Hayley Williams “Petals for Armor I” EP Review

Known as the greatest female icon in pop punk since her widely-loved and Grammy-winning band Paramore broke out in 2004, Hayley Williams shows just how versatile her vocal and songwriting abilities are with part I of her debut solo album, Petals for Armor. The five tracks she has graced us with so far are all very different and tell their own stories – yet a theme of vulnerability and rawness remains constant throughout, forming a style that is mellow but captivating.

Petals for Armor kicks off with the album’s lead single, “Simmer”, which presents the very feel and mood that its name suggests. It is an enraged song about controlling the beast within you, and knowing when to tame it and when to let it take over, speaking of drawing the line “between wrath and mercy” in situations such as her divorce. In the second verse, she bluntly states that if she and her ex-husband had had a child, that she would’ve protected the child from being treated the way she had, ending the verse with the hard-hitting line “because nothing cuts like a mother.” The song suddenly gets more eerie when the bridge starts, and we hear Hayley’s subdued voice singing “wrap yourself in petals for armor”. In her interview with BBC Radio 1, she described her inspiration for this lyric as feeling that the way to protect herself best is to “be vulnerable and be okay with having a lot of pain at certain times and also feeling a lot of joy at certain times.”

The record then gets a little darker, yet somehow more peaceful, with second single “Leave it Alone.” The song starts with Hayley speaking of God’s sense of humor and the merciless twists of fate she has dealt with, stating, “Now that I finally want to live, the ones I love are dying.” This song was inspired by her grandmother recently suffering head trauma from falling down a flight of stairs, losing most of her memory. The tranquil atmosphere of the track makes the lyrics even more powerful, accentuating its message of accepting the inevitable and preparing for grief.

The mood then shifts to a lighter and more upbeat tone with the funky “Cinnamon”. This is a track full of surprises with jagged rhythms layered over shuffling beats, as well as a grooving bridge that is hard not to bop your head to. In the lyrics she sings about the simple pleasures of enjoying alone time at home, where she is free to express her more feminine sides. The line “I’m not lonely, baby, I am free” explains on its own the song’s purpose, and if that doesn’t get stuck in your head, all the “ah”s and “ooh”s for sure will.

“Creepin’” is probably the strangest song of them all, but in a way that leaves you wanting more. Hayley utilizes her lower vocal range that we don’t hear from her as often, and it pairs perfectly with the instrumentals that blend to create rhythmic patterns and tones that paint a clear sonic landscape that gives you the feeling of “creeping.” The final track “Sudden Desire” takes an edgier turn, but the beginning gives the impression that it will be a slow romantic pop song. It is not until the chorus kicks in that Hayley unleashes her powerful belts that we’ve heard so much of from Paramore. The jarring electronics complement her vocals to add a chaotic undertone, and this is when we realize that it’s not a typical love song, but more of a song about fighting romantic urges due to old wounds that are still healing.

With Petals for Armor I, Hayley has shown a new side of herself and proven how much she can do on her own. Her control over the musical aspects has brought her lyrics to life in a whole new way, through a shadowy grooving medium. Part II of the record is set to release on May 8^th via Atlantic Records. Each song will likely be even stronger in the context of the full album, though there’s no telling what direction the record will go from here, as the songs we have so far are all so different. What we do know, however, is that Hayley has beautifully pulled off everything she’s put out, so whatever comes next is sure to satisfy.

Favorite track: Sudden Desire