We recently reviewed 'The Fall' by Point Pleasant and we were that impressed, we tracked down the band for a chat. Here, Marrty B of the band tells all.
What does the name Point Pleasant mean to you, and how does it connect to the music you’re making?
Point Pleasant is an industrial area in Wallsend, Newcastle upon Tyne — an area where I grew up. It holds a lot of personal significance for me, but it also represents something that has changed over time. An area that was once industrious and prosperous is no longer quite what it was. The name is both a nod to where I come from and an acknowledgement of a time and way of life that has largely passed. For me, as the songwriter and frontman, it carries an even deeper meaning. It represents my roots, my upbringing and the place that helped shape who I am.
“The Fall” is one of your recent singles (alongside “I Recall”). Where does this song sit in the bigger picture of what you’re working on right now?
“The Fall” was one of two songs I wrote after a long period of not writing any music. Looking at where it sits alongside the other material we have ready, I feel like we’re starting to carve out an identity and develop a sound of our own, particularly both vocally and musically. I think we’re really beginning to find our own character, and “The Fall” is a slightly different side of that.
It’s more sombre, slower and more serious than a lot of our other songs, both musically and lyrically. But I think that’s what makes it important. It gives people an opportunity to see the diversity within Point Pleasant and shows that we’re not confined to one particular sound or style. There are a lot of different sides to what we’re capable of, both musically and lyrically, and I think “The Fall” gives listeners a glimpse of that. It shows that while we’re developing a sound that feels distinctly our own, we’re also not afraid to explore different moods, emotions and musical directions along the way.
What was the starting point for “The Fall”? Was it a riff, a lyric, a mood, or a specific moment that sparked it?
As mentioned previously, “The Fall” was one of two songs I wrote over the course of a weekend, following a long period of not writing any songs. The initial inspiration came from the acknowledgement and realisation that my dad’s health and addiction were never going to improve. Despite years of hope, encouragement, support and investment in his life, his wellbeing and his future, I had reached the point where I realised there was nothing anyone else could do to change the situation.
“The Fall” came from that realisation — that sometimes we are faced with things that are bigger, more frightening and more complex than we can ever begin to deal with ourselves. There are situations that are simply beyond our control, and sometimes, no matter how much you love someone or how much you want to help them, love just isn’t enough.
For me, “The Fall” is about coming to terms with that reality. It’s about recognising that sometimes you have to accept what you cannot control and allow people to find their own way, even when that path is painful, difficult and, ultimately, tragic. The song was written just a week or two before my dad passed away, which, given the meaning and context behind the lyrics, makes it feel even more poignant to me. In many ways, the song captured something I was only just beginning to understand at the time, and I think that’s what makes “The Fall” such a deeply personal song for me.
Were there any particular influences — musical, literary, personal, or otherwise — that shaped “The Fall”?
Although I wasn’t consciously aware of it at the time, because I didn’t know where the song was going to go either musically or lyrically, I think the biggest influence behind “The Fall” was simply my own experiences, feelings and emotions. It came from what I was going through at the time, and from watching someone I loved deeply struggle. In many ways, the song was influenced not just by what was happening in that particular moment, but by the emotions I had carried for many years while watching something gradually move towards its inevitable conclusion.
Musically, the influences were much broader. They came from the indie music, indie bands and other genres I grew up listening to as a child. Those sounds have naturally stayed with me over the years and have become part of my own musical identity, even if I wasn’t consciously trying to draw on them when I wrote the song. So, while “The Fall” wasn’t written with any particular influence or musical direction in mind, I think it naturally became a reflection of both where I was emotionally at the time and the music that had shaped me growing up.
How do you hope listeners connect with “The Fall”? What feeling or story do you want them to take away?
I would hope that listeners take away a sense of connection and understanding from the lyrics of the song. Addiction and grief are subjects that affect so many of us at some point in our lives, whether through our own experiences or through someone close to us.
I hope that anyone who has been affected by addiction, grief or loss can hear the song and feel that they’re not alone in their thoughts and feelings. If the lyrics can provide even a small sense of comfort, understanding or connection to someone going through something similar, then that would mean a lot to me.
Looking at these early singles, what do they say about the direction Point Pleasant is heading in?
Although both songs are essentially love songs, they explore different issues and aspects of relationships from very different angles. They each have their own themes, but the underlying message and tone of both songs is ultimately one of love.
Musically, I think they’re very different from one another. “I Recall” is much more upbeat, with a kind of pop-indie feel, whereas “The Fall” is darker, moodier, grittier and much more serious in tone. I think, together, the two songs really demonstrate the different sides of what the band is capable of, both musically and lyrically. I’d like to think the songs will keep listeners guessing about where we’re going to go next with future releases.
Is there a particular moment in the song — musically or lyrically — that still hits hardest for you when you perform or listen back to it?
The line, “a life without love is such a lonely time.” I feel that it summed up everything that was going on in his life.
What’s next for Point Pleasant after these singles? Any plans for more music, an EP/album, or shows that we should know about?
Next for Point Pleasant is playing as many gigs as we can. It can be a hard task getting five grown adults together with busy lives, so we try to take every opportunity we get to play live.
We’ve also got a tank full of songs ready to go, and we’re still writing more all the time. We really want to get those songs recorded and out into the world, so there’s definitely more music on the way. We already have a couple more tracks recorded, and we’re hoping to start bringing those out over the coming months.
For now, it’s about getting out there, playing as much as we can and continuing to build on what we’ve started.
If someone is discovering the band through “The Fall,” what other track or aspect of your work would you point them toward next?
At the moment, the only other song we’ve released is “I Recall”, so I’d definitely encourage people to give that a listen and hear for themselves the two different sides of Point Pleasant. Where “The Fall” is darker, slower and more introspective, “I Recall” shows a much more upbeat and melodic side of the band. I think listening to both gives a good idea of the range of what we’re capable of and where we might go next.
We also have a YouTube channel with a couple of live tracks, as well as music videos for both of our released singles, so there’s plenty there for anyone who wants to get a better feel for the band beyond the studio recordings.
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