Paramore’s Haley Williams – HuffPost 8.20.13
Mike Ragogna: What advice do you have for new artists?
Haley Williams: Oh my gosh. Wow. For me, even sometimes now, but in the past, I would get hung up and stressed out over the small things. I’m really involved on the social media front, with different promotions we do. I’m very excited by those sorts of things; that’s sort of the nerdy side of me. I actually like marketing, even though I’m in a band and I’m an artist and sometimes those two worlds don’t really mix, but I actually really enjoy it. Sometimes, I get way hung up on all that stuff and I really have to remind myself and this is another reason why taking time away was good; just to enjoy the core of what you’re doing , enjoy the music, enjoy going out and playing shows to whoever wants to come to your shows whether it’s 20 people or 2000 people or more. I think if anything, the three of us have learned over the last few years the only thing that matters at the end of the day is what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. The music that we make, we are so passionate about, and we know that once again, that’s all there is to focus on. The good promo and the good opportunities and all those cool things, they will come and go. One day, there will be a million people knocking at your door and the next day none of them will want to admit they know who you are, and it goes up and down like that all the time. You can’t focus on those things. I am sort of still talking to myself in ways, because I think it’s just east to get caught up in hype. And you always have to know that’s not what it’s about…that’s not what it’s about at all.
MR: If you could talk to the younger Haley in the days when she was starting out, what advice would you give her?
HW: That you’re on the right track and to stick to your guns. It’s a wild world out there. A lot of opinions and social media just gives a voice to every Joe Shmo and every street corner. You really have to listen to your own core values, your heart, your opinions, and go with that. You have to be open-minded too, but there’s a fine line when it comes to artistry. You have to really know what you want and why you want that. I would tell her to stick to her guns. You’re doing fine.