About “After Laughter”

After Laughter, the follow up to Paramore’s critically-acclaimed self-titled record (2013), marks a huge change for the band both sonically and lyrically. Released May 12, 2017, this album contains several dark lyrics (fueled by Hayley Williams' depression) over fun and poppy melodies.

Hayley Williams told Entertainment Weekly her idea behind the title of the album,

It means that look on a person’s face when they laugh really hard and then there’s this moment where they come back to reality — I like watching for it. Maybe I’m a little bit of a creep.

After Laughter is best described as Paramore growing from a rebellious teenager to an adult. In the album, Hayley reveals that underneath her bright exterior she hides her problems and pain.

Hayley even told The New York Times:

You can run on the fumes of being a teenager for as long as you want, but eventually life hits you real hard.

After the band’s Writing The Future tour in 2015, which closed off the self-titled era, it was announced that bassist Jeremy Davis had decided to leave the band for the second time. Later, in 2017 it was announced that Zac Farro would be rejoining the band after his controversial departure with brother Josh in 2010.

After Laughter was preceded by lead single “Hard Times” on April 19th which coincided with the album’s announcement, pre-order and song’s music video.

The album was produced by previous collaborator Justin Meldal-Johnson alongside lead guitarist Taylor York. Carlos de la Garza, who worked as an audio engineer on After Laughter and Paramore said: