By Kate Tocke, Blog Editor
Photo: Lindsey Hartman
Women in music is a topic that is discussed nowadays more than it has ever before. Women are feeling more comfortable stepping into the limelight due to the acceptance of it and the wave of female icons that struck the music industry in the past 20 years. Iconic female rockers date back to the 70s. We would not have current female rockers if it wasn’t for Joan Jett or Ann Wilson.
But one female rocker that has stayed consistent since the early 2000s is Hayley Williams. Fronting the pop-punk band, Paramore, Williams started a revolution with her music, attitude and style by taking over the male-dominated scene at the time. The band first really took the world outside of the pop-punk scene by storm with their sophomore album Riot! With songs such as “That’s What You Get,” “Misery Buisness” and “crushcrushcrush", Hayley Williams' attitude truly embodied a punk, rocker vibe that had not been tested yet.
Alongside the insane music she was producing, her stage presence added to her character. She owns the stage every time she hits it. With non-stop energy and killer moves, you can not keep your eyes off of her. Similar to a Gwen Stefani performance you’d see from the 90s, Williams influences are apparent in her moves. Paramore released an album, last year’s This Is Why, that had taken the world by storm after quite the hiatus the band took. The music was insane and so were the shows they were putting on. Williams took the stage just how you would suspect someone who hasn’t hit the stage in six years as a full band would. Williams’ energy is unmatched and owns that stage like it is truly hers.
Williams’ style is another factor that plays into her character. A classic look she often pulls off are some shorts and a tall boot. This shows off her iconic leg tattoos. Within the past year or so, she has been known for voicing her opinions through graphic t-shirts. She has been seen on stage wearing shirts saying “Abort The Supreme Court” and “Stop F***ing The Planet.” Hell ya, Hayley. She can often be found in a suit jacket as well. She really stepped into that vibe when Paramore covered The Talking Heads’ “Burning Down the House” this past year. Williams’ was fully able to step into her second form, David Bryne. And Hayley Williams wouldn’t be Hayley Williams without her iconic orange hair. She has been rocking the bright orange locks since the early 2000s’ and does it perfectly. She has switched to blonde during her career but always returns to her roots and stays loyal to them. This inspired her to create her hair dye company, Good Dye Young. Not only is Hayley Williams a rockstar, but quite the fashion icon and entrepreneur.
Hayley Williams has owned the pop-punk queen title for years and now will continue to wear that crown. She is not afraid to show off her true self, whether that is through her clothes or voicing her opinion for what is right during her live performances. She will continue to run the music industry until it's dry.