Hayley Williams is heading back to the days of desktop files and scattered downloads. The musician kicked off the week with a surprise release containing 17 new songs. The project plays through an audio player on her official website and is only accessible with a special code available by purchasing the latest drop from her haircare company, Good Dye Young.
“Check your inbox for an email from Good Dye Young,” the website landing page reads. “If you don’t have an email with a code, maybe ask a friend for theirs.” The drop, for a bold marigold yellow semi-permanent dye called “Ego,” is limited to only 2,000 cartons signed by Williams and co-founders Brian O’Connor.
Beyond the walls of the access screen, the webpage is decorated with a yellow backdrop made up of a repeating image of Williams’ goldendoodle dog, Alf, and peppered with MP3 files. The songs aren’t arranged in any particular order, in true randomized audio file fashion. Among them appears “Mirtazapine,” the single Williams premiered this past Tuesday night on the Nashville radio station WNXP.
The station posted the news on X along with a video of a CD that listed two song titles: “Mirtazapine” and “Glum,” which is also available on the site. Fans have already started reacting to the album on social media. “If anyone could inject the new Hayley Williams songs into my veins rn I would be eternally grateful,” one fan wrote on X, where another added: “Hayley Williams welcome to my AOTY club.”
Listeners in the exclusive bubble have already dubbed “Kill Me” an “eldest daughter anthem,” highlighting the fearless hook: “Go ahead and kill me/Can’t get much stronger/Find another solider.” Other favorites seemingly include “Blood Bros,” “Hard,” “Dream Girl in Shibuya,” “Love Me Different,” and “True Believer.”
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The cryptic drop marks the first lead solo release from Williams since sharing Flowers for Vases/Descansos in 2021. She recently lent vocals to Turnstile’s “Seein’ Stars” from Never Enough and collaborated with Moses Sumney on “I Like It I Like It” in May. In 2023, Paramore released their sixth album, This Is Why.
“Making This Is Why was not a comfortable experience for any of us. There was already anxiety about getting back in the groove of creating stuff together after some time apart,” Williams told Rolling Stone later that year. “It’s scary shit but, again, I think being able to sit with any type of discomfort is only going to teach you things. It’s only going to grow you. That’s the thing I’m most sure of.”
