Hayley Williams has unveiled her most ambitious solo release since 2021 but not through traditional streaming platforms. Instead, the Paramore frontwoman debuted a 17-track collection via a private audio player embedded on her official website, accessible only through a code distributed with the latest product launch from her haircare brand, Good Dye Young.

The songs, which appear in a randomized format on a page themed with a repeating image of Williams’ goldendoodle, Alf, mark a significant return to her solo catalog. The release was intentionally cryptic, nodding to early internet aesthetics and the DIY spirit of digital music discovery in the early 2000s. To unlock the player, listeners must purchase “Ego,” a limited-edition marigold yellow semi-permanent dye released by Good Dye Young. Only 2,000 units were made available, each signed by Williams and co-founder Brian O’Connor.

Visitors to the landing page are greeted with a message encouraging them to check their inbox for the access code or, humorously, “ask a friend for theirs.” Once inside, users find an unconventional tracklist presented as a scattered collection of clickable MP3 files, lacking clear sequencing or album structure. It’s a creative approach that blends nostalgia with exclusivity, two elements that have defined much of Williams’ recent solo work.

Among the new material is “Mirtazapine,” which premiered earlier last week on Nashville’s independent radio station WNXP. The track, along with another titled “Glum,” was previewed on air and then quietly added to the secret album page. WNXP confirmed the song's premiere in a post on X (formerly Twitter), including a video clip of a CD displaying both song titles.

While the project has yet to be officially titled or announced via traditional press channels, fans who have gained access are already weighing in on social media. Early standouts include “Kill Me,” which has been called an “eldest daughter anthem” for its emotionally raw chorus: “Go ahead and kill me / Can’t get much stronger / Find another soldier.” Other notable tracks generating buzz include “Dream Girl in Shibuya,” “True Believer,” “Love Me Different,” “Hard,” and “Blood Bros.”

The surprise release is Williams’ first major solo output since Flowers for Vases / Descansos in 2021. In the interim, she has appeared on several collaborative projects, including Turnstile’s “Seein’ Stars” from Never Enough and “I Like It I Like It” with Moses Sumney, released this past May.

Williams has also remained active with Paramore. The band’s most recent album, This Is Why, arrived in 2023 following a multi-year hiatus. Reflecting on its recording process in an interview with Rolling Stone, Williams acknowledged the creative challenges that accompanied the project. “Making was not a comfortable experience for any of us,” she said. “There was already anxiety about getting back in the groove of creating stuff together after some time apart. It’s scary stuff, but I think being able to sit with any type of discomfort is only going to teach you things.”