They're young, they're loud and as fate would have it - their new single Misery Business is out now! Paramore's Hayley and Zac spoke to stv fresh from their recent UK tour which included a prestigious slot at the recent Download festival.

You just played the Download Festival. How did it go?
Hayley: It was quite an experience. There were legends walking around all day and it was just amazing to be a part of it. Luckily there wasn’t too much violence going on out there in the crowd, so it was nice…people seemed really interested and the fans who were there who knew us were really into it.

What's it like being on the same bill as Iron Maiden, Marilyn Manson etc?
H: We didn't get to see either one of those bands and actually the day that we played, we didn't get to see all that many either because we had press all day. I was really interested to see Marilyn Manson; just because I've heard so much about him ever since I was really young…just to see someone who looks so surreal.

How have the UK dates gone?
H: I think it went really well, what do you think?
Zac: Yeah it was awesome. The fans…I wouldn't say they're so much better than in the US but…t hey're just like…ok they are better. They're just so much more enthusiastic.

You're playing a gig in your home state of Tennessee on Friday, will it be good to get back?
H: Yeah, we're having a CD release party and we're really nervous about it because we've hardly had any time to practice some of the new songs, so as soon as we get home it's going to be straight to the rehearsal stage and we're going to spend all day practicing for that show.
We're really stoked to get back home and we're going to have two weeks before Warped Tour starts so it'll be nice to hang out at our favourite spots and see all of our friends back home. It'll be a nice little break, but by the end of it we'll be itching to tour again.

Warped Tour seems pretty relentless – does fatigue ever set in?
H: Um…Warped Tour seems like it would be a really harsh schedule, and it can be – our first year we were in a 15-passenger van and it definitely wasn't easy. But at the same time, ever since the first year it's always been one of our favourite tours just because Kevin Lyman, the founder, he’s so passionate about music and it's just an amazing atmosphere and we enjoy being a part of it.

You were voted best new band by Kerrang! readers in 2006 and you've been tipped by many to be the next big thing – does that label bother you?
H: It might sound weird but we kind of enjoy all the 'next big thing' titles cos it's really cool. We used to kind of be the underdogs and we're still kind of working our way up. It doesn't feel like a lot of pressure. Sometimes it can be annoying if things get said in magazines that aren't necessarily true that can be a little disappointing – especially with all the fans out there who actually really know us, we don’t want them thinking we're changing just because we're putting out a new record or trying to gain new fans. It can be frustrating, but we have to look at it as, we're really lucky to have people interested in what we're doing and the day that we don't have that then we're not doing something right.

I'm in a record shop and I've got 10 bucks in my pocket. Why should I spend it on RIOT!?
Z: Cos…you're just gonna spend it on another dumb CD.
H: Why not?
Z: Yeah, why not? It’s gonna be…amazing! You're gonna jump with joy!
H: Ha ha!

Good answer. So you're obviously pleased with the record?
H: Yeah, we're so proud of it, seriously. It's definitely exceeded our expectations. I remember back in October, we were finishing off our tour over here, and we were so nervous about what RIOT!would sound like; we didn't even know the name of the record or anything. And now that it's finished and it's coming out in the States tomorrow…I don't even remember half of the recording process – it's just been a whirlwind.

How do you think this album has grown from your first effort?
H: I think touring will definitely mature you and I think we've all just become really confident with our instruments and confident in playing with each other. And…I dunno, what do you think?
Z: Yeah, what you said was great.

You dedicated a track on your new album Born For This to your fans, and they even featured on the song. How did that come about?
H: You wanna talk about this?
Z: Yeah, you first…just for a little bit...
H: (Laughs) Born For This sort of happened by accident. We were at the studio doing pre-production…I guess one day we just all became really frustrated with ourselves, and maybe we thought this wasn't the record we hoped it was gonna be, we were just stressed out at the time. I went home and got online and went to one of our fansites and just seeing all of the encouraging things they had to say and all their passion for what we do as a band was so encouraging and we felt like we needed to do something for them.
So we started writing Born For This and literally it came together at the last second and there were parts in the song that sounded like they needed a gang vocal, some aggression and we were like 'dude, we should come have our fans do this!'.
Z: We ran a contest online to get fans to make a video of themselves singing one of our songs. So we picked our eight favourite videos and flew the winners to New Jersey…we all sat in a room and we all sang with them and screamed at the top of our lungs.

Hayley, is it hard being the only girl in a band with three sweaty dudes?
H: I love hanging out with these guys, they're like my brothers and we've known each other so long that it doesn't really feel any different – I guess I just feel like one of the guys. The guys are really good at just letting me be a chick…we're just like a big family.

So you won't be doing a Gwen Stefani and going solo?
H: Um…the day that happens is the day I shoot myself in the face.

What are your ambitions for Paramore in the future?
H: I don't think we have a specific goal, but we're all in this for the long-haul and we want to be a really successful band and we want so many kids to hear our music and enjoy it just the same way we do. I don't think we have a specific goal…of course we'd love to play Madison Square Garden or we'd love to play with a band like the Foo Fighters or U2 or somebody. But the goal that we have in common is to keep on making music and keep being successful at what we do.

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