I met P.O.D. They are exactly what Sonny sounds like here: more down-to-earth than most people period. They are incredibly modest and super talented, one of the few bands out there whose music actually sounds better live than on record. They signed my guitar even when they weren't supposed to, forever grateful for that! 🙏

Alive is still a song I can turn to when I feel lost. It's really what faith can give you every day.

Im Muslim ... Grew up listening to POD songs. They make me feel more stronger to my faith. Christian band or not, your songs are amazing, the lyrics are just so deep and beautiful...thank you POD

I need more people in the church to hear this message.

"I'm just a kid from the streets trying to scream it out to the world: will anyone listen?!" I love you guys so much and your steadfastness in the gospel- God bless

I just happened to meet Sunny this past Monday ( 10/27/20) . Had a good chat about God, kids at the skatepark, and a prayer for mom fighting cancer. Good dude. Hope to catch up with him again.

"I Am" gives me goosebumps everytime I hear it. He had said the inspiration for it He was working with some inner city youth who had it ruff. They were in gangs. On drugs. And when he told them about Christ it was difficult to understand. "He had that much love for me?" The song comes from a very humble place. Has probably led many people to Christ. And people are worried about 1 word.

I just found their song "Alive" today (9-18-23) and I can't stop listening to it. Amazing message

P.O.D. has been my favorite band since I was a kid and I never looked at them as a Christian band. I still don't. I understand their message in their music and respect it but I just love their style and the way Sonny mixes it up. Great interview to hear his side of this whole "issue".

I took it as he is a believer but hates being labeled because labels can interfere with his true message.I totally understand.🙏👏

I've been playing drums in bands since I was 16. I was a brand new Christian when exploded onto the scene. I drew tremendous energy from your songs, because of the outrageous power in the lyrics and performance of your music. AND because I sensed the unconditional LOVE and POWER of Christ in your songs. Thank you for your life-changing music P.O.D.

Their song "beautiful" is my reminder that no matter what happen, this world is beautiful and my life is precious. Thanks POD❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Ultimate respect for POD.. Satellite was and will be my favorite album.

This interview made me so happy on many levels ! Nothing more braver than being open about Christianity. God bless this man and the greatest band in the universe ever !🙏🏻 P.O.D 4 Life

Sonny is such an awesome dude.

P.O.D definitely got me into rock music as a teenager who was discovering "Christian" music. I remember buying the bands major label album Fundamental Elements of Southtown from a Christian Stall bookstore. It totally blew my mind that a group of Christians could make music that spoke to me as a teenager and had messages of hope and such.

Sonny is the man..i lost my mom also dude..the void stays till we meet again!!

Sonny is so down to earth and that's why I always have been, am now and will forever be a fan of P.O.D.!!!!

Listening to a demo song in a Christian bookstore and in my youth by P.O.D. of “Set Your Eyes to Zion,” is what hooked me.

This band was one of my favorite bands. I can imagine just how frustrating it could be, to have the world consistently hold you in some limited idea of what a child of God must look and be like. Especially from those who claim to follow Jesus Christ. But God said it best when He said I Am doing a new thing!!! Never Judge a book by its cover, just by its fruits. Since we're dealing with an inner working God. As humanity and especially as Christians we need to remember that Jesus never told us to follow people, just Him. Personally, I don't care what box or label the world wants to put me in. My Lord and Savior is greater and grander! He can't fit in any box or category the world attempts to place Him in.

I was scared to hear this..... I thought he would renounce his faith. Alive is such a beautiful song...and so many others! Bless you sir!

I love that P.O.D. is leaning towards spiritual messages. I am so sick of old school mainstream rock. All these new lyrics speak to the spirit of Christ within me

I always loved P.O.D. I never viewed them as a christian band, although I was in the scene of people who did give them that label, I never knew they didn't actually market themselves as "christian", but I never cared, because their music was good art, and it's apart of the theme of music that narratives the extent of my life's story. It literally brings me to tears, because We speak the same language. I love you guys so much, thank you for the blessing you brought to me, my life, and to the world. I never considered myself christian, although I had an introduction to the catholic church to a very small degree when i was younger, today, as i have survived all of the trauma, loss, suffering and grief from what the product of the inner city of the 80's and 90's produces, in recovery, and having had recovered to a very large extent, I have explored spirituality, many religions, and faith, and i fully comprehend the wisdom, blessing, the sacred, and for sure consider myself Christian today, but always original, no cookie cutter religion. I believe, we all are in our own image of God, and should NEVER idolize false images of Christ, or "Christians". Christians do not all look alike, and I feel Sonny expresses that same sentiment here perfectly.

P.O.D. Truly is a great and influential band for myself and my generation of Christians.

Sonny,, remember hearing your music in my car. Loved how fresh and raw your music is bro. Seriously. Your music feels like an awakening for younger people. To Inspire them and help them reach a new understanding. But it’s also personal from your own experiences. The music is just fresh and moving and still is. God bless.

Sonny, you and the band changed my life for the better. First encounter was at a show in Irvine CA and nobody was there for you guys but then nobody wanted you guys to stop that day!

