Hayley Williams – ‘Petals For Armor’ (Atlantic Records)

By Dawn Boyd

Let’s take a moment and question what comes to mind when we think of Hayley Williams? We think of the fiery red-headed front woman of the popular pop-rock band, Paramore. Happy, upbeat and bouncy songs that I am happy to profess I am a big fan of. Paramore’s line-up has changed a lot since their beginnings and their first hit ‘Misery Business’. But Hayley has been consistently there with her energy and someone not afraid to get stuck into her music.

So, listening to Hayley’s solo project, you would be hard pressed to believe that they are the same artist. She has been through the mill as of late personally. Handling a divorce and toxicity with decorum and finesse, but she needed her outlet. This is where we introduce you to ‘Petals For Armor’. This is nothing like Paramore Hayley. This is a separate entity and a testament to her skill as an artist to almost a musically split personality.

She has touched on her darkness before with the most recent Paramore album, ‘After Laughter’. Its retro sound hid the sadness that Hayley was dealing with, but ‘Petals..’ does not shy away from it. The silent anger from the opening track, ‘Simmer’, tells the story of someone who has been hiding negativity but also that we shouldn’t be afraid of it, that it’s normal.

The album is a great therapy for someone who wants a piece of “realness”. For someone who has been through that torturous turmoil that Hayley has been through. She isn’t hiding herself at all in this album and I can only imagine how freeing it must have been to write and put out there. We are almost on that journey with her in this but for me the odd song that sticks out really is ‘Sudden Desire’. Here, Hayley sings of rather lustful intentions with a man and it is the first hint we get of being on the other side; of that freedom.

It is almost a contrast to the song lyrics of “got what I deserved” and “I was the other woman first” from ‘Dead Horse’: almost a reflection that what happened was karma and these lyrics are hidden in a more upbeat fashion we are familiar with. Each song is a steppingstone for the therapy and recovery. “Can’t feel your energy any more” is the exorcism of the past as she carries on forward.

For the sound itself, Hayley builds in confidence as the album progresses. This hasn’t gone unnoticed and she has outrightly stated this is symbolic of her as a person. With Petals for Armor, she is almost reinventing that side to her and show the world. Clearly advertising the difference from the upbeat bounce that we have become accustomed too.

We don’t get to hear much from the power or volume that Hayley has vocally, and it says to me she is not wanting to take away from the music itself. She wants to tell that story and, in that context, you have to admire its creative and artistic approach. It’s a good album when stepping away from the pre-conceived ideas of her music. It has a gritty, indie feel to it which wouldn’t come as a surprise if you listened to the earlier released singles. The darkness with the first music video was an example to say this album is not all sunshine and roses. It is instead of a woman telling her side and that things aren’t always simple, and that we should embrace all of ourselves.

The message is simple, and each song holds its place well, with ‘Cinnamon’ sharing homely comforts everyone can relate too, with probably what feels like the most light-hearted song on the album. Singing of the things that make her happy and keep her grounded which is definitely something more of us, I feel, need to do in the world.

I am impressed with the album for what it is but my inner teenage girl who grew up is in protest at the loss of bubbly music. The creation of this album is a beautiful homage to making something ugly beautiful, but it really isn’t Hayley Paramore. This is Hayley Williams, solo artist; and never the two shall meet.

‘Petals For Armor’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.

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