HM Exclusive: P.O.D. Interview
POD graced the cover of HM Magazine this past month (for the seventh time) and the following interview with frontman Sonny Sandoval provided the quotes. As a type of “bonus material” feature, here is the actual Q&A as it happened.
DVP: Man, I can only imagine that God’s love and forgiveness has been spread around this band. I think it kind of shocked the world to hear that Marcos was re-joining the band. I want to respect your privacy, but I’m sure all of us POD fans want to know how this reconciliation between Marcos and you all went down. Please explain what you feel comfortable with.
Sonny: For sure uh, man you know. Marcos is you know… Wuv kinda reached out there in the past a few times, maybe not a few times, but… It’s definitely the only time that I had talked with Marcos before was actually in the writing process of the last record, is right when “Dimebag” Darrell was murdered, and Marcos reached out to us. I think that kinda really put something on his heart, and just kinda took it all in. He called us. We happened to all be in Palm Springs writing the record, and it was the first time we really had a conversation. It kinda just stemmed off of “Hey dude, I’m trippin how … you know… that something like that could happen.”
He was just kinda reflecting on all of us and what we’ve been through, you know, playin’ those clubs. So, he reached out that way, and I believe Wuv might of run into him once or twice. You know, his nephew was playing football with one of our nephews in the hood. You know, time had passed, and he just reached out. I think it was the day before Halloween of last year. He had reached out to Wuv and talked with him, and then he said “Hey, do you think; you know I’d really love to talk with Sonny and Traa, do you mind if I give them a call?” Wuv said “They’d love to hear from you, man.”
So, he called me out of nowhere, and I was talking to him, and it wasn’t even about music, it was like, wow, years have passed and our relationship has gone downhill. It was more of how we were doing and what’s going on with everybody. One of the things that he just came to me was, “I’ve just been thinking about you guys a lot, and obviously I’ve done my stuff and my things with this other band,” he said. “But dude, I really want to inspire again with our music. And I know that even through our differences and maybe even, you know, different opinions and we’ve grown even in different ways, you know. But, I know that POD always had a gift for inspiring people, and I miss that.” I said, “Bro, you said it best, aside from the dirty rotten sinners that we are and all the mistakes that we make… Still, with POD God is continuing to shine and move a lot of people, and that’s been evident for all the years that we’ve been together. And it’s a comforting feeling; it’s a good feeling knowing that there is something bigger than just us 4.” But, man we just had a good talk and he said, “I would just love to get with you guys, and hang out, get lunch.” I was like, “Cool dude, tomorrow is Halloween I’m sure you got stuff with your family; I’ve got stuff with my family, but let’s hook up.” I said, “Let’s call the guys and set a lunch date,” and we did. We set a lunch date and we just hung out, man.
“And in the meantime.. The crazy thing is that, in the mean time, you know, we were going through stuff with Jason, you know. He just really wanted to be home, but at the same time I think he was having a hard time telling us that he didn’t want to be away from home and go out on the road anymore. You know, it was time to start writing a record that would take a lot more time away from him and home. But, nobody knew that except us because we had already had a conversation with Jason. We told him, “Dude, we are about to step in a new record. You just got to be up front and let us know what you want to do, what’s best for you. It’s not even what you want to do, its what you should do.” He actually came to us and said, “Dude, I think I just need to be home, with my family.” You know, we never said that to Marcos, nobody knew any of that. But, we just started to hang with Marcos. Getting to know each other, sooner or later we just kinda worked out way back to our little studio, and haha….he just showin’ us like guitar riffs and stuff like that. And then we kinda let him in on the forward of what was going on. So just took it step by step. We just said”Hey, let’s just jam, man. We’ll just try to get back in the groove, just like old times”, and we just started doin that; just started hangin at the studio everyday….eatin lunch together, goofin around, just like before. And that pretty much where it went, dude.
DVP: That’s kinda awesome how that all happened. I’m sure some people want to know a lot more questions, like: How well are you guys in agreement with things? And Are you on the same page with spiritual things?
Sonny: I think… again, man. Its been such a crazy year. Probably one of the toughest years for me; aside from my relationship reconnecting with Marcos, its just a lot of tough struggles; probably one of the toughest years for POD. That might even come across in the record. But again, I think we still meet in the road with like we know our hearts for the Lord and for Jesus, its just like we’ve gone through so much, and we’ve gone through so many things. It’s so….. I’ve said this before, I always felt as a band that I could always speak for the band and one thing… and I’m not saying that I can’t. I think for now and what everybody is going through and their own walks with the Lord, its like at this point and time I just choose to speak for myself right now. You know what I’m saying? I’m not saying that we disagree…. On a level of say 1-10, and we are at a 10. No, its not even disagreements its just directions in which life takes you. Its just like cool, I’m safe with this, I’ve never had to think of things this way, and you know. But, it’s really kind of taken us to a place where it’s like, “Hey, you know what, let’s just make sure…you know here we are, and this record is taking a long time and the process and we are going through so many things. Let’s just agree right now, ha, that without God this band is nothing, without God being the focus of our lives first, without Him we cannot take another half a step forward with out Him. So, knowing that and believing that God is Master over our hearts and this band, lets just allow Him and lets do our part to try and draw as close to Him as we can, so that when it comes down to decisions and when it comes down to the directions that we need to go and the choices we need to make, that at least we can agree that God is at the center, and that we can go from there. God is going to work it all out.” We understand that it’s like… “Hey, we all know that God is in control and that we are not, so let Him take control.” So, its just been a whole year, I think of us just kind of trying to find that place again individually, and not so much as a band and as this is what we have to do. Its more like “Hey, find that place where you can connect with God the way you should and draw close to him and its gonna work out.” You know what I’m sayin?
DVP: Yeah. That’s cool man, I appreciate the way you’ve kinda stayed consistent over the years. It seems like you are reacting to judgmental Christians and craziness on each album, like on “Anything Ride” or “Asthma”, and this time you let loose with “Condescending.” Why do you think you keep hitting on that theme? What would you do if you could set that problem straight? Like, if you could say to all of your agitators were in a room and willing to listen, what would you say?
Sonny: Hahah…Well, the Bible says to be of one heart, one accord and one mind, you know what I mean? When you read the Bible and even in Acts when it talks about how the Spirit came over the disciples and stuff it was saying on instantly the Spirit hit them. Instantly that they had everything in common…everything in common because it was about Jesus. It didn’t matter the status in life, who they were, how cool they were, financially, you know, where they grew up….they all had everything in common, it was because they believed in the most important thing and that’s when they recognized it. Dude, this is God Almighty here, this is the messiah that we have been waiting for. This is eternal, these are spiritual things, but yet ever since then its like… my travels around the world and you meet so many different people, and its like wait a minute, you say you are a Christian, I thought I was a Christian, but we don’t have anything in common. The only thing we can say is that we believe in Jesus. What does that say to the rest of the world looking in on us? That we can’t even get along. Why would anybody want to follow a God that is Lord of all this confusion apparently, and King of all these followers that can’t get along and are fighting, and that see things a million different ways, and disagree on almost everything? It’s frustrating man, and as young believers you go through that. And a lot of times, aside from having to worry about the things of the world trying to distract you from your walk with the Lord, you have to worry about people that say they are Christians or say that they are your brothers and sisters and yet they judge you the most and push you aside the most and make you feel inadequate and not worthy to follow God. You know I’ve seen it, I’m not just saying that to say that. I’ve felt it myself. I always felt like I wasn’t worthy to walk this walk, but then I go through my own personal struggles, but then when you can’t match up to everybody else sometimes you just get to that place, and I’ve seen people get to that place, and its just like, “I give up, its just too hard.” And they don’t continue.
DVP: To shift gears a little bit… dude, this album is smokin’ hot. It took me a few listens to grow on me, but wow… I am loving it. Pardon my ignorance, but what would you call the style and sound of the guitars in “I’ll Be Ready?” What do you call that?
Sonny: Hahahaha…. That’s kinda one of the things that usually tend to come out when you are playing mellow music. (It’s not like) I threw in 50 walls of guitars in your face. It’s like wow…One guitar, one track you know a nice big open sound, throw some things on it in the mix, and then wow that thing is huge. But, no, man that’s just, I mean you can tell. Its Marcos. That’s Marcos’ guitar. He’s got his sound, and he’s got his style. I wish I could say that it was this top secret things, but its just Marcos pluggin in man, and saying “Dude, I’m gonna feel this piece right here.” And doin it. 1, 2 little sets if needed, but if not just turn it up, just play.
DVP: I want to ask you about some of the stories on this album. I love your poetic story approach like on “It Can’t Rain Everyday” and I think you have a gift for telling a story that listeners can follow along and empathize, putting themselves into the story. What’s the inspiration behind this song?
Sonny: Um, that song kinda reminded me of… it kinda has that “Youth of the Nation” vibe. I always tell the guys that hey we are obviously writing music and when it come lyrically and what you’re feeling… put your hearts on the table and say what you want to say, that way we can kinda play with the lyrics and uh… that actually started with Marcos. I think he had taken a break and kinda went away for a week and I think it was just him and guitar and he was sittin on the beach just writin and playing the guitar. He kinda came up with the guitar piece and said it just hit him, and he said, “What do you think about the concept of it can’t rain everyday.” Instantly when he said that we kinda knew like… I know what you’re saying. And it was just whatever moment you are going through, its like, it’s gonna get better. Its that thing of knowing that it can’t always rain, its gonna get better, the sun will eventually shine and dry up the past. You are gonna dry up and you’re gonna have another chance. So, with me, I think just so many things that I know personally. They’re just stories. I like the old folk songs, they tell stories and are just easier to relate, and some poetry that you can take in a million different ways. I love that stuff too because then I can say that its me and its personal and I can paint the picture I have wherever I want, but there are just the stories that you are told straight up, and its like ok, cool. Obviously in that song, I think it’s the first verse… dude, I have a little girl, I have kids that are going through school now I see how kids are; the things that they go through. I have friends of mine that within this past year that have miscarriages or way beyond term and lose their child, and its just heartbreaking man, and it just really takes its toll on people physically, spiritually, you know, a lot of struggles man. Like I said again, 2007 had to be the year of struggles. I’m so counting on such a different year in 2008, but that’s pretty much for that song.
