Getting to Know… One Fall | Interview 🎤

In the 394^th Q&A in our Getting to Know… series, we get the inside scoop from Salem, Massachusetts melodic punk band, One Fall.

“We’re pretty heavy and dole out the riffs, but we also have a cheerful energy.” Rock on, One Fall! In response to our first question, the band expounds, “It seems like people respond to that weird combination of being aggressive hardcore guys and also sweet, sweet lil’ angel babies.” We get the inside scoop on the melodic punk band from Salem, Massachusetts: the genesis, goals, musical influences, and current and future musical endeavors. Helen answers our burning questions regarding the band. So, without further ado, let’s jump right into 🎤 Getting to Know… One Fall: Interview No. 394! 

For those who may not be familiar with you, what would you say makes One Fall distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?

Great question. We’re pretty heavy and dole out the riffs, but we also have a cheerful energy. It seems like people respond to that weird combination of being aggressive hardcore guys and also sweet, sweet lil’ angel babies.

Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did One Fall form and what were some of the goals or visions you had early on?

Phill, Caleb, and I (this is Helen, hi!) knew each other from back in the day, our former bands played together a lot and we all used to work at the same music video game company. We always wanted to play together, so when Caleb moved back to our neighborhood after a long stint on the West Coast, we jumped at the chance to form a band. Our earliest goal was to “be A Wilhelm Scream but less good because come on.” That’s verbatim what I texted to Phill that I was aiming for, musically.

Let’s talk more about goals.  Have your goals or your perspectives changed since first starting out? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

Yes, a lot! Our first year as a band was a lot more action-packed than we expected. We were expecting to still just be slowly getting our name out there – and we are, but we’re had the opportunity to open for some of our favorite bands and to play festivals that we never imagined we’d be able to play. Certainly not in the first year of being a band. Our current goals are to put out a full-length (or at least a full length’s worth of tracks) next year and to play for as many new faces as possible.

Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Whom would you consider some of your biggest musical influences and how are they influential?

We have a mix of influences – obviously all the biggies in the melodic punk/hardcore scene (Strike Anywhere, Strung Out, Belvedere). But also, some that might not be as obvious – we’re huge fans of Frank Turner, Blood Command, and the Iron Roses. Darren is a metal dude at heart, and I unabashedly love Bon Jovi. We also take a lot of inspiration from local bands/friends’ bands that rip hard and bring something new to the table, like Brix‘n Mortar, Cape Crush, SkyTigers, and our buds in Oh the Humanity!

Ah, the fun stuff.  What’s your craziest tour story or the wackiest thing that’s happened during a performance?  Feel free to be creative.

None of us drink anymore, so things don’t get too “crazy” in that sense – we’re disappointingly sensible and go to bed distressingly early. But we do spend an inordinate amount of time discussing the success and frequency of our bowel movements – something we didn’t really notice until we had a pal come along with us to sling merch, and she was somewhat horrified by this tendency.

Up until this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live? What makes that song special?

For me, I’m very proud of “Rage/Quit” because it is a great representation of the kind of music we set out to make when we started this band. It’s heavy and challenging to play, but it is (hopefully) also melodic and emotionally impactful. I also just really, really love playing super-fast down strums, and that song for sure provides that opportunity.

Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left of center the world should know about you? Secret talents or surprising tidbits?

The fact that Phill, Caleb, and I are all video game developers is pretty interesting, I think! Also, I won second place in the Topsfield Fair muffin contest in 2022, which was BIG NEWS in this household. I think our shared enthusiasm for professional wrestling is pretty apparent, but worth calling out.

Closing out, what is One Fall currently working on, promoting that you can share with us or want us to know about? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure. 

We’re working on a concept for a new music video with @gotdamnjoshua, who shot our video for Rats Abandon Ship, and is an absolute delight. And we’re trying to plan a short UK tour for 2024!

Thank you so much for sharing and taking the time to answer these questions, and best of luck moving forward. 

Thanks so much for asking!

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Getting to Know… One Fall: Interview No. 394 [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Nicole Tammaro, One Fall; Tumisu via Pixabay]