Hayley Williams Admits She Never Had a Direct Mentor in the Music Industry

JAKARTA - Having a career in the global music industry for more than two decades does not make Hayley Williams feel like she has a protective figure.

Publicly, the Paramore vocalist admitted that he never received any guidance or direct direction from any senior artist.

In his conversation with Kathleen Hanna on the Music Makes Us podcast, Williams reflects on how lonely the journey of a musician can be. He feels he has to forge his own path without any hands guiding him directly.

"Honestly, the short answer is no. I really feel like I've never had a mentor," Hayley Williams said, citing the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame YouTube channel, Tuesday, December 23.

Furthermore, the vocalist, who is known for coloring his hair, spoke about his difficult time when he struggled with depression a few years ago. Interestingly, he called the iconic work of the new wave band Talking Heads as a savior of his mental health.

For him, the album "Speaking in Tongues" by Talking Heads had a tremendous effect on his soul.

"The album Speaking in Tongues is like Prozac (a drug to treat depression) for me," said Williams.

"I remember the moment when my hair was first bleached, I listened to the song 'Girlfriend is Better' and suddenly felt very alive," he continued. "I was like, this is the feeling I want to feel every time I make music."

This deep connection not only helps with mental healing, but also influences the direction of his music. For him, music is not just a song, but a movement that is able to attract people from various backgrounds to dance together in happiness.