i read about the afterlife...

HAYLEY WILLIAMS Favorite looks on the Ego Death tour ⭢ (North America edition)

I know almost nothing about her personal life besides sweet anecdotes like her failed attempt to quit sugar and her engagement. And it’s exceedingly hard to know much more than that because she doesn’t do much press and her music is mostly just vaguely personal but largely just universal and broad.

Her music caters to that perfectly—it’s pop but constantly evolving. Covers a wide emotional spectrum but never goes too deep, aware of exactly what it’s meant to be. It’s a treat, it’s a bop, it’s pop! Her music ages with her but doesn’t age, if that makes sense. It has youth but isn’t juvenile. The music comes out regularly, with great and full b sides that justify their existence and don’t feel of chart manipulation or attempts to stay relevant.

She performs energetically on stage, does good crowd work, plays along with some fan stuff (blow up swords, the gays, the wig guy) without leaning too much into it, and she’s great about touring regularly at reasonable venues (not booking too large or two small). When my show got canceled due to weather, she performed a free show at a bar that night, AND rescheduled a free, full show the next after noon.

And she does all of this balancing to be the perfect level of famous—decent sized, loyal fandom that isn’t obsessive but will go to shows and buy her music—without coming off as manufactured or withholding. Like she feels like The Girl Next Door without it seeming forced, pathetic, or without it getting in the way of putting on a spectacular show either.

She’s accessible. But can’t be accessed.