WILLIS

Matt talks with WILLIS, an Indie-Rock band whose music is akin to some soulful vocals mixed with surf rock for a unique sound. In this episode they talk about touring, what it's like being friends for such a long time, as well as their favorite ways to take care of their mental spaces.



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Transcript

Matt (00:00)
The following is a conversation with the indie rock band Willis. They recently released an album entitled I Can't Thank You Enough, and I hope you enjoy the conversation I had with the band Willis.

Matt (00:10)
Okay, yeah, seriously excited to have you a band on that I truly enjoy listening to. Love your music, love the sound, the vibe. Band known as Willis. Appreciate y 'all taking the time to be here. Hope things have been well for you guys.

Trey Murphy (00:23)
shit that likewise bro thank you

Matt (00:25)
So I think the best place to start is kinda, you you guys have a new album out, I can't thank you enough. And for me, it feels like, you your last couple releases are a little different in sound from maybe your first few works. How do you think your sound has kind of evolved over the years?

Trey Murphy (00:43)
I think we're more sure about what we like and we're more sure about like what we're going for in the studio. So we each just come with different ideas and we just throw in and we're just looking to make the best product and we got better as musicians too. So just getting into the develop.

Matt (01:02)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, you guys have all been best friends since high school, is that correct? Yeah, so what do you, I guess even in that sense, right? So you guys have like grown up together. Do you think your sound has, and maybe your lyrics and how you kind of make music has also grown up to kind of match that as well?

Trey Murphy (01:22)
Yeah, for sure. I mean, I think we like rub off on each other a good bit. Like, there's a lot of music that I didn't even listen to before I joined the band. And so just through sharing music with each other and playing with each other, obviously, like we've helped each other grow in like a similar direction, I think.

Matt (01:40)
Yeah, I mean, yeah, I think that makes sense. So was the dream always to be a musician? So you guys have been doing this for what the better part of a decade now? Was the dream always to be musicians? Do you think this would still be a thing when you first started?

Trey Murphy (01:53)
Yep.

think, yeah, for sure. I I don't really think there was like a backup plan. We just kind of, you know, really dreamed and. Yeah, we just decided to just get together one day and just like make music and whatever was going to come out of it just happened was just going to be like a byproduct. But just make an art that we liked because where we're from, there wasn't very much like things going on like that we liked or felt a part of.

Yeah, and I think at the beginning it was just like we just knew we liked making music and making art together and I didn't necessarily like think about it as a career path until like the last few years. It was just something that I liked doing with my friends and it naturally evolved into what it is today.

Matt (02:42)
Yeah, I mean, I think so you guys grew up like small town Alabama. Is that accurate? Smallish town?

Trey Murphy (02:50)
Florence, Florence on the top left little corner.

Matt (02:54)
Okay, so I know for me, I grew up small town in Pennsylvania and know, kind of finding your own way into, know, art and things like that can be a little bit of a struggle. You know, what are those influences for you guys? Do you each bring, you know, your own individual influences the table or you think there's like a similar connection there maybe?

Trey Murphy (03:16)
We definitely have our own like vibe, like we each bring our own thing to the table. And then we also like have things that we like, like when we bring a song to the table, like we all might not like.

this pattern. Some bands that we like starting up with the Alabama Shakes, course, Mack DeMarco, let's see who else, Palace, of Leon, early Kings of Leon, like that really like left the mark on us. Real Estate.

Matt (03:46)
Yeah. So I think that definitely shows in your sound. Like you got this very, you know, chill indie rock sound going on and it definitely is reflective of those those influences, at least in my eyes. I guess in terms of like your your lyrics, do you think I feel like you guys talk a lot about, you know, time and, you know,

I feel like that's like a big theme in a lot of your songs. Whether it's losing time, gaining time, do you guys think about that a lot? Or is that just something, maybe it's just kind of happened since?

Trey Murphy (04:22)
I think about time a lot, like, where we invest our time, like, what are we doing with our time because we're not gonna get it back.

Yeah, the thought of time kind of freaks me out a lot. So I just write about my experience within that.

Matt (04:38)
Yeah, I mean that makes for me that makes sense You know because you don't Especially for me. I don't think you realize how quick time goes by then you know you're looking back on things and You know three four years have gone by I Guess kind of in that same thing so three four years gone by since I feel like you guys what two three years ago had You know, I think I like when it rains kind of go viral on tick -tock and social media. What is

What was that like, number one? then, what has that done for you as artists since that's happened? And what has it meant to the band as a whole?

Trey Murphy (05:17)
It was definitely very validating, like just knowing like where we're from and the opportunity that that type of exposure gives, like, and to not waste that opportunity. So it was definitely crazy. Yeah, it was very interesting timing too, because it was like, I think it was April of 2021. So we were just gearing up, getting ready to tour and then COVID hit.

And then we were kind of just like, what do we do now? We just moved to Nashville and so we just continued to write and do what we could. then a year into COVID, know, something big happens and kind of reignite, ignites that spark a little bit.

Matt (05:57)
Yeah, and I think the funny thing about it, especially in the sense of TikTok and music and how social media works with that, is that song came out in 2017 -ish, somewhere around there, and for it to be four years later to have gone viral, feels like such a funny thing to me. So was that a song you guys played at sets prior, or was that the most popular song off that EP beforehand?

Trey Murphy (06:07)
Yep. Yep.

think it was the most popular, but like not by a whole lot. It had definitely gotten the most traction of all of our songs at that time. And then, yeah, TikTok did its thing.

Matt (06:34)
So I guess this is one of my favorite questions to ask musicians because I feel like especially you guys being fully independent, know, being an artist encompasses all of these, you know, different, you know, hats that you got to wear to be an artist, know, whether, you know, making music, doing social media. Do you guys view social media as like a necessary evil or is it something you enjoy doing or, you know, you don't even touch it at all and your manager kind of works through it or?

Trey Murphy (07:01)
It's definitely a necessary evil. Like we understand like the cons of it, like the feeling cringe and the like, you know, some people kind of do the most. But we just try to keep it organic, you know? We don't try to like reach, like overextend, past our own like boundaries.

There are definitely good things about it too. Getting to hear from fans and interact with fans is definitely cool. And social media gives you an easy avenue to do that. But yeah, can definitely be, it definitely feels like something that we might rather focus on the music sometimes when we have to do some social media stuff. But it's a tool for the day, I think.

Matt (07:41)
Yeah, yeah, mean, yeah, 100%. I think for at least what I've seen, especially with smaller artists, it's a great way to kind of like what you said, build a little bit of a stronger community among the fans, among people who really enjoy your music.

Yeah, I feel like that just allows that bass to be so much more strong and you got to get those random chances to go viral and to grow that way as well. So what do you think is the most rewarding slash most challenging part of being an artist nowadays?

Trey Murphy (08:17)
For me, the most rewarding part is getting to wake up in the morning and make music and that be my job. That's a pretty huge privilege and blessing and something I don't take lightly. And it's very validating to get to wake up and just do what I love with my friends. that's my responsibility for that day is to make art. That's awesome.

Matt (08:42)
Is there, being friends since high school, so I know I have three lifelong friends at this point and I'm curious, there ever this moment where you guys, you're around each other all the time, is there ever this moment where you're like, man, I'm just like, I need a break, right? You gotta get away from these guys for a little bit. Do guys have that opportunity, number one? And maybe you're just, what is your favorite way to kind of ground yourself and yourself?

Trey Murphy (09:07)
We definitely do make some time to give each other like personal space. whenever we're on the road, before a show, really just acknowledging how big of an opportunity that we have and the fact that we have people like showing up to these shows, like hundreds and then thousands of people showing up to shows. Like.

kind of just speaks for itself, like the work that we put in, the creativity that we put in, and the fact that other people like it. It's like, we can't let those people down.

Yeah, we might get ourselves a good week or two after tour to kind of reset, but for the most part, we enjoy each other's company and get along and like practicing and making music together.

Matt (09:48)
Yeah, love it. So I guess in terms of, know, I...

Particularly like talking about a lot about mental health because I'm you know for a long time was just the guy who pushed through everything You know as society would tell you to do What is you know your favorite way or you know the better go -to way of kind of taking care of your mental health while you're out on tour because I know tour can be Exhausting you know it's a it's a grind You know what are some of the ways you? Fill your cup back up so to speak

Trey Murphy (10:21)
think just making sure you go outside enough, get some sunlight, that helps a lot.

Matt (10:25)
Yeah, I couldn't agree more. What about, I'd honestly love to hear from all of you on this one, that'd be cool.

Trey Murphy (10:32)
Yeah, mine's a similar thing. Like going outside, if we're like in a cool spot, going on hike or something, like just get away from the hustle and bustle of touring stuff. Yeah, it's really like physical activity, really. It's like going for a walk like they're saying. I usually take time to acknowledge, like validate my own nervousness and just rise to the occasion.

I need this to push myself just to see how far I can take it.

Yeah, like Will said, getting outside for me and just finding healthy ways to like reward yourself. You know, you just having a little treat, you know, going to a little coffee shop and a little, you know, something or going on a hike. Just trying to fit a little normal life activity into the strangeness of touring.

Matt (11:25)
Yeah. So you're kind of talking to Trevor before this, you guys have gone from, you know, pretty small cap rooms and have kind of like gradually worked your way up to these bigger cap rooms. What's that? You know, what's that kind of feel like? Is that like a super validating thing, knowing that, you know, you're the work you're putting in is paying off?

Trey Murphy (11:46)
Yeah, it's super cool. like you said, like starting smaller than working our way bigger, like the same people still show up to shows. So like we recognize the people that were there with us when we first started at the smaller venues and those same people are front row, like whenever it's a huge venue. It is very validating. We have a lot of fun with our fans. Yeah.

Matt (12:07)
Yeah, I mean, yeah.

What's a show look like for you guys? I know you guys like to get down pretty good. You have to be into a Willis show, but looking to get to one soon. Do you feed off the energy of the crowd, or is it just you guys feed off your own energies? You kind of being friends, feed off each other, and make a good show that way.

Trey Murphy (12:32)
Definitely a little bit of both. I think we do our best to deliver the best performance we possibly can, regardless of the crowd energy. But when the energy's there, you can definitely tell and it gives you a little boost.

Matt (12:47)
Yeah, 100%. Right. I think, kind of going back to your, to your albums, right? So can you, let's, let's talk through maybe like the, I don't know, the most, you know, your, your favorite song off your new album and kind of why.

Trey Murphy (13:03)
Yeah, where do want to I'd say mine is definitely Magenta. It's really just the arrangements of everything. It's just such a beautiful ambient song, I feel.

Yeah, mine is Clear Lake. I think it's just a classic Willis vibe. We had some really talented studio musicians play on that one, some really cool pedal steel as well as an amazing saxophone solo. I listen to that track all the time and that's probably the only one I go back to. Mine would definitely be Clear Lake.

I feel like the lyrics stick with me a lot. Just a story of perseverance and learning how to succeed from the times that you messed up and picking yourself back up and realizing once you're past the things that you thought would bring you down, it really wasn't that deep.

Mine's definitely Magenta. It just kind of has that, I don't know, it's something different sort of from what we normally do. It's got that twang vibe to it and like that was kind of a lot of the music I was into at the time when we were writing and stuff and so it was like, I don't know, it was cool to see something actually work out like that in a Willis song. Mine's Magenta too for sure. I think because it's so like emotionally driven.

it brings a certain feeling of whoever is listening. think that's really really nice in a song.

Matt (14:25)
Yeah, I think I would probably agree my favorite off the album is magenta. just, I don't know, has a just a feeling to it that is, I don't know, resonates somewhere deep inside me. So what is what about your creative process when you guys get in the studio? Is it, know, you guys collaborating on ideas or somebody brings an idea to the table and you kind of run with it? Or what does that look like?

Trey Murphy (14:50)
It's definitely both, like whoever's feeling creative, like they'll send a beat to the group text and we'll listen to that and we'll jam it out and practice. But then sometimes in practice, like we'll just start out with glint on drums or be on bass playing something. Then we all just kind of form something around that.

Yeah, we like to go into the studio as prepared as possible and have the tracks pretty much finished as far as like arrangement so we can focus on like the fun production stuff in the studio.

Matt (15:18)
Now, in terms of production, have you guys produced your first couple works or is it you've always had assistance with that?

Trey Murphy (15:29)
Yeah, we did one, why did we do one? One, two, three. Yeah, we did one, two, and three ourselves. Then we got producers for the fourth one. And then I can't thank you enough.

Matt (15:42)
And so you got Locals, you know, one and two and four are all EPs and three was an album. that, do I have that right? I'm not sure if I have that right.

Trey Murphy (15:55)
Well, all four EPs and then the album. Can't thank you enough.

Matt (15:57)
Okay. Got you. So in terms of just naming the locals, is there something behind that or is just, you you want it to be simple, wanted it to be, you know, memorable that way?

Trey Murphy (16:09)
We didn't want it to be simple and memorable, we just get so much love wherever we are, wherever we go. They make us feel like locals.

Matt (16:18)
Got you. Yeah, I love that. That's What about, so you guys had a release party in Chicago. Is that right for the album? How was that? Was that a time?

Trey Murphy (16:29)
Yo. It was lit. It was crazy. Hit my first stage dive during the show. It was sick. yeah.

Matt (16:37)
Amazing. So have you guys, have you guys always had like some go -to cities while you're on tour? Like what tour, what cities have always showed you all the most love?

Trey Murphy (16:46)
Denver, Chicago, where else? DC, Boston, LA. DC, New York, LA.

Denver is number one. Denver always brings the energy.

Matt (16:57)
Gotcha. So in terms of people, artists y 'all have opened for, is there some kind of takeaway or learning experience you've kind of gotten from some of the artists that you guys have toured with, some of the people you've opened for, maybe just kind of interacted with over the years?

Trey Murphy (17:15)
Definitely the best ability is availability. Being somewhere you need to be on time. Doing what you gotta do before you do what you want to do. It's something that we have taken from this whole experience whenever we were openers.

Matt (17:31)
Yeah, I mean the idea of like, you your necessary responsibilities before you're kind of able to really jump into what you absolutely want to do. Yeah, I mean that makes a ton of sense. For me, it's always been like talking to artists, I've learned that tour is absolutely grueling and that...

You know, I feel like it gets lost a lot of times that artists are also just people at the end of the day and that there's this level of like, especially with social media, there's this level of like, you feel like you have to be able to reach them at all times or like they can't have personal space and things like that. So that's been the coolest thing for me is.

Yeah, just getting to know artists on such like a more personal level and understanding the background behind it all, guess, so to speak. What about so outside of maybe the new album, what song are you all most proud of? Maybe not your most popular song, but just one you look back on it, you're like, man, that that song's sweet. I'm super happy we did it.

Trey Murphy (18:33)
That's the bell in the basement, for sure. It has a really nice string arrangement. It's really nice video to go along

Yeah, well did. All the filming and editing for that video did a really amazing job. Yeah, I love the composition of a ballad. It's also one of my favorite guitar parts that I've ever written and it's never not been fun to play live. What's the song we made at the Airbnb in Prospect?

In Between? In Between, yes. In Between, yeah. That's my favorite one. like that just started from scratch, basically. We just rented an Airbnb in Prospect, Kentucky and just got to it, you know. are, mean, yeah, Ballad and In Between are my two favorites, I think. I really like Pool House off of Locals 4, too.

That's probably could be worth it. Really a lot of stuff on locals three because that was like. Like the other locals one and two, we did those on our own for sure, but it was just like super basic recording stuff like, you know, just your basic interface on that. But on locals three, we recorded a lot of it to this tape machine that I went on bought and like.

We got this little like Tascam board and stuff and just we spent so long recording it and that was one where we really experimented with like the tape machine and all that kind of stuff. And that was cool. I thought it came out really good. Yeah, that was a very personal experience for us to go and did all the mixing for locals three and did a great job with it. And it was just very that was our first time getting super hands on and feeling like we were making like a professional product on our own.

Yeah, like the layering in the whole album is just incredible. It's next level for sure.

Matt (20:21)
Yeah, I mean, I think at least for me in terms of, know, song I like the most by you guys is called Overthinking or Overthinker. Love that song. Absolutely love that song. Yeah. So I'm curious when you guys, know, do you, so there's like this, feel like there's this trend of

like live recording songs for albums. Is that something y 'all do or you just, you you're recording your part and then you're layering it in kind of deal.

Trey Murphy (20:49)
We live recorded Locals 2 for sure. Yeah, it's definitely important for us to at least like track the bass and drums live. That's our studio setup. We go in like super prepared to lay down like a live track and maybe we can keep a guitar or two. But as long as we get the drums and the bass live, like then it's pretty easy to layer on top of that. But it's important to us to get a live take of at least a couple instruments to maintain that live feel.

Matt (21:19)
Yeah, love it. So kind of in the same vein of, know, song you're most proud of, what about so you all have each individual music taste, a give me a song or an artist that more people need to know.

Trey Murphy (21:33)
people need to

Almost anything by strawberry milk cult. I dig it in.

I say George Clinton.

Matt (21:39)
towards Clann.

Trey Murphy (21:40)
George Clinton. Clinton. Clinton. Yeah, we know by George Clinton already. George Clinton. There's this artist I like a lot called Uffy. She's a singer -songwriter out of LA, but she makes really cool stuff. I'm not really into...

Matt (21:43)
Clanton got you

Trey Murphy (21:59)
Brazilian Portuguese artist. Her name is Maros. I don't really think she's like that underground at this point, but I just love the way she like composes everything. She reminds me of lot of John Mary, who's like an artist that I grew up listening to a lot, but a lot more nuance.

Matt (22:18)
Yeah, I think so. If you guys had to, know, what if someone was like listening to Willis for the first time, right? What would what would you want the takeaway to be on who you all are, what you all sound is like, you know, three, four or five words of like what's Willis's core?

Trey Murphy (22:38)
There's five dudes hanging. Five dudes hanging.

Matt (22:41)
Five dudes hanging making chill music.

Trey Murphy (22:44)
You know, we like to ask people that ourselves, like, I like when people tell me like, you guys sound like, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da,

Matt (22:54)
Yeah.

Trey Murphy (22:55)
Like, I like that type of stuff. I think my favorite compliment to get is that we're like different and unique, but also easy to listen to.

Matt (22:57)
Okay.

Yeah, I would very much agree with the very, very easy to listen to, very easy to throw on and just, yeah, get into really quickly. So kind of going forward for you guys, what is, you what's the, what's the next year look like for you and what are you guys most excited about?

Trey Murphy (23:21)
The tour starts in November. We're doing a short run throughout the Southeast. And then next year will be the big country -wide tour. And we're also trying to record some new music. So perhaps a locals' live.

Matt (23:36)
Sweet. Locals 5, love it. What about the question I've been wondering, I'm sure your fans have been wondering too, are we gonna get any locals vinyl? What?

Trey Murphy (23:50)
We get that a lot and absolutely it's coming. Very soon. Absolutely. In the works right now.

Matt (23:52)
It's coming. Love it. Well guys, I appreciate y 'all taking the time today and yeah, seriously, I can't wait to see you guys out on tour and you know, wish nothing but the best for you.

Trey Murphy (24:03)
Appreciate that bro, likewise so Thank you man, good to meet you. You're on the list for any show you want to come to.

Matt (24:08)
Appreciate that.