P.O.D. open up ahead of their upcoming UK tour

P.O.D. emerged in 1994 with Snuff the Punk and have since been described as one of the early originators of nu-metal. Set to play Download Festival next month, we had the opportunity to speak to frontman Sonny Sandoval.

What is the band currently up to?

Sonny Sandoval: We’ve just got off tour in the States. We’ve pretty much been touring for the last year and this will be our first overseas tour coming up in June. We’re stopping your way, playing Download Festival, The Electric Ballroom and Cellar Southampton.

Murdered Love appears to be a return to your roots. Was that a conscious decision?

SS: I don’t think so. We took five years away from the industry, like we went into a cave, and when you come out you rediscover yourself. At the end of the day you have to play what you enjoy. This album is a collaboration of what we’ve done and we’re not trying to be influenced by radio.

What is the theme of the album?

SS: It has a somewhat Armageddon end-of-the-world kind of vibe to it.

Over the last 20 years how do you feel you’ve evolved as a group?

SS: We started as four guys in our garage and I’ve watched the guys get better as musicians – really mastering their craft. We can play anything: we’ve been one of the heaviest of bands and now we’re also laid back.

What drives you to continue making music?

SS: There’s no fame to be had and there’s no more money in this business unless you’re Justin Bieber or a pop act, so you have to do it because you love it.

How does it make you feel to know that you are considered the voice of apathetic and disenchanted youth worldwide?

SS: It’s the only thing that keeps us going – that’s what we set out for our band to be. It’s beyond entertainment or just good rock n’ roll, it’s had an impact on people’s lives and that’s the kind of band we set out to be.

Youth of the Nation was influenced by the Santana High School shootings?

SS: When we were writing The Fundamental Elements of Southtown and Satellite we were only two blocks away from the shooting. It set the mood and sometimes we like to tell stories in our music and that was one.

What is your opinion on the gun control debate?

SS: I don’t own a gun personally but I’m living in a situation where you can’t trust anything else except for what you can do. So even now I question if it’s time for me to buy a gun because we’re living in crazy times and I do have the right and obligation to protect my family and what’s mine.

Let’s finish on a lighter note. Do you miss your dreadlocks?

SS: If I want to visit them I just go into my garage and take a long hard look at them. I’m a dread at heart but like everything it’s become trendy and that’s like how music has gone: there’s no soul and no heart. It’s still a part of me and once it’s no longer trendy maybe I’ll grow them out again.

Samuel Mensah
Photo: Leann Mueller

For further information about P.O.D. and future events visit here.

Watch the video for Higher here: