Takeaways from the new Zane Lowe interview
Takeaways from the new Zane Lowe interview
Every Paramore era has its Zane Lowe interview and this one was their best yet
I finally had time to watch Paramore’s new Apple Music interview with BBC dude Zane Lowe, and let me just say, it is SO worth a watch. Ever since they released Brand New Eyes in 2009, they’ve done an in-depth interview with Lowe to accompany each album, and this one is for sure the best yet.
Paramore unfortunately has a bit of a fraught relationship with the media; as in, people have always been really annoying to them. Asked them invasive questions, hyper-fixated on Hayley’s dating life, etc. It’s so fun to watch them open up with Zane, who is very clearly a person they trust. He brings out the best lil’ tidbits from them in a way that always feels respectful.
I highly recommend taking an hour to watch the whole thing, but in case you’re in a hurry (or just want to know MY thoughts!!!), here were the moments that stood out to me:
I LOVED hearing about their writing process for this record. The band has said it was their most collaborative yet, with all three of them credited on every song, but it was fun to hear them give a window into how it often played out: one of them with a melody idea or stylistic concept, Taylor working with Zac to put together the bones of the instrumentation, and then Hayley writing the lyrics for it.
All three band members, and especially Hayley, are therapy geniuses. People say you cannot win therapy, and those people are wrong: these three have. I’m (mostly) kidding BUT hearing them talk about the album in the context of their personal growth gave me such a deeper enjoyment of the songs, because they’re raw and personal, but they’re not flailing—they’re actually doing alright as people, which is wonderful to see.
There was a moment around like 30 minutes where Taylor was hesitating to answer a question and he was like, “I’ve just been so anxious this entire interview” (😭😭😭) and Zane backed up and just SHOWERED him with compliments about how much he respects and loves what he does on the Paramore records. And it’s so nice to just see Taylor (who is notoriously super shy and hates interviews) open up and share some gems about the album and himself. Trust me, y’all, this is the most we’re getting from Taylor this album cycle, so… enjoy it. hahah.
A few little gems:He was honest about the fact that his anxiety and ADHD keep him from speaking up much in interviews (Zane mentioned that he related on the ADHD front)
“Running Out Of Time” is his least favorite song on the record but it challenged him to be a team player and now that everyone loves it so much, he gets it a little more
He puts a lot of pressure on himself to be like, a Kevin Parker (Tame Impala) and do everything, but his most creative moments come from collaborating with the other two—he said they keep him from getting stuck in perfectionism.
Hayley said he has so many jokes that “will never get heard” in interviews… Unlucky us 😭
Hayley’s commentary on “Liar,” the album’s love song about her relationship with Taylor, is an absolute GIFT. She said this is the only setting where she’d consider opening up about it, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she doesn’t talk about it again pubicly. “For me, being in a relationship that feels mutually respectful and honoring of the other for the first time in my whole life, and being one of the first people in my family other than my Granny and Grandat to experience that…is terrifying,” she admitted. Like so many of us, she had to learn that love shouldn’t hurt, and that while it’s not always easy, good relationships have an ease to them—they let us be who we are.
Have you watched? Let me know what you think xoxo
P.S. Official album review coming soon!!!
Love,
Katie from Paramore*