Who's feeling that Hayley Williams energy? Paramore are gearing up for the impending release of their sixth record This Is Why, out February 10 via Atlantic Records.
The alt-rockers teased their global fanbase with a bunch of clues in the lead-up to the album announcement and finally revealed lead-and-self-titled single 'This Is Why' showcasing their first first dose of new music since 2017's After Laughter – preceding a five year hiatus.
Second single 'The News' has finally emerged after a bunch of snippets circulating and it's here for you to stream to death below. Superfan and Wall of Sound writer Heather McNab has made her informed assessment on how it fares.
"I think the track really explores the hard hitting topic of the fact that the news is always so depressing and there is so much going on in not only the world, but our own heads as well. We do everything we can to help out by donating, speaking out, but that only gets so far before we feel helpless. Hayley has recently said that by listening to the news, it will give more context to this is why, and have listened to them both one after the other and I truly believe this album will be one that tells a story since the two songs work together so well. It provides more context and meaning to the track that follows being this is why."
On the new song, HayleyWilliams says:
“The News is one of those songs that came together pretty quickly and felt exciting from the start. It feels like a happy medium between classic Paramore angst and bringing in some influences we’ve always had but never exploited. Watching Zac track drums for this one was one of my favorite memories from the studio. Lyrically, it probably explains itself. The 24-hr news cycle is just impossible to comprehend. And I feel a pang of guilt when I unplug to protect my headspace. The common reaction, or non-reaction, seems to be dissociation. Not one of us is innocent of that and who could blame us?”
Words by Ricky Aarons (@rickysaul90) &Heather McNab
Stream ‘The News‘ here
Pre-save This is Why here
Paramore – This is Why tracklisting (according to tour merch):
1. This Is Why
2. The News
3. Running Out of Time
4. C’est Comme Ça
5. Big Man, Little Dignity
6. You First
7. Figure 8
8. Liar
9. Crave
10. Thick Skull