DVP: You’ve kinda made it a habit now to have surprising and wonderful guests on each of your big budget studio albums. What’s the impetus behind that idea? And how did ya’ll decide upon Mike Muir, The Melody Makers, and Page Hamilton?
Sonny: Dude, this is probably the biggest one for us man. Dude, we always talk, we always say just because of fans and music. We are like… what if Sting gets on our track, what if Bono, what if Bjork or you know… call up Lenny Kravitz. Just crazy stuff. Its just all talk, but we had written a song and did that cool little punk break in the middle and it was like, “Dude what if we got Mike Muir doing “’Suicidal’ ”, not ever thinking in a million years that he would. Same thing with Page Hamilton not ever thinking that they would. We kinda just threw it out there and caught his number somehow, and I just called him and told him what a big fan this band is of his, and how influential he has been, not only to us, but to music today, and how much we respected him. We said “Hey man, we are going to be out in LA, we got this song that we would love for you to hear and see what you think.” He was actually going out to Australia for a time to do some shows out there, but he’s out there in Venice, we are out in North Hollywood. I said, “Dude if you want call me when you get back and lets just hang out, come by the studio, it would just be cool just to kick with you.” We had met him a couple times out on the road, but he knew of us, he remembered us, he dug our stuff. He came out and we let him listen to it, and we said, “Dude if there is anything on your end that you’re feeling that you want, I would love to interact with you on the verses and definitely the bridge is all yours, you can do whatever you want to do.” And, he was like, “Cool man, yeah, give me a copy and I’ll check it out.” He was so busy doin his stuff when we finally got to that song that I was like “Dude, are you gonna do it or not?” Haha. He came late late that night, and I was like “What did you write?” and he was like “I didn’t write anything”… alright cool. Then we are just gonna like freestyle, we are just gonna jam it. I had pretty much had the verses, and he was like “What do you want me to do?” I said, “Dude, just listen to the song, I just want you to do you thing. I want you to be Cyco Mike from Suicidal Tendencies and do your thing man, back me up on this.” And we did that, he just did a million things. We have so many takes of him doin all kinds of cool stuff. At some point and time you got to nail it down and pick and choose whats the best. So, we did that, and as far as the verse goes he took a little pieces of paper and sat right there by the mic and wrote it down real quick and recorded it. It was just awesome dude, and he was cool. And, I know I said this before, but I always heard this thing from one of my friends, and he said “Dude, never meet your heroes you know” haha, but it’s not true. When it comes to him or… even going to hang out with the Marley Sisters, you know, some of the sweetest people you will ever meet, and they are the offspring of Bob Marley for goodness sake, and they have all the money in the world, legacy in the world, but they are still humble and its just… the fact that they could sit there and tell you how much they love POD, its just mind-blowing you know. Same thing with Mike Muir. He’s just so cool dude, just to hear him talk; he’s got so much experience and wisdom that we can relate to on such different levels, just that street level. It was just so cool and an honor to be around him. He murdered that track dude. We will be forever grateful. With Page he was in LA he’s friends with friends of ours, and he was actually playin a little show in LA… kinda like a private thing and we went. And we asked him, and he was like “Sure dude, cool.” Ha ha. It’s crazy because I think the only thing that Page has ever done as far as collaboration is with David Bowie, and he said yes to POD, and then Mike Muir has never done anything with anybody when he’s been asked and he said yes to POD. That in itself just speaks volumes. And again bro, (we’re) just honored. As far as the Melody Makers and the Marley Sisters we reached out to them. We’ve always had kinda like a little contact with them, cause when we did that Bob Marley cover on New Years’ Eve on MTV, they had actually gotten back with us and thanked us for covering their dad’s song and just really dug the band. That even the kind of music we play that we can still be inspired by Bob Marley you know. So it was cool and but we reached out to them. I talked to Cedella, which is Marley’s 1st born, and I talked to her and she was just cool and said she’d love to do it, so we just tried to arrange it to be as easy as possible. I ended up flying out there and we flew down to this little house in Miami, which I believe was Steven Marley’s house. They have their own little home studio. So, I went there and it was all their family there just hanging out, enjoying a beautiful day, and we just walked in the studio; I was basically just a fly on the wall, I just watched them and let them do whatever they wanted to do, and they were just the nicest, sweetest people in the world.
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