Hayley Williams, Jack Antonoff, María Zardoya, Role Model Headline Rolling Stone’s ‘Musicians on Musicians’ Live

New York's iconic Beacon Theatre recently hosted the third edition of Rolling Stone's Musicians on Musicians series, an event designed to foster deep artistic dialogue. This year's program featured two compelling pairings: a conversation between Paramore's lead singer Hayley Williams and super-producer Jack Antonoff, followed by a separate discussion with Role Model and María Zardoya from the indie-pop group the Marías. The evening was emceed by "Saturday Night Live" star James Austin Johnson, who opened with his renowned political satire, quipping that his Donald Trump impersonations could eventually result in the historic venue being repurposed as a "ballroom."

The first dialogue saw Role Model and María Zardoya engage in a candid exploration of the music industry's unpredictability. They traced the path from creating personal "bedroom pop" to experiencing viral success and performing in major venues. Zardoya, whose band the Marías is celebrated for its sultry, bilingual dream-pop—a style that emerged from the Los Angeles music scene in 2016—shared insights on their unexpected hit. She described "No One Noticed" as an "anti-hit" and recounted a memorable interaction with an 84-year-old fan who, despite never using substances, told her the song felt like "molly." The conversation was complemented by a live set from Zardoya, joined by the Marías' guitarist Josh Conway, who performed "Sienna" and "No One Noticed." Role Model then took the stage for his own performance, which included "Some Protector" and the fan-favorite "Sally, When the Wine Runs Out."

After a brief intermission, the spotlight turned to Hayley Williams and Jack Antonoff. Williams, whose influential career with the rock band Paramore has now expanded into a solo venture, drew a sharp cultural parallel from her new album 'Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party', observing that "Living in Nashville is the bachelor party." Antonoff, a Grammy-winning producer known for his seminal collaborations with major artists like Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey, reflected thoughtfully on touring the United States, characterizing it as "an exercise in an amazing darkness and an amazing hope." Their exchange broadened to address the current political climate, with both artists praising host James Austin Johnson's comedic skill. Williams emphasized that such satire is a necessary tool for navigating challenging times.

The evening culminated in a collaborative performance that blended the distinct sounds of both headliners. Williams joined Antonoff and his band Bleachers on stage, sharing vocals on a set that interwove tracks from their respective catalogs. They opened with Williams' "Mirtazapine" before transitioning into several Bleachers anthems. The performance also offered a preview of songs from Williams' newest solo project and served as the debut for their freshly released joint single, "Good Ol' Days." This merging of artistic visions provided a powerful and memorable conclusion to the night. As one music critic in attendance remarked, "These collaborative moments are crucial; they dissolve the solitude of the creative process and demonstrate that the most impactful art often emerges from shared dialogue and mutual inspiration."