“I’m grateful to be living out my faith. I don’t want the world not to know who my Jesus is because it’s not what