finding myself going back consistently to two - “Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party” and “True Believer”.

“Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party” rides a line for me between being upbeat but not necessarily happy. The instrumental has a groove to it, a barebones feel where the drums and bass shine while William’s vocals float above so beautifully. I always love a song with an evolving chorus, and this song manages to do that in a way that’s humorous and poignant. Right out the gate, the first lyric of the song is:

I’ll be the biggest star, at this racist country singer’s bar

My jaw dropped a little at that the first time I heard it. A little digging online gave quick context to the subject of that line, none other than Morgan Wallen, regarding comments and slurs he’s used in the past. I absolutely love that William’s didn’t leave it vague when asked about the line, and is not afraid to back her words when pressed.

Like the title of the song suggests, the content appears to be dealing with a self reckoning, a coming to terms with where one is in life and how things have ended up. There’s a bittersweet sense - some loss, but also a desire to move forward despite what has come before. I really, really love that, even if I can’t directly resonate with it from her perspective. It’s still a universal experience, and the way she made it her own while making it accessible is truly remarkable.

"True Believer" is, in my opinion, the best track of this batch of songs. It manages to be haunting and hopeful, damning and uplifting all at once. As I've been listening, I've tried to determine what it is about the song's content that keeps me hitting play over and over. Musically, the song is gorgeous. The minimalism of the verses contrasted with the sweeping chorus, the darkness of the vocal melody, the overall production is immaculate. It's the lyrics, however, that really draw me in. William's scathing words for the South - the church, in particular - are almost as surprising to hear in a song by her as it was when she first cursed on a record (her debut single from her first solo album, "Petals For Armor").

The line in particular that caught my ear (and that I had seen floating around online) was:

They say that Jesus is the way but then they gave him a white face. So they don't have to pray to someone they deem lesser than them.

For an artist who has written many songs with Christian undertones (and overtones, to be fair), it might seem surprising to hear. As I sat with the lyrics, however, I realized how logical it is for her to be in this place. I don't know Williams personally, so I don't know the extent of her beliefs, but I know that a lot of millennials who were raised in the church have either done a lot of deconstruction of their faith, or just abandoned it altogether.

I don't blame them.

When you look at where a lot of Christianity is in America right now (at least what’s been most visable), it's a piss poor reflection of what Christ teaches us through the Gospels. Of those of my generation who grew up in the church, we were taught that Jesus loves us all, that he came for those who were oppressed, the poor, the abandoned, the outcast. He called out those in power for their hypocrisy, turning tables in the temple courtyard and standing firmly against those who sought to twist and pervert the Scriptures towards their own goals. We see so much of that today, especially in America. I’m so thankful for William’s putting this song out and helping give me words for thoughts that had been formulating within me. Giving me reason to put these words down here.

Take a listen to all of the songs - there’s such a wide range of sounds and subjects William’s covers. Find your own favorites. I do hope you check out either of the two I highlighted, at the very least. I’m thankful for music that speaks to the soul, directly or indirectly. I’m looking forward to this new chapter for Williams and what it will hold.