Willows // College, Cats and One Familia Takeaway in Horwich
We caught up with Willows for a quickfire chat about their musical heroes, favourite venues, the songs currently on repeat, questionable takes on The Rolling Stones and why you should never stop grafting.
So, who are Willows?
OwenWe can't even say we're from anywhere because we're all from different parts of the fucking bastard country. Tom's from Shrewsbury, Lemo's from Ormskirk, and me and Ethan are pretty much from Preston.
What's on repeat right now?
TomBig KEO. I'm a big KEO fan.
OwenTom's on Big KEO. I've had a lot of Tooth on recently.
LemoFourth of July by Soundgarden, and Loathe.
Owen / EthanThe new Loathe album is well good. We listen to shit loads, really. There's loads going around at the minute.
What's your happy place? What's the best venue you've played or visited?
OwenI think for us it's got to be the Deaf Institute. About two weeks ago we played support for Everyman on their headline tour and it was sick. It was our first ever gig, it was absolutely packed and we played really well. That's definitely a happy place for us.
Who's your hero?
TomI'm saying John Bonham.
OwenI'm saying Jackie Chan, mate. He did all his own stuff and I think that's cold.
LemoI'll say my mum.
OwenLemo's mum is the hero for Willows.
Do you guys have any pets?
OwenWe've got a very important pet — our logo thing. That's my cat, Earl, he's the face of it all. Ethan's got a cat called Marble, he's a character.
TomI've got two dogs.
If someone made a film about your life tomorrow, what's the opening scene?
TomProbably playing a gig.
OwenNo, mine would be me being born. Everyone's going, “Woah, he's massive.” I was born at 9lb 9oz. That is a heavy, heavy baby.
What's one small decision that completely changed the direction of your life or career?
OwenProbably college. Tom kind of just miraculously popped up.
OwenActually, I've got a better answer. I commented on the Willows account — I thought I was commenting from my personal account, but it was the band's, on one of Tom's posts. He messaged me saying, “Do you need a drummer?”
TomThat was wild.
If people discover your music 100 years from now, what do you hope they learn about you?
OwenAttitude. I feel like we've kind of got a certain demeanour. Do you not get that?
TomMine's attitude too.
The Quickfire Round
Vinyl or streaming?
AllVinyl.
Early set or closing set?
AllClosing.
Favourite takeaway?
EthanFamilia.
LemoTaco Bell.
OwenA-HA — La Familia!
TomWhat's that?
OwenIt's a place in Horwich. They do like everything, everything.
EthanIt's like a Bossman shop — kebabs, pizza.
OwenEverything. Ah, La Familia.
Last song you listened to?
LemoAh, I'm not saying that.
TomProbably our new one, to be fair.
EthanYou had Obsession on earlier.
OwenOh yeah! Obsession by Thornhill.
LemoI put Jack Johnson on earlier — Banana Pancakes.
OwenOh god, that's rough, that.
One artist everyone should know about?
AllWillows.
OwenYeah. Us.
What's the most overrated thing in music?
TomRatings.
OwenMost overrated thing in music… like ever?
TomI guess so, yeah.
LemoThe Rolling Stones.
OwenThat is bang out of order.
LemoAC/DC.
OwenYeah — AC/DC.
What song do you wish you'd written?
OwenMine's going to be Slide Away by Oasis.
LemoI'd say Stairway to Heaven.
OwenThat's just a classic, that.
TomMoby Dick.
What's the best £20 you've ever spent?
OwenLa Familia! That takeaway again. Probably just a takeaway — a big massive feast, a KFC. That's about £20.
LemoThis hat (the one he's wearing).
What's the worst advice you've ever been given?
Lemo“Give up.”
Owen“Give up, you're awful.”
What's the last thing you Googled?
LemoMine was train tickets.
OwenHold on, what was mine? Lyrics to the new song.
TomMine was parking.
LemoOh — mine was ChatGPT.
What's a hill you'd die on?
OwenThe 1975 are a good band.
LemoNo, no, no.
OwenI'll die on that hill. I don't want to hear it, because I know that they're good.
LemoWe are not indie poo.
What's one thing your fans would never guess about you?
OwenI think we're a lot more outgoing than we seem.
TomWe're not as black and white as the Instagram shows.
What would you say to someone who's about to give up on music?
LemoKeep pushing. Remember what inspired you.
OwenExactly. Remember why you started. You started for a reason. Just hold on to that.
What's one piece of advice you'll always stand by?
OwenNo matter what happens, keep it at the same graft level.
LemoAlways stay true to yourself.
OwenThere could be zero people in a room or 10,000 people in a room, and you should still perform just as well for each one.
LemoStay grounded.
If there's one thing you want people to remember about you, it's…
OwenThe message that I'm spreading.
EthanThe feeling of the music.
OwenIt's not just the tunes — there's something behind it as well.
With their mix of attitude, graft and a healthy disregard for anyone else's musical opinions, Willows clearly aren't interested in fitting neatly into a box. Whether they're playing to an empty room or a packed venue, the message stays the same: keep pushing, stay true to yourself and never lose the reason you started making music in the first place. And, apparently, give The 1975 a chance. Maybe.
Where to find Willows
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