Hayley Williams
Hayley Williams |
Williams performing with Paramore at the Warfield, November 2009 |
Background information |
Birth name | Hayley Nichole Williams |
Born | December 27, 1988 (1988-12-27) (age 21) Meridian, Mississippi, US |
Genres | Alternative rock, emo, pop punk |
Occupations | Musician, singer-songwriter |
Instruments | Vocals, guitar, keyboards, piano, drums |
Years active | 2004–present |
Labels | Fueled by Ramen, Warner Bros. |
Associated acts | Paramore |
Hayley Nichole Williams[1][2] (born December 27, 1988)
[3] is an American singer, songwriter and the lead vocalist
[4] and keyboardist
[5] of the band
Paramore.
Life and career
In 2002, at the age of 13, Williams moved from her hometown,
Meridian, Mississippi, to
Franklin, Tennessee, where she met fellow band members
Josh Farro and
Zac Farro in school.
[6][4] Shortly after arriving, she began taking vocal lessons with
Brett Manning.
[7] While still in school, she tried out for a local funk cover band called The Factory where she met
Jeremy Davis.
[6][8]
Williams was discovered in 2003 by managers Dave Steunebrink and Richard Williams who signed the 14-year-old to a production deal.
[9] According to former manager
Jeff Hanson in an interview with
HitQuarters, at the time she was writing pop songs with top songwriters in Nashville. Williams was introduced to Atlantic Records A&R Tom Storms through Richard's attorneys Jim Zumwalt and Kent Marcus, and then signed to the label by
Jason Flom. The label's original plan for their new artist was to make her a solo pop artist but Williams objected to this, saying that she wanted to be part of a band and play alternative music. Atlantic decided to go along with her wishes and she then formed Paramore with Jeremy Davis and Josh and Zach Farro.
[9]
The music of Paramore was originally supposed to come out on Atlantic Records but the label's marketing department decided it would be better for the image of the band to not have them attached to a huge label. They instead released their music through a cooler niche label in Fueled by Ramen.
[9]
In 2007, Williams appeared in the music video for "Kiss Me" by
New Found Glory.
[10]
In the 2007
Kerrang! Readers' Poll she finished second to
Evanescence's
Amy Lee in the "Sexiest Female" category,
[11] going on to win the first place spot for "Sexiest Female" a year later in the 2008 poll,
[12] and again in the 2009 poll. She also appears as a playable character in the video game
Guitar Hero World Tour.
Williams wrote and recorded the song "Teenagers", which was featured in
the soundtrack for the film
Jennifer's Body. After the release of "Teenagers", Williams stated that she had no plans to establish herself as a solo artist.
[13] In 2010, she appeared on the tracks
"Airplanes" and "Airplanes (Part II)" from
alternative rapper B.o.B's debut album,
B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray.
[14] "Airplanes", later released as a single, peaked within the top ten in nineteen countries, including number one peak positions in the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
Hayley has also went onto stage during different intervals and sets of the
Reading Festival 2010, and performed several songs with British
hard rock band
You Me At Six, including the band's latest hit single "Stay With Me". The band's frontman Josh Franceschi has reportedly expressed a keen interest in collaborating with Hayley after the stage performance. It hasn't been confirmed yet though, if the band is recording their
third yet-to-be-untitled with Hayley.
Paramore
Paramore was created in
Franklin, Tennessee in 2004, with Hayley Williams (lead vocals/keyboards) alongside
Josh Farro (lead guitar/backing vocals),
Jeremy Davis (bass guitar) and
Zac Farro (drums). Prior to forming Paramore,
[8] the other members of what was soon to be Paramore had been "edgy about the whole female thing" of having Williams as singer, but as they were good friends she began writing with them and eventually became a member.
[15] The band has released three studio albums,
All We Know Is Falling,
Riot!, and
Brand New Eyes as well as two live albums and three EPs. In June 2009, the band welcomed
Taylor York (rhythm guitar) as an official member, although he had already been playing as a touring member with the band since 2007.
Personal life
Williams is currently dating
New Found Glory guitarist
Chad Gilbert.
[16]
Discography
Featured singles
Featured appearances
Awards and nominations
References
- ^ "Hayley's Profile". Paramore.net. http://www.paramore.net/member/i/19150/. Retrieved 2010-04-26.
- ^ Iwasaki, Scott (2010-05-06). "Paramore is ready for first 'official' tour". Deseret News. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700030226/Paramore-is-ready-for-first-official-tour.html. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
- ^ "Simply The Best 7 Days A Week :: Celeb News :: Williams treated to surprise birthday party". Daily Star. 2009-12-28. http://www.dailystar.co.uk/playlist/view/114598/Williams-treated-to-surprise-birthday-party. Retrieved 2010-08-02.
- ^ a b "Paramore Biography". All Music. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p729547. Retrieved 2007-08-16.
- ^ Caldwell, Patrick (26 May 2010). "Music Picks: Adrian Conner of Adrian and the Sickness". Austin American-Statesman. http://www.austin360.com/music/music-picks-adrian-conner-of-adrian-and-the-710057.html. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
- ^ a b Bayer, Jonah (February 2008). "Born for This". Alternative Press (235).
- ^ Brett Manning's Singing Success endorsement of Hayley Williams
- ^ a b Hayley Williams & Josh Farro. Interview with Joshua Martin. ASL's Exclusive Interview With Paramore. 2007-06-26. Retrieved on 2007-10-12.
- ^ a b c "Interview with Jeff Hanson". HitQuarters. 20 September 2010. http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/opar/intrview_JeffHanson_Interview_Part2.html. Retrieved Oct 4, 2010.
- ^ "Kiss Me by New Found Glory". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGRWxoJtQP0. Retrieved 2009-04-11.
- ^ "Kerrang! 2007 Readers' Poll". Kerrang!. December 12, 2007.
- ^ "Kerrang! 2008 Readers' Poll". Kerrang!. December 10, 2008.
- ^ "Hayley addresses the solo song "Teenagers"". Community.livejournal.com. http://community.livejournal.com/paramoremusic/8164282.html?thread=191146682#t191146682. Retrieved 2010-04-26. [dead link]
- ^ "New Hayley Williams / B.o.B Song 'Airplanes' Premiered Today! – Blog Detail". Paramore.net. 2010-04-12. http://www.paramore.net/blog/new-hayley-williams-bob-song-airplanes-premiered-today/. Retrieved 2010-04-26.
- ^ Josh Farro, Bob Krenchaw & Jeremy Davis. Interview with cathyreay. Interview With Paramore. 2007-07-14. Retrieved on 2007-08-17.
- ^ "Lady Gaga's refreshing her tour for 2010 and her staff say her plan's are crazy! – Music News – Music – The Edge FM". Theedge.co.nz. 2010-03-23. http://www.theedge.co.nz/Music/MusicNews/tabid/75/articleID/5749/cat/92/Default.aspx. Retrieved 2010-04-26.
- ^ "RIAA Certifications for B.o.B". Billboard. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=B.o.B&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2008&sort=Artist&perPage=25. Retrieved 2010-07-15.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display.asp?chart=1U50. Retrieved 2010-06-20.
- ^ "Latest Gold & Platinum Singles > New Zealand". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. http://www.radioscope.net.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=77&Itemid=63. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
- ^ "October Fall – A Season in Hell". AbsolutePunk.net. http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=118240. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
- ^ "Chariot, The - The Fiancee - Album Review - AbsolutePunk.net". AbsolutePunk.net. http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=224905. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
- ^ a b "Say Anything To Post New Song". AbsolutePunk.net. http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?p=7691331#post7691331. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
- ^ "Death In the Park – EP by Death In The Park – Download Death In the Park – EP on iTunes". iTunes.apple.com. http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/death-in-the-park-ep/id289709999. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
- ^ "New Found Glory - Not Without a Fight - Album Review - AbsolutePunk.net". AbsolutePunk.net. http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=925922. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
- ^ "Set Your Goals - This Will Be The Death Of Us - Album Review - AbsolutePunk.net". AbsolutePunk.net. http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1162322. Retrieved 2010-06-18.