A punk-rock chick who loves wearing old thrift-store hoodies, nineteen-year-old Paramore singer Hayley Williams ought to be forgiven for showing up to the Grammys in a see-through cocktail dress and ankle socks, which red-carpet commentators called a fashion disaster. And though Paramore lost the Best New Artist award to Amy Winehouse, it was an accomplishment just to be one of the first emo bands nominated. The nod was their latest impressive feat, following sales of more than 700,000 copies of their second album, Riot! With tours in Europe and the States on the horizon for spring and a new single, "That's What You Get," about to hit airwaves, Williams is off to a promising start in 2008 — not too shabby for a girl who less than a decade ago was squealing over 'NSync and singing with her church choir.

How often does someone else's song make you cry?
It's been a while. But I remember being in Tokyo in September, and Jeff Buckley's version of "Hallelujah" made me cry. It used to be that when I would get really sad, I would put on the most depressing music and drown in self-pity. Now I'm trying to make it a habit when I'm bummed to put on something upbeat like New Found Glory to snap me out of it.

How did you get from 'NSync to New Found Glory?
My family moved to Tennessee when I was twelve, and that's when I hooked up with [drummer] Zac [Farro] and his brother [guitarist], Josh. They were the first people I met who were as passionate about music as I was, and they already had a band! Every weekend, we'd go to this 175-capacity room in Nashville called the End. I became so obsessed with punk bands like Sunny Day Real Estate and Mineral that I started doing all sorts of research.

Research?
Yeah. There were Web sites like Howtobeemo.com or whatever, and I totally researched the term "emo" before I knew what it was. The sites would tell you what to wear, too, but I shopped at Goodwill, and I didn't really care about fashion. I still wear this maroon hoodie I got at Goodwill in Nashville. It cost twenty-five cents!

Your fans seem to relate to your lyrics. What music spoke to you as a kid?
I've been listening to a band called MewithoutYou since I was fourteen, and I've always loved how vulnerable [singer] Aaron [Weiss] lets himself be in his lyrics. And I can really relate to the way he approaches the topic of faith.

As a devout Christian, how do you approach that topic in your own lyrics?
I try to talk about struggles and imperfections and even questioning your faith at times. I don't have anything figured out that the next kid doesn't. It's the people who shove their faith down people's throats who create the stigma against artists with religious backgrounds.

What do you consider good make-out music?
[Laughs] Definitely some Death Cab for Cutie or Tegan and Sara's new record, The Con. Maybe I'd put on some Johnny Cash, too. There would have to be everything from sappy crap to funny stuff, because I like laughing a lot.

As long as you're laughing for the right reasons.
Yeah, laughing during a make-out is usually a good thing, but I guess it is potentially a sign of trouble. It could be creepy if you're laughing for no reason.

[From Issue 1047 — March 6, 2008]

Related Stories:

• Paramore's Hayley Williams on Guns, Girl Groups and Great Bands
• Paramore's Tour Bus: Hunting Gear, Cocoa Puffs and Tiny Instruments
• Paramore's Williams Admits Band Has "Internal Issues"