The Linda Lindas & Hayley Williams Join Forces on ‘Closer’

The punk scene just got a major shot in the arm. The Linda Lindas have officially returned with their new single, “Closer” and they’ve brought along a heavy-hitting guest: Paramore’s Hayley Williams.

The track is our first real taste of the band’s upcoming third album, Gotta Get Out, and it’s hitting that perfect sweet spot between their signature garage-punk roots and a tighter, more polished alternative sound.

A Dream Collaboration

If you’ve followed The Linda Lindas—sisters Lucia and Mila de la Garza, their cousin Eloise Wong, and Bela Salazar—you know that Paramore is a massive influence. Seeing them link up with Hayley Williams isn’t just a “feature”—it feels like a genuine passing of the torch.

The band shared that the writing process was a total collaborative effort. It started with Bela and Lucia trading ideas, but when they invited Williams into the mix, things really clicked. Williams didn’t just phone in a vocal part; she jumped into the studio to help craft the bridge, and the chemistry between the four of them and the emo icon is palpable throughout the song.

The Story Behind the Track

“Closer” isn’t just another high-energy banger; it’s a track about that specific, creeping anxiety that hits when you feel like life is moving a little too fast.

As the band put it, the song is about that feeling of losing your grip on time and watching yourself change from the outside looking in. They captured the frustration of trying to stay present when everything else feels like it’s in a constant, blurry state of motion. It’s that feeling of “burning inside” while desperately waiting for a sign—a sentiment that resonates just as hard for a teenager as it does for anyone navigating their twenties.

Setting the Stage for Gotta Get Out

“Closer” does a great job of showing how The Linda Lindas are evolving. The guitars feel grittier and the production hits harder, but they haven’t lost that urgent, infectious spirit that made us fall in love with them in the first place. It’s a bold step forward that makes the wait for Gotta Get Out—dropping August 28, 2026—feel even longer.

The Gotta Get Out Tracklist

• Gotta Get Out

• Burning Out

• Helado de Limón

• Blood On Our Hands

• Closer (feat. Hayley Williams)

• Nothing Left

• High Horse

• Break

• I Could Be Wrong

• Everybody Told Me

• Okay

• See You Next Time

Where to Listen

You can find “Closer” on your preferred streaming service right now. If you’re digging the vibe, make sure to get your pre-save or pre-order in for Gotta Get Out before the end of the summer.