Paramore's Hayley Williams reflects on her friendship with Taylor Swift

On the eve of the release of Paramore's brand new remix album, Re: This Is Why, Williams joined Fallon to discuss the decision behind making it.

Speaking of the release, Williams said: "It's not a typical remix album... We wanted to do something where we could sort of connect with bands that have inspired us or bands that we've toured with that we really connected with and give them a chance to reinterpret the album."

Released today, the companion to their sixth studio album features remixes and reinterpretations of songs from This Is Why, and features the likes of Julien Baker, Wet Leg, Zane Lowe, Romy of The xx, Foals and more, as well as the B-side called "Sanity" which dates back to when the band began writing their 2017 album, After Laughter.

Hayley Williams reminisces on her 15-year-long friendship with @taylorswift13 that has led to @paramore opening for the #TSErasTour. #FallonTonight pic.twitter.com/2hxg43xJpm

— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) October 6, 2023

Elsewhere in the interview she discusses her 15 year friendship with Taylor Swift, who is set to take Paramore on all of the forthcoming EU/UK dates on the 2024 The Eras Tour. Williams also guested on the track "Castles Crumbling", which featured on Speak Now (Taylor's Version).

Explaining how the pair met, Williams said: "We kinda both got started around the same time, and the same age as well. Especially in Nashville, it's like family – I really like our music community – everyone wants to help each other out. So me and Taylor met because both of us – Paramore and Taylor – were nominated for Best New Artist in the same year at The Grammy's."

"We were at Timbaland's Grammy party. I was very nervous – but a woman came up to me and said, 'I'm Taylor Swift's mum and Taylor doesn't have a lot of friends her age who do music, and I would love to introduce you guys or get your number," she continued. "So, Andrea, the legend that she is, she connected us and here we are!"

Hayley Williams talks about her inspiration and performs "Idiot Boyfriend" with Jimmy! #FallonTonight pic.twitter.com/3aJLvQSsQf

— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) October 6, 2023

Reflecting on the past two decades of her career with Paramore, Williams discusses some of their earlier influences. "The first year that we met, there was a huge hit that took off in our little home school. It's called "Idiot Boyfriend". Do you know that song," she asks Fallon with a smile.

"My comedy song? "Idiot Boyfriend"," he exclaimed, to which Williams added that it was a "huge hit with the Paramore crew". The duo then joked about Jimmy Fallon being an influence for Paramore whilst the audience erupted into laughter.

"Your falsetto! Every morning, getting ready for our homeschool thing – it wasn't even really a school, but we met up to do something – and every morning we had MTV on, and your song played more than John Mayer at the time!" Williams then performed the track with Fallon before they went on commercial break.