Stereogum’s Gabriela Tully Claymore sat down in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center with Hayley from Paramore and Sophie Allison from a band called Soccer Mommy that is supporting Paramore on several dates of Tour 5 across the North America. The interivew was ilustrated with photos taken by Krista Schlueter. Click read more to read the interview and click here to see more pictures.

STEREOGUM: Hayley, why did Paramore decide to bring Soccer Mommy out on tour?

WILLIAMS: Well, first of all this album cycle we’ve just been more intentional I think about really having more women around. For me, it’s a little bit of a selfish thing ‘cause for so long I was always the only female performer on tour. Especially when we were younger and we’d get booked onto other tours I was always the only girl. And it actually affected my sense of femininity and that part of my identity for a long time. So it’s sorta just been natural timing and also our collective interest as a band to have female energy around and obviously the music is awesome too. I mean, the first leg of tour we had Bleached out and that was really, really cool for me because I had known Jen Calvin from the zine that she was doing and Best Coast came out and Beth [Cosentino] and I have been friends for like six or seven years now. With you, Sophie, with Soccer Mommy it was kind of like the Nashville [connection]. What do we want to hear every night when we’re hanging out and who do we want to be in community with? And it’s also interesting ’cause it’s not always easy to hang out on tour, but the vibe’s so good, it’s easy. You guys, I mean I say this to her a million times but you guys sound so damn good every night. We like to have really great music out with us that inspires us. It’s just this incredible bonus that I feel a kinship with other female musicians and it’s really nice to have that. That was a very long winded answer by the way my God. [Laughs]

STEREOGUM: Paramore came up at a time when there were not a lot of women-fronted bands leading the parade.

WILLIAMS: They weren’t really getting the signal boost that they needed, you know? We were lucky also to be able to kind of stay, stick around through all of that and now be in this moment, this cultural moment, where I feel like people are given their due chances a little bit more often. You still see some imbalance and whatnot, and I’m sure there’ll always be a bit of that, but what I love right now it that there’s such variety and there’s also such quality music being made by women — Soccer Mommy is a great example — there’s great production being done by women. I mean, I’m a really big Grimes fan.

ALLISON: Yes, I love Grimes!

WILLIAMS: She’s incredible. She’s so talented.

STEREOGUM: Sophie, did you grow up a Paramore fan?

ALLISON: I did.

WILLIAMS: Really?! That’s sick.

ALLISON: It’s so embarrassing, but at a rock camp I did “That’s What You Get.”

WILLIAMS: No! Are you kidding me?

ALLISON: Yes, I did!

WILLIAMS: That’s so cool.

ALLISON: So it’s very crazy to be here, obviously. I totally agree with you — it’s so great to get to tour with other women just because it can really suck. I have all guys in my band right now, sometimes that’s different, but just like not having any women around can really suck. Even though I love the guys. There’s so much good music being made [by women]. I always try to pick bands that I want to hear every night. Sometimes people pick opening bands based off of like, you know, the numbers or something and then they hate it the whole time.

WILLIAMS: Yeah, it’s kind of miserable.

ALLISON: I’ve had friends do that and they’re complaining about it the whole time and I’m like: “Pick a different band!” As a headliner, you get to choose them.

WILLIAMS: Yeah, you actually have the power.

ALLISON: Pick a band that you wanna see every night and like, wanna hang out with.

WILLIAMS: I think so too, man. I mean, we’ve opened for really big bands and then we’ve done big tours that we co-headlined and sometimes you compromise on the opening act and we’ve done almost every scenario at this point. And honestly, there’s just nothing better than just taking out your friends. I’m trying to think of a friend’s band that I don’t love and respect their music. I don’t think I have any. I think I like all my friends’ music. The vibe and the heart of what’s happening out here is just so much more important because you’re away from everything that’s comfortable for a long time. And sure, we’re lucky and we get to see amazing things and meet people and be around music all the time which is great but if you’re not inspired and you’re not fueled by something that’s actually got heart to it — relationships and all that — it can empty you so fast. And then there you are across the country away from your family and your dog and your couch where you like to watch movies or have your period all day and you just … there’s something you can reach out to and just touch it and be like: “OK, I’m alright. I’m human. There’s other humans here with me that get it that are right on track with me.” It’s nice.

ALLISON: That’s what getting Thai food does for me.

WILLIAMS: Yeah? [Laughs]

ALLISON: I’m like, “OK I’m safe here.” When I have a bad meal I’m just like, “This is a terrible city. I hate it here. I wanna leave instantly.”

WILLIAMS: That’s your comfort, that’s your thing that you go to. I love knowing that about you. I feel like that says so many things. Like I really get it.

ALLISON: I just wanna be able to go to Smiling Elephant back home or something.

WILLIAMS: Oh my god, I was just gonna ask you if you love Smiling Elephant. It’s the best!

ALLISON: They’ve been closed, the owner went back to Thailand to get —

WILLIAMS: To get ancient recipes for you.

ALLISON: Yeah, to get ancient recipes for me.

STEREOGUM: This is a Nashville spot?

WILLIAMS: It’s actually not far from either of us, but the Tom Kha soup there is the best in the entire town.

ALLISON: I get the Pad Krapaw , the like rice and the sauce and the chicken and the veggies.