Paramore releases music video for “Thick Skull” and Hayley Williams opens up about the band's future.

Paramore surprised fans last Friday, December 1st, after worrying many of them for a while by deleting all posts from their social media accounts at the end of 2023 and announcing the cancellation of a series of shows, including their participation in Lollapalooza Brazil 2024 .

The group released the music video for “Thick Skull,” the last track from the band’s sixth studio album, the award-winning This is Why ( 2023 ) . The release was accompanied by a note from vocalist Hayley Williams about Paramore’s current moment and what to expect from the future.

Hayley took the opportunity to talk about some of her insecurities, share the sentimental value of being part of Paramore, extol a new era for the band in which the vocalist feels ready to make decisions, and of course, thank the fans.

Hayley's outburst and the future of Paramore

The announcement was made through the Paramore fan group on Discord. 

“I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be in a band. I knew that not joining forces with equally crazy people could mean never having enough courage to create things, and even if I did, I might never risk sharing them. Selfish? Maybe. Or lonely? Maybe ‘leaving home’ is a metaphor for risking true vulnerability.”

“Part of this job is being a mirror or a blank canvas for people to project onto and find themselves. Being perceived in broad strokes will make you feel like a clown. It can be silly and/or scary, depending on the day.”

“But as I grew older, I felt that, little by little, I was letting go of the relentless need for people to see me as 'good.' In fact, every day I learn that there is no box in which I will fit perfectly. It took several hard, reflective looks in the mirror, throughout various periods of my adult life… but I no longer question my ability to lead Paramore with integrity (and a healthy dose of dark, self-deprecating humor).”

“And just as a house can be a metaphor, so can a band. Paramore has been the vehicle through which my friends and I have learned our hardest lessons. It has kept us together and almost killed us. You also have these metaphors in your life: what holds you back, what gives you courage, the strength that drives you to grow even when it’s uncomfortable or embarrassing.”

"Regarding Paramore, the band, not the metaphor: we crashed the van. We're finding new paths, starting from scratch. And this time, we're reading the fine print."

"Sending love to those who needed our band in the same way we needed them. Just know that we are grateful."

In an interview with Billboard , Hayley had already commented on the subject, including issues that would later be included in the open letter issued last Friday, the 1st, as well as the end of Paramore's contract with Atlantic Records after 20 years.

“We’ll always have complaints, it’s an industry, but we know we’ve been really lucky. It’s more the fact that it’s time to end something. It’s time to realize we’re not doing the same thing we’ve been doing since we were teenagers. It’s going to be so good to start a new chapter. You know, no more chapters of this one. A completely new book. I’m excited.”

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"Thick Skull"

“Thick Skull” is a direct sequel to the “This is Why” music video, once again directed by Brendan Yates of Turnstile . The unfortunate van ride depicted in the video still resonates with issues raised by the vocalist in the note shared simultaneously.

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