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 22) Meridian, Mississippi, U.S.
Genres Alternative rock, emo, pop punk
Occupations Musician, singer-songwriter
Instruments Vocals, guitar, keyboards, piano, drums
Years active 2004–present
Associated acts Paramore
Website www.paramore.net

Hayley Nichole Williams[1][2] (born December 27, 1988)[3] is an American singer and songwriter. She is the lead vocalist[4] and keyboardist[5] of Paramore.

Contents

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] In 2005, John Janick, founder of record label Fueled by Ramen, signed a contract with them.[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 twenty in sixteen countries, including number one peak positions in the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

Paramore

Main article: 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 one EP. 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

In the October 2009 issue of Alternative Press, Williams and Paramore guitarist Josh Farro confirmed they had been dating for nearly three years before splitting in the fall of 2007. "We didn't know if it would look bad," said Williams. "We were so young, and it seemed like it would look like a big joke", Farro added. "We didn't want the band to be about me and Hayley being in a relationship together because then [the band] would be about our relationship, not our music. It distracts people from the whole point in being in a band."

Williams is now dating New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert.[16] Williams has stated she is a Christian.[17]

Discography

Year Song Album
2009 "Teenagers" Jennifer's Body: Music from the Motion Picture

Featured singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales threshold)		 Album
US AUS CAN EU IRE NOR NL NZ SWI UK
2010 "Airplanes" (with B.o.B) 2 2 2 2 2 6 4 1 8 1 B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray

Featured appearances

Year Song Album
2006 "Keep Dreaming Upside Down" (October Fall featuring Hayley Williams)[21] A Season in Hell
2007 "Then Came To Kill" (The Chariot featuring Hayley Williams)[22] The Fiancée
"The Church Channel" (Say Anything featuring Hayley Williams)[23] In Defense of the Genre
"Plea" (Say Anything featuring Hayley Williams and Kenny Vasoli)[23]
2008 "Fallen" (Death in the Park featuring Hayley Williams)[24] Death in the Park EP
2009 "Tangled Up" (New Found Glory)[25] Not Without A Fight
"The Few That Remain" ( Set Your Goals featuring Hayley Williams)[26] This Will Be the Death of Us
2010 "Airplanes (Part II)" (with B.o.B. featuring Eminem) B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Work Result
2007 Kerrang Readers' Poll 2007 Sexiest Female Herself Nominated
2008 Kerrang Readers' Poll 2008 Won
Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica Premio Fashionista 2008 Nominated
2009 Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica Premio Fashionista 2009 Won
Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 Sexiest Female Won
Kerrang Readers' Poll 2009 Won
2010 2010 MTV Video Music Awards Video of the Year "Airplanes" – B.o.B. (featuring Hayley Williams) Pending
Best Male Video Pending
Best Hip-Hop Video Pending
Best Collaboration Pending

References

  1. ↑ "Hayley's Profile". Paramore.net. http://www.paramore.net/member/i/19150/. Retrieved 2010-04-26. 
  2. ↑ 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. 
  3. ↑ "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. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Paramore Biography". All Music. http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:0pfrxq8sldae~T1. Retrieved 2007-08-16. 
  5. ↑ 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. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Bayer, Jonah (February 2008). "Born for This". Alternative Press (235). 
  7. ↑ Brett Manning's Singing Success endorsement of Hayley Williams
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Hayley Williams & Josh Farro. Interview with Joshua Martin. ASL's Exclusive Interview With Paramore. 2007-06-26. Retrieved on 2007-10-12.
  9. ↑ Hayley Williams & Josh Farro. Interview with Tony Pascarella. Interview: Hayley Williams and Josh Farro of Paramore. 2005-08-08. Retrieved on 2007-08-16.
  10. ↑ "Kiss Me by New Found Glory". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGRWxoJtQP0. Retrieved 2009-04-11. 
  11. ↑ "Kerrang! 2007 Readers' Poll". Kerrang!. December 12, 2007. 
  12. ↑ "Kerrang! 2008 Readers' Poll". Kerrang!. December 10, 2008. 
  13. ↑ "Hayley addresses the solo song "Teenagers"". Community.livejournal.com. http://community.livejournal.com/paramoremusic/8164282.html?thread=191146682#t191146682. Retrieved 2010-04-26. 
  14. ↑ "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. 
  15. ↑ Josh Farro, Bob Krenchaw & Jeremy Davis. Interview with cathyreay. Interview With Paramore. 2007-07-14. Retrieved on 2007-08-17.
  16. ↑ "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. 
  17. ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7226757.stm
  18. ↑ "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. 
  19. ↑ "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. 
  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. 
  21. ↑ "October Fall – A Season in Hell". AbsolutePunk.net. http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=118240. Retrieved 2010-05-19. 
  22. ↑ "Chariot, The - The Fiancee - Album Review - AbsolutePunk.net". AbsolutePunk.net. http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=224905. Retrieved 2010-05-19. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Say Anything To Post New Song". AbsolutePunk.net. http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?p=7691331#post7691331. Retrieved 2010-05-19. 
  24. ↑ "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. 
  25. ↑ "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. 
  26. ↑ "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. 

External links

Paramore
Hayley Williams · Josh Farro · Jeremy Davis · Zac Farro · Taylor York
Jason Bynum · John Hembree · Hunter Lamb
Studio albums
All We Know Is Falling  · Riot!  · Brand New Eyes
EPs
The Summer Tic EP · 2010 Summer Tour EP · The Only Exception EP
Live albums
Live in the UK 2008 · The Final Riot!
Home media
Paramore's Videos. All of Them. Ever
Tours
Paramore tours
The Final Riot! Tour • Brand New Eyes World Tour
Opening acts
Summer Tour 2009 • 21st Century Breakdown World Tour
Festival and other tours
Warped Tour • Honda Civic Tour
Related articles
Discography · List of Paramore songs · Awards and nominations
Category Category:Paramore · Wikipedia book Book:Paramore  · Media
Paramore singles
Discography
All We Know Is Falling
"Pressure" • "Emergency" • "All We Know"
Riot!
"Misery Business" • "Hallelujah" • "Crushcrushcrush" • "That's What You Get"
Brand New Eyes
"Ignorance" • "Brick by Boring Brick" • "The Only Exception" • "Careful" • "Playing God"
Soundtrack
"Decode"