You guys(POD) have always since your beginning been in my highest regards cant wait to see you oct 7 sand hollow hurricane utah

Sonny is an awesome dude.. Love POD!!

I have been listening to pod since I started working at a Christian bookstore in early 2001. Back then the store manager & a few coworkers got upset with me & let me know it, when I started buying up & special ordering every album they'd made at the time. Said they were the devil in disguise. How dare I. Anyway I've been a fan ever since. They were the soundtrack of my youth. Life has changed, they have changed, my faith has changed, but their music still speaks to me. 2 of my favorites are anything right & thinking of forever. The latter spoke to me again when I lost my faith warrior, aka grandma. Yup I was a grandmas boy. I know that song was for his mom, but it brought me peace over my grandma lovie too. Hope they know how appreciated they are.

Love u Sonny!! Alive and many others! Thanks for being a man of God 1st, no matter what

This guy is candid and honest.

I know real when I see real and Sonny is the real deal.

I love the message. POD has been my favorite band since '01

We're still listening Brother!

POD, Lecrae, NF, Skillet, Tobymac, Petra, Stryper, Amy Grant, you don't have to be secular to sell records

Thanks og I've been listening to yall 20 years! God bless you all and man time flies

It’s more of a band with Christian members, it’s not a Christian band

Preach it Sonny. Been an admirer of your art for years. People want to judge you based on a word in a song.......... pretty shallow be their game if you ask me. Love P.O.D., keep the power alive!!!!!

It feels so dope to hear bro speak about what music is beyond great!✊🏾🥶

Eres grande Sonny, Cristo los ama, y se que le gusta su música. Bendiciones . King of kings

Your Man bro don't let anyone tell you different excellent interview brother.💯

🙌🙏 best of music 🤗 so much feelings in 🤟

God is great and so are the men brave enough to follow Him

i had a spiritual awaking wich led me to find my faith. 6. years sober september 23rd. although battling Esophigal cancer. its a win win. either i feel so Alive or i gon home, finally meet my loving Father

Definitely POD broke that idea that Christians were straight forward and only had good lives. They reached Christians, but they reached so many non Christians. It has been amazing. Still to this day, I have there cds, I jam there music, and I share it with my kids, and my neices and nephews to bring them up with that. GOD bless POD.

Now that is a man who is definitely NOT dumb. Respect.

Love this interview!!!!!!

We love you P.O.D Thank You!!

I live in National City and we’re proud of POD. They represent to me what it is to be from the streets and have faith. NO LABELS just FAITH and a relationship with my god.

Sonny Sandoval stay in the faith,keep your head up and go forward and never look back,But don't forget were you came from sir, God bless you and your family and keep rocking

so down to earth and cool

Thanks for being honest Bro. Christian music is definitely about making money. God has been set a side to please the masses. I appreciate your honesty to reach the secular world.

LOVE SONNY & POD.. He speaks truth!!

I lost my mom too at a young age to alzheimers. I wasa Hendrix acid rock type of music lover. Got saved and threw out a lot of my albums. POD,Deciple,TFK just inspires me. I get pumped up praying having Demon Hunter type prayers as I listen to POD with my IPOD. It's so inspiring what you guys do. The joy of the Lord is our strength. Let's get tribal 😎❤👍

had no idea this group was labeled as a Christian band back in the day. but i thought the music was good. positive but talked about really relatable issues. thought it was more rap rock or something. but salute to them for being true artist (making great music) that also aligned with their faith (that anyone could relate to)

l definitely will always rep, POD!! 💯

I've seen these guys live 3 times. I have all of their albums in my emergency bag lol. This band is legit, the Christian sub culture can be something wild and it took me a while to get out of it. No one understood why they were mainstream in the beginning. I'm glad they are Christians cause we are all brothers in Christ but I'm happier still that their music is all over the place free from labels. They reach out to all groups.

Sonny its o.k. to be a Christian ✝️ band God bless dont be ashamed of him or he will be ashamed of you

So much respect for these dudes. Got to see them play live way back in the day for the BROWN album. Rocked my freakin face off!

Love you sonny we are so alike and it was great seeing you after 20 years of following you at rebel Rock last night you guys rocked Orlando

Sonny I think you are great guy and beautiful soul, I can see that and I will tell that.. I like your music and I will remember it for life.. Thanx for everything and wish you best in your life.

"I AM" is easily one of my favorite pod songs

I'm absolutely not against people referring to themselves as a Christian band but the fact that he said he doesn't consider them to be a Christian band and then goes on to say "I would never use my faith to market a band.", that just makes it feel that much more genuine. There are plenty of bands that say "We're not a Christian band" despite being labeled as such and despite being Christians in a band who just feel like they're saying "we're not" for the sake of popularity. It's awesome to hear Sonny talk about it this way.

Sonny don’t be ashamed of Christ. That’s where the music stems from. Just SAY that And be proud

The music industry have always and will always push "lables" "genre's" that dont necessarily exist to make money. I mean either way it doesnt matter ....if youre Christians...in a band...sharing your faith...if someone calls you a "Christian" band...then its kinda true. If someone says youre just Christians in a "band" ....its kinda true. So either way....it is what it is. Lables dont matter . sharing the faith is whats awesome 👍👍👍☺☺. With that being said ....ive been a huge POD fan since the 90s with Snuf the Punk and I still love them 😊

Great interview with a great dude

Sonny is really a stand up dude. Both he and Wuv are still humble and down to earth even after all their success.

Be a Christian Band! it's not about dollars.. it's the message of Jesus Christ!

Great interview. I’m done with the “Christians in a band VS Christian band” thing because it is not worth fighting for. Faith and music are different things. It’s fine that my favorite bands talk about Jesus, express it in art, and doing it for Him, however, they are still separate subjects. I may not see them every show when they can play, but I will still support them, and love them. God bless you, Sonny. I will see P.O.D. again in the future. 😌

Beautiful...

Just came back from their Satellite tour concert in Minneapolis. August 2021 🙌

Christian metal actually dates all the way back to striker in the 80s they were also signed to a major label.

Love this group always.

POD was not really a Christian band but they have a great message on their song... they are expressing their beliefs and as a christian this is an inspiration but they don't tag themselves as a christian band.. still listening to them

P.O.D a true Christian band! I enjoy it still! Alive is so deep what I feel also for Jesus and my own true salvation years later after this track! All their tracks are awesome

Project 86! Sounds like they got a shout out. Great band. Drawing Black Lines, best album.

For the faith of Christ is what’s up! 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

“I am” is such a powerful song

Awesome interview.

I love POD!

I was 8 years old when southtown came out in 1999. It was my first album, i still listen to it to this day. Snuff the punk was my second album. I used to watch TRL on mtv and wait until "rock the party" was played oh man I loved that time

Love you sonny you are for real gods speaker

Romans 5:1-2 1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we* have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith* into this grace in which we stand, and we* rejoice* in hope of the glory of God.

Deeply relatable!!

The bond between fan's and a band/artist(s) is something a label or manager can't f*** with

I don't think there is anything wrong with being a Christian and being in a band.. Or even a non Christian band. Weather you do it for your job or just for fun. It's like saying You can't work in that factory because it's not a Christian factory.. or I can't play on that softball team because it's not a Christian softball team.. If a major league baseball player is a Christian , he's not gonna say " I can't play professional baseball because it's not a Christian baseball team ""...

I'm a lil conflicted by this interview. Beforehand I wanna mention that Im not judging sonny or trying to talk mess. Some of you may think. Wrong but that ok it's just my opinion. As someone hat grew up in the christian faith and in a Christian family, POD was a breath of fresh air for me. I started listening to them as a kid and helped me as a teenager. That there were people that liked stuff like I did and being a Christian doesn't mean you're perfect. But I'm not grasping why sonny doesn't want to be known as a Christian band. I understand that he says being labeled will have an effect on how his message gets across but it shouldn't matter cuz who needs the message I'll get the message. He says he's closer to God, then his music shouldnt be apart from his faith. 1 Corinthians 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 1 Corinthians 6:20 For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Romans 11:36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. I think he shouldn't care if it gets to the world because it should be for the glory of God and really help people like me that goes through a time when we step away from God and is reminded that it isn't always perfect.

Saw them as a teen. Got to play their Brown cd, and brought my stereo, in art class. I dont like a lot of yelling. I used to say that screaming is to get your anger out, but it makes me cringe. No disrespect to pod and other bands, i still care. I have empathy. ✌🏻

you a Good Dude Sonny

I love this man.

I'm glad these lads still make music.

I couldn't imagine what it would be like to lose you're mother growing up my dad was never there so my mom is all I had and I still barley seen her until I got older because she was always working 2 jobs I would always listen to pod and clean the hole house when I was a kid before she got home

After seeing them at a small club in Spartanburg, SC, I got to meet first Sonny, Wuv, and Traa. While talking to Traa, he asked if we had gotten to meet the whole band. When we said that hadn’t been able to meet Marcos, Traa then took us onto their tour bus, to meet Marcos and hangout with some of their other fans who had become close friends, like family. They had just filmed the music video for Southtown, and played it for us, about two weeks before it had been aired in TV. After the bus, before leaving for home (a 2-3 hour drive away), Traa reached into his wallet and handed us some cash for gas money, as we had spent all of our money on their merch😂

Perfectly explained👌

I will say this. I've respected P.O.D. from the git. After they released "I AM", my respect for them grew! The reason is because as a Christian myself, I got tired of being labeled a "square", "boring", "goody-two-shoe", etc. The problem with that is people who are not believers think that we Christians think we're holier than thou and can't do no wrong, and worse, our fellow Christians think the same way. The truth is we go through things just like the next person and the only difference is we believe in Jesus who has suffered what we're suffering. Like him, I'm grounded in my faith and i just want to let people know but I'm still that brotha that grew up in East San Jose and I still talk to the friends I grew up with including the ones that took the wrong path in life that have since straighten themselves out. I'm so glad he spoke the truth about the music industry.

Youth of a nation best song to date

P.O.D. Demon hunter Red & Skillet would probably be my favorites in Christian rock / alternative metal

Amen

Amen Sonny praise jesus!!!

That is awesome