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Social media (more specifically Twitter/X) is in a frenzy after Hayley Williams premiered a new single, “Mirtazapine.” Earlier yesterday, Williams—through her Instagram stories—shared a post in support of public radio (specifically that of her hometown, Nashville, TN). A few hours later, she posted a textless photo of a prescription pill bottle, followed by another post of a fan tweet that read:
“We should all listen to the radio at the same time together more often.”
The buzz really started to build at 2:56 PM EST, when WNXP Nashville—Nashville’s local NPR music station—posted that they would be exclusively premiering the artist’s newest single. The announcement included a short video of the CD—scribbled with black permanent marker in true 2000’s fashion—being loaded in and playing only a small teaser of the song’s intro at the end of the clip. At 5:30 PM CT, the song went live, unavailable to hear anywhere other than WNXP (and now, Twitter, since a fan uploaded it).
“Mirtazapine,” named after the antidepressant, runs three minutes and nineteen seconds, and it’s quickly addictive. While it carries the elements of early-era Paramore that never fail to hit the spot, there’s a hint of shoegaze in the airy quality of her vocals and the quietly interwoven synths that add romance to what’s clearly a love song—though not the traditional kind. Williams, in this track, proclaims her adoration for her medication:
“Here comes my genie in a screw cap bottle / To grant me temporary solace / I could never be without her / I had to write a song about her / Who am I without you now?”
Almost as quickly as the song surfaced, fans shouted their praises, hooked not only by its nostalgic pop-punk/punk rock sound, but by the relatability of the song’s message—many feeling “seen” and proudly labeling themselves as “fellow Mirtazapine takers” like Williams herself. The song’s premiere also comes in the wake of the Big Beautiful Bill, which cuts federal funding for public media. Her decision to have her hometown’s public radio station exclusively debut the song can be seen as a small but meaningful act of musical rebellion.
Fans have been eager for new music from her, with her collaboration with Moses Sumney on the track “I Like It I Like It” being the only thing tiding them over in the meantime. This release only heightens the anticipation. A closer look at the writing on the CD reveals the word “Glum” written right beneath “Mirtazapine,” sparking speculation about a possible B-side in the near future. New single or not, it’s safe to say the world is simply happy to hear her rock out again—and to see her support public radio while doing it.
