After 23-years in the music business, the band P.O.D. realizes what’s important in the privilege of entertaining the world with their great talent. It’s the honor of inspiring and making a real difference in the lives of young people, and not just their fans.
P.O.D. initially released two independent studio albums and six major studio albums including, Snuff the Punk 1994, Brown 1996, The Fundamental Elements of Southtown 1999, Sateilite 2001, Payable on Death 2003, Testify 2006,When Angels & Serpents Dance 2008, Murdered Love 2012, and (SoCal Sessions 2014,) available on iTunes and Amazon Music. Soon, the band will be playing aboard the Shiprocked festival cruise and spreading their message of positivity to the masses.
In a FestPop exclusive via a phone interview, we caught-up with P.O.D. frontman Sonny Sandoval, 40. Sandoval’s positive attitude and sincerity shine through in the Q & A session.
FestPop: Your music has inspired millions of young people. What is your greatest satisfaction in changing young people’s lives through your music?
Sandoval: “Great satisfaction is making a difference, and it drives us to keep making music. On occasions people have come up to me and said ‘your music saved my life, I was ready to kill myself, and listened to one of your songs and your music changed my life.’ There is a responsibility to keep it going and a joy, to create music.”
FestPop: Your songs have positive messages. When you perform at music festivals, how do you feel about the band’s who use profanity in their lyrics?
Sandoval: “It’s not new to me (bad language) but there is a responsibility in the messages you send through music. Some bands may think that it’s what they have to do to create an image or a fake persona, I don’t buy into it. I know there’s more to it (the true power in music and the effect it has on people’s lives.)”
FestPop: In your song “Beautiful” you address the serious issue of bullying, and healing from those life circumstances. What was your inspiration for the song?
Sandoval: “Well, it’s a big concern. One of the benefits of being in music is travel, I speak with the kids and visit schools and rehabs. When I talk to a girl who cuts herself and feels unloved, I let her know that she is beautiful and she is loved, God is love and it’s unconditional.”
Sonny Sandoval, Photo by John Doukas
FestPop: Your song style is very unique in the metal-rock arena. What advice would you give a new band who wants to inspire people through their music?
Sandoval: “My advice is to have fun. We started out just having fun, but we later realized that there’s more to it. Music is powerful in how it effects peoples lives and there is a responsibility in having that power.”
FestPop: What message of inspiration would you like to send to your millions of fans worldwide?
Sandoval: “We are thankful to make music and ultimately we want to love people through our music and realize that there’s more to it. There’s more to life than some of its challenges.” In essence, Sandoval wants his fans and everyone to understand that the challenges and problems in life are fleeting, but God’s love is everlasting.
Written by FestPop Sr. Rock and Country Editor
Kaeley Glasco
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