allalonemagazine interview- A story to every baseline: The Willers Brothers!
Jules from allalonemag interviewed our friends The Willers Brothers. Here you can read the interesting interview...
The journey from being DJs to becoming health coaches in the music industry
The duo has pushed the term tech-house and made it palatable for those passionate about a deep, brooding and hypnotic sound that is as addictively groovy as it is minimalistic. The Willers Brothers first made a name for themselves in London after landing a weekly residency at EGG in 2013. Siblings Sean and Liam have been on an impressive upward trajectory ever since, bringing their passion for deep and minimalist house to Berlin, where they have also found themselves relocating. Not so long into their lives, the brothers have decided to stop making music. In this interview, Sean tells us about the end of the Willers brothers‘ journey and the beginning of Willers Fitness.
Hey Sean. How are you? Could you tell me a little bit about what you have been up to recently – I know you stopped producing and DJing. Is it more of a break? Were there any specific reasons?
Hey, First of all, thank you for having us. Yes, so we stopped back last July. It was a tough decision, but after covid, it gave us a chance to focus on ourselves, which over the years, we had neglected. We then realised that maybe it was time to move on to new ventures. I recently set up an online coaching business, ‚WillersFitness‘, where we help people in and around the music scene get back on track with their health and help change their lifestyle to facilitate a healthier approach whilst still enjoying the party! Go check out our Instagram @willersfitness
New ventures are always necessary in order to move on. The coaching business of yours sounds like something we are definitely missing in our scene. Mental health in general is a serious matter that should be more accessible, especially in our scene. Can you tell us a little bit more about it? Did you find that in time of you DJing, that there weren’t enough platforms you could reach out to? And in the end, how did you manage to get through your mental health issues?
Yes of course, we support music professionals to live a happier and more balanced life whilst still enjoying the party, by keeping them accountable daily and giving them the tools they need to maintain their fitness and productivity with ease whilst going from gig to go.
I felt that there was nothing like this when I was Djing, and that’s where the idea stemmed from! It was a big reason for me quitting; with no support available, I couldn’t get a hold of my drug use. Fortunately, now I have, and I’m happy to be helping people in the scene to be the best version of themselves and achieve fitness levels they never thought were possible!
I am very happy to hear that you are feeling so much better. It’s impressive, you have come such a long way. Not everyone can say no to drugs, even if they know they should. So who was by your side in those times when you felt lost?
Thank you! I had no one and had to get there on my own, and this is why I now want to support people in the industry who are struggling so they know they have someone to help them if they need it.
I often feel that mental health in general is made to be a taboo topic. Why do you think it is? Mental health is often stigmatized and made into a taboo topic because of a lack of understanding and education. It is often associated with weakness or moral failing and a lack of resources and support for those dealing with mental health issues.
I want to help create a movement, so people know they have support through Willers Fitness
And do you have some advice for those out there who are struggling, but are not ready yet to admit it?
I would say reach out to someone. Remember that seeking help is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of strength. Support is available, and recovery is possible.
Also try to cut out the partying for just a week and see how much better you feel. It’s then easier to put the damage it’s doing into context.
How would you describe the scene these days? What do you find absolutely annoying and on the other hand absolutely great?
I would say it hasn’t changed much in the past few years. It’s definitely not slowing down with some incredible production coming out week after week. I feel the crowd is undoubtedly getting younger (or I’m just getting older).
Me and Liam hated the politics and how fake so many people are and how not too many people think about their physical and mental health (which I’m trying to change).
On the other hand, we loved meeting new creative and inspiring individuals all the time in the scene, especially in Berlin! I really miss the freedom of expression that the city has.
I couldn’t agree more. Do you still live in Berlin? How was the summer for you?
No, we moved at the start of last summer back to the UK after 4 incredible years. That place will always hold a special place in our hearts!
This summer has been one of my best, working on the business, my health and the health of others. It was also nice to travel again this year, especially returning to Ibiza on several occasions.
I am very glad to hear. You mentioned before that you hated the politics around it and how fake people were. Do you think it triggered a part of yours to stop DJing?
I don’t think it helped. So many people are so insecure due to their mental and physical health issues which creates huge egos and drama. Again another reason why we set up Willers Fitness was to help people with this and ultimately improve the fakeness in the industry as people become more content with themselves!
Thank you Sean for your being so open and talking about those very important issues. Now a few more less heavy questions. What kind of music do you listen to outside of clubbing?
I have always been a huge Hip-hop fan. Slum Village and Wu-Tang are my all-time favourites!
What is your perfect soundtrack to a glass of wine?
The Willers Brothers – The Possibility (AVOTRE)
And last, but not least. What does music mean to you?
Music is and always has been a massive part of my life! It has shaped me in so many ways and is a part of me daily!
Thank you Sean, for this interview and all the best to you and your future!
Here you can find their last release in a winebundle!