Hayley Williams announces the release of her solo debut, unleashes its first single

Sorry Paramore fans, but it looks like frontwoman Hayley Williams will be taking a step back from the band for a bit. But there’s some good news; Williams will be releasing her debut solo album later this year!

On Wednesday (Jan. 22), the musician finally confirmed what all the teasers on social media have been about. Taking to the same platform, the songstress revealed plans to unleash her debut studio album in May. Titled Petals for Armor (like all her teasers had stated), the album is due out May 8 through Atlantic Records.

“I’m so ready and so incredibly humbled to get to share this project,” the musician writes in a press statement.

“Making it was a scary, empowering experience. Some of my proudest moments as a lyricist happened while writing PETALS FOR ARMOR. And I was able to get my hands a little dirtier than usual when it came to instrumentation.

She continues: “I’m in a band with my favorite musicians, so I never really feel the need to step into a role as a player when it comes to Paramore records. This project, however, benefited from a little bit of musical naïveté and rawness and so I experimented quite a bit more. I made this with some of the closest people to me. Their respective talents really shine bright throughout the record. I like to think we all make each other better, and the result is something that sounds and FEELS exactly as I’d hoped it would.

Now that it’s time to put it all out there, I can finally exhale. I’m excited to let people in to experience a different side of myself that I’ve only very recently become familiar with.”

To coincide with the new album announcement, Williams released the first single from the album, a track titled “Simmer.” Instead of collaborating with new partners on the original tune, Williams kept things in the “family” by enlisting Paramore bandmate Taylor York to produce “Simmer.”

Because both the new song and studio effort weren’t enough, Williams has also unveiled the music video for “Simmer.”

Watch the Warren Fu-directed clip above.

“Simmer” is Williams’ first new track since the release of Paramore’s last studio album, 2017’s After Laughter.

This isn’t Williams’ first time releasing solo music.  She contributed a song titled “Teenagers” to the “Jennifer’s Body” soundtrack and covered Tegan and Sara’s “Nineteen” for the sisters’ Tegan and Sara present The Con X: Covers album.

Chris Walla (ex-Death Cab for Cutie) to Release Solo Album

Former Death Cab for Cutie multi-instrumentalist/producer, Chris Walla announced his departure from the indie band last August. Now, a year after officially leaving the group following a final show at Rifflandia, Walla has returned to the music world. Today, the musician unveiled that he will be releasing his own solo album next month.

The record is titled Tape Loops and slated to be released on Oct. 16 through his own record label, Trans Records. But, if you aren’t a fan of instrumental music, then you might not dig his album since it’s reportedly all instrumental; no vocals. Listen to the first “single” off of the upcoming coming record, a track titled “Kantas Theme,” below.

Back when Walla announced he would be leaving the band he had been a part of for 17 years, the typical rumors of animosity among the members began to surface. Quickly, the rumors were squashed when he wrote a blog post where he admitted that leaving was one of the hardest decisions he ever had to make.

“Deciding to leave the band was not and is not, easy,” he wrote. “It’s really, really sad. I love my bandmates and I’m proud of what we’ve done and mercifully, those things don’t change with my departure. Moving forward, my plans are simply to continue making music, producing records, and erring on the side of benevolence and beauty whenever possible. Darkness may find me, but I shall never choose it.”

In a recent interview with Tegan and Sara’s Sara Quin, Walla’s sentiments for his bandmates are still the same as back in 2014.

“Those guys, they are my brothers. We haven’t spoken a lot, but it doesn’t change the fact that I love them dearly and I hope it all continues to go well. I hope that those relationships can be new again someday, and strong again, in a way that is probably very different from how they were, but not fraught.”

Jimmy Eat World Frontman Announces Solo Tour

UPDATE:

It’s been a few weeks since Jim Adkins announced he would be hitting the road this Summer on an acoustic solo tour, and now the Jimmy Eat World frontman has announced the impending tour dates along with an announcement video.

JIM ADKINS ACOUSTIC SOLO TOUR DATES:

June 28 – The Frequency – Madison, WI
June 29 – The House Café – Dekalb, IL
June 30 – SPACE – Evanston, IL
July 1 – Frankies – Toledo, OH
July 3 – Iron Horse Music Hall – Northampton, MA
July 6 – Metro Gallery – Baltimore, MD
July 7 – The Southern – Charlottesville, VA
July 8 – Motorco – Durham, NC
July 9 – New Brookland Tavern – Columbia, SC
July 11 – Saturn – Birmingham, AL
July 12 – Juanita’s Cantina Ballroom – Little Rock, AR
July 13 – Outland Ballroom – Springfield, MO
July 14 – Rose Music Hall – Columbia, MO
July 15 – Codfish Hollow – Maquoketa, IA
July 17 – The Black Sheep – Colorado Springs, CO
July 18 – Hodi’s Half Note – Fort Collins, CO
July 20 – The Pub Station – Billings, MT
July 21 – Stage 112 – Missoula, MT
July 22 – The Bartlett – Spokane, WA
July 24 – The Shakedown – Bellingham, WA
July 25 – WOW Hall – Eugene, OR
July 27 – Oakland Metro – Oakland, CA
July 28 – Masonic Lodge at Hollywood – Los Angeles, CA

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A few days after revealing he would be performing a couple of solo shows in June, Jimmy Eat World frontman, Jim Adkins, has revealed that those three shows are just the beginning of his Summer and Fall solo trek.

The singer had previously revealed that he had been working on some solo material during Jimmy Eat World’s downtime, but now it looks like he’s ready to take the solo act on the road.

In a letter to fans which he released earlier in the day, Adkins reveals that after 21 years of following the same cycle with JEW (“write, tour, record, tour, pull our heads together, and then write again”) he had gotten bored and was ready for something new and exciting (no, they are not going on hiatus).

Thanks to a chance opportunity in Berlin while JEW was on tour in Europe, Adkins decided to go on his own and perform a solo show. He found the opportunity to play solo to be “pretty different” and “fun” and decided to extend that further with a tour and like he writes, “2015 seemed like as good as any.”

Adkins reveals that the tour will be just him and a guitar traveling around the country this Summer and Fall. As of now, he hasn’t released any specific tour stop, except for the three tour dates he had previously released earlier this week (June 21: The Haunt – Ithaca, NY; June 22: BSP Kingston – Kingston, NY; June 23: The Space – Hamden, CT).

Read Adkins’ handwritten letter below.

The Story So Far Stream New Single

Last month, The Story So Far announced the release of their third studio album by “leaking” the first single off of the upcoming record on a CD during a Title Fight show in San Francisco.

Now, they’ve followed that up by releasing another new song from their self-titled, a track titled “Solo” this past weekend.

Check out the song below.

The Story So Far join a long list of fellow Pure Noise Records bands who have new albums coming out. Senses Fail’s Pull the Thorns from Your Heart is due out sometime this Summer, Hit the Lights just released Summer Bones on March 24, and just last week, Four Year Strong announced their self-titled will be hitting stores in June.

A pretty good year for Pure Noise Records, if we do say so ourselves.

The Story So Far will be released on May 19.

“Days Go By” for Karen O.’s in Her New Song

After announcing her plans to release a solo album, Yeah Yeah Yeah’s frontwoman, Karen O has been revealing the tracks from the upcoming album, Crush Songs, slowly.

Today, the frontwoman unveiled a new song titled, “Days Go By.” Like the inspiration behind the album, the song is a somewhat anthem for the person who has a big crush on someone else, but is too afraid of revealing the “big secret.”

Check out the song and O.’s handwritten lyrics for the song below.

 

When O. revealed that she would be releasing a solo album, she had wrote a letter to her fans and explained tot hem that the inspiration fro the record came to her when she was 27 years old and had gotten out of a lengthy relationship. At that time, she did not know whether she would ever fall in love again.

Even with that outlook on life at the age of 27, the songstress in fact did find someone in the form of director Barnaby Clay.

Crush Songs will be released next Tuesday, Sept. 9, through The Strokes’ Julian Casablancas’ record label, Cult Records.

Former My Chemical Romance Guitarist Launches Own Solo Music

Another day and another former My Chemical Romance member has announced a new solo projects.

As of now, all the former members with the exception of guitarist Ray Toro have revealed plans to continue with music on their own, though we are still waiting on bassist Mikey Way’s side project Electric Century to reveal an official release date for their debut record.

For the past few days, Toro had been teasing things on Instagram including a photograph of some HTML codes, confirming that at least a website for him was underway.

Today, Toro launched his website which featured an announcement that he will be entering the studio with producer Doug McKean, who just so happened to be the producer of former bandmate, Gerard Way’s upcoming solo album, Hesitant Alien (way to keep it in the “family,” guys).

Aside from the announcement, the guitarist also shared two demo clips as well as a song titled, “Isn’t That Something?”

His announcement and demos can be found over at his website, RayToro.com as well as his new social media platforms.

Check out the demos below.

Your move, Mikey.

Gerard Way Reveals More Info About ‘Hesitant Alien’

At this point, most fans of My Chemical Romance have come to grips with the fact that any hopes of reunions or one-offs are finished.

With all members going their separate ways, musically, these hopes are ling gone.

Over the last couple of months, former MCR frontman, Gerard Way had revealed that not only would he be releasing a solo album, but that he had been signed to his former band’s label, Warner Bros. Records. But, the news of the new music did not stop there.

Taking to social media, the singer released the first single from the record, “Action Cat,” as well as the name of the upcoming release which was titled, Hesitant Alien.

“I wanted to make the small things sound big,” Way said in a press release. “My intention was to make 100 percent uncompromised art, using the currently least radio-friendly instrument: the guitar. I knew there would be lots of fuzz pedals. I knew I would play Fender instruments. I knew I would look at who my guitar heroes were in art school, Mary Timony and Carrie Brownstein, and I drew a lot of influence from shoegaze and Brit-pop. I want the record to sonically galvanize people.”

Earlier this month, Way spoke with NME about the album before it was given its title, Hesitant Alien. In the interview he revealed that he was inspired by “struggle, beginnings, finding a newness in the mundane and the abstract.”

“I looked to the Britpop poets like Jarvis Cocker and Damon Albarn, drawing upon everyday life,” explained Way. “I also experimented with the abstract, and looked at Frank Black’s work both with the Pixies, and as a solo artist. There was no concept and no call-to-arms.”

Hesitant Alien will officially be released on September 30.

The album will be available for pre-order at retailers beginning Tuesday, August 19th while exclusive bundles can be purchased over at Way’s website.

For those opting for the pre-order, and instant download of new track, “No Shows” will come with that.

But when you already made a name for yourself as the lead singer of one of the biggest bands of the 2000’s how exactly do you make your debut?

At Reading and Leeds, of course.

Way will be debuting his new material during his first solo shows at Reading on August 22 and Leeds on August 23.

HESITANT ALIEN TRACKLIST:

1. “Bureau”
2. “Action Cat”
3. “No Shows”
4. “Casting Shows”
5. “Millionaire”
6. “Zero Zero”
7. “Juarez”
8. “Drugstore Perfume”
9. “Get the Gang Together’
10. “How It’s Going to Be”
11. “Maya the Psychic”

Gerard Way to Make Official Solo Debut

After announcing plans to go solo, leaving behind the band that made him a household name, former My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way has revealed that he will be making his official, solo, on-stage debut and no it’s not on some small stage in the middle of nowhere.

It was revealed this morning through Twitter that Way would be making his first-ever live appearance as a solo artist at this year’s Reading and Leeds Music Festivals. The festivals, as always, will take place in late August simultaneously at both locations. Reading’s show will take place at the Richfield Avenue while Leeds will take place at Bramham Park.

Last month, Way announced his plan to go solo now that the other members of My Chemical Romance have done the same. Bassist Mikey Way went onto to form Electric Century, guitarist Frank Iero continued with his previous side projects and guitarist Ray Toro has been in the studio working on some secret project.

Reading and Leeds will take place during the weekend on August 22-24 and is expected to stream the event online like they do every year. Way joins an already packed line-up including Jimmy Eat World, A Day to Remember, Issues, Paramore, tour mates blink-182 and many more.

Tickets are currently on sale for the show, but with line-up like that, you might not want to take a chance on waiting for the last-minute.

Gerard Way Signs to Warner Bros. As Solo Artist

Considering the fact that My Chemical Romance called it a day over a year ago and just recently released their greatest hits album, we’ve been hearing a lot about them. Bassist Mikey Way went to front electro-pop-band Electric Century, guitarist Frank Iero has his own projects, recently released an EP titled For Jamia…for Record Store Day while other guitarist, Ray Toro had posted pictures from inside a studio, leading us all to believe that he has his own project up his sleeve.

The only one that had a been a little hushed has been frontman Gerard Way, who last we checked was working on his comics and went back to his first love, art. Today, it was revealed not only did Way work on a new song with Kill Hannah frontman Mat Devine which coincidentally was released this morning, but he will also be releasing a solo album through the band’s former record label, Warner Bros.

In a blog post, he revealed the news as well as some snippets of tracks that he had been working on during his down time.

“I am pleased to let you know I am now signed as a solo artist Warner Bros Records. My album is near completion, and you should expect to hear things in the near future, even today actually- with a brief snippet of what is to come. I am excited. It’s starting again-”

You can check out the full blog post here while the newly released song with Devine can be heard here.

This isn’t the first time that Way had worked with someone outside of the genre that helped make his band a household name. A few years back, he collaborate with DJ Deadmau5 for a track titled, “Professional Griefers.”

So what do we think about Way doing his own solo thing, even though all the other My Chemical Romance members have been doing their own thing for a while longer?

Adam Lazzara Premieres New Solo Song

Adam Lazzara has been fronting his Long Island-based band, Taking Back Sunday since its early days and now the frontman has decided to do some solo stuff on the side.

Today, he released a music video for his first solo song titled, “Because it Works.” The song was originally released at the beginning of the year as part of I Surrender Records’ compilation, Our Voices. Also featured on the split EP alongside Lazzara are solo tracks from Bayside’s Anthony Raneri, Saves the Day’s Chris Conley, and I Am the Avalanche’s Vinnie Caruana.

Lazzara’s music video which features images of fields and back roads, fitting for the folksy song, can be heard over at Rolling Stone’s website where it was exclusively premiered earlier today.