“I’m grateful to be residing out my religion. I don’t need the world to not know who my Jesus is as a result of it’s not what the world says. You’ve been lied to, you’ve been deceived. My Jesus, He was a insurgent. He’s a punk rocker. He cherished the folks. He healed them, and He made a method for us to have communication with God Almighty.”
These phrases might have been spoken by Sonny Sandoval from the stage within the mid-Nineteen Nineties, when he was in his late teenagers, however right here he’s at present, nonetheless sharing that very same much-needed message. In a world the place so a lot of our childhood heroes have misplaced their religion, Sonny’s unwavering devotion serves as a refreshing reminder of what first drew me to this music so a few years in the past.
After I first heard P.O.D. blasting by way of the audio system on the legendary, now-defunct Pterodactyl Membership simply outdoors Atlanta, I used to be 9 years previous, wide-eyed, overwhelmed, and momentarily retreating to the greenback movie show throughout the road as a result of, fairly truthfully, I wasn’t but ready for the sheer depth and quantity coming from Sonny Sandoval and the band on stage. Almost three many years later, talking with Sonny Sandoval about his compelling new ebook, *Son of Southtown*, introduced all these early emotions dashing vividly again.
Sonny’s ebook—and much more, listening to him narrate his personal audiobook—is weak, uncooked, and strikingly genuine. As we talked, he mirrored on the distinctive expertise of voicing such deeply private tales, admitting, “It was completely different. , I’ve by no means achieved something like that. I knew I needed to relate the ebook… I like listening to books as effectively, and I’m type of bummed when the writer doesn’t learn it himself or herself. However I used to be so anxious that it was going to sound with no emotion and simply chilly. For what it’s value, it got here out loads higher than I believed.”
The facility of Sonny’s narrative lies in its honesty and his dedication to not stepping on anybody else’s story. Sonny candidly shared, “I needed to be gracious to everyone. It’s not about anyone else’s story. Allow them to inform it. If something, I really feel dangerous after I hearken to it again. I believe Marcos obtained the worst of it. And it simply because I’ve at all times seen him as a bit brother… I didn’t need it to come back throughout like I don’t really feel good on him.”
If there’s one factor that hasn’t modified within the lifetime of Sandoval, it’s his enduring delight in his neighborhood, Southtown, a spot immortalized in P.O.D.’s music. Sonny defined, “I’ve at all times needed to, and I nonetheless do, spotlight my neighborhood, the town I’m from. I’m tremendous pleased with my neighborhood and the folks. It’s made us who we’re.” He continued passionately, “The place we come from, it’s regular to drive down the road and someone’s taking part in rap, someone taking part in mariachi music, someone taking part in steel. It was by no means contrived, by no means pressured. Primary, we’re followers of music. We love every kind and sorts of music.”
The authenticity of P.O.D.’s sound and message resonated deeply, even throughout surprising demographics. Sonny recalled the band’s shocking mainstream enchantment: “We’re being authentically ourselves. What actually shook issues up for us was after we had been on MTV. You had these youngsters from Tulsa, these youngsters from Iowa watching MTV as a result of they’re watching Britney Spears, and rapidly they’re seeing a complete completely different tradition they’ve by no means seen earlier than.”
Religion was central to our dialogue. Sonny emphasised the depth and consistency of his relationship with God, saying powerfully, “It’s plain. I had an encounter with God that was actual. I don’t dwell my life at all times asking God for proof. I do know God is sweet; I do know He exists, and I like Him, and I do know that He loves me. My relationship with Him is actual, so nobody’s going to inform me something completely different.”
We revisited P.O.D.’s unbelievable rise in the course of the late ’90s and early 2000s, notably their unprecedented mainstream crossover, symbolized powerfully of their album *Satellite tv for pc*, which was tragically however prophetically launched on September 11, 2001. Sonny described that surreal expertise vividly: “We simply got here off a report that offered 1,000,000 albums, and that wasn’t 1,000,000 Christians. That was people who had been taking note of P.O.D. ‘Alive’ was primary on MTV’s Whole Request, the largest TV video present on the earth. After which we’re on the brink of get up after our signing… Rapidly we’re getting the decision, and it’s just like the report launch didn’t matter anymore. We had been similar to everyone else—what’s happening? Praying.”
Sonny acknowledged how, even within the midst of tragedy, their music supplied hope and which means: “We wrote that tune beforehand. We didn’t know that this was going to occur, however that was at all times our intention, to only give folks hope. Let’s give them love. Let’s allow them to know that it’s going to be okay tomorrow.”
Reflecting on the broader cultural second, Sonny described the challenges P.O.D. confronted as believers in a secular area: “We knew we needed to be plain in order that they will sit again and be like, ‘What are you going to say after you see?’ Like, I don’t imagine in God or I’m not into that complete churchy Christian stuff, however these dudes, they killed it. You may’t say nothing.”
Sonny stays steadfastly genuine, deeply rooted in his religion, but repeatedly humble. “I’m grateful to be residing out my religion. I’m not saying I’m excellent. I’m not your poster little one. Simply don’t strive to remove my freedom or put me right into a field as a result of I’m attempting to dwell it out the very best I can.”
Talking with Sonny reaffirmed why P.O.D. was not solely influential in shaping a technology’s music style but additionally instrumental in demonstrating an genuine, highly effective Christian religion that transcended boundaries, challenged stereotypes, and reached into hearts worldwide. It’s a robust reminder, by way of Sonny’s journey, that true religion, real music, and genuine life, when mixed, stay undeniably highly effective.
*Son of Southtown* is a deeply private journey, a narrative of resilience, religion, neighborhood, and the profound energy of music. To completely recognize Sonny’s unbelievable story, choose up the ebook at present, and watch the video of our dialog, go to our YouTube channel for the complete interview.
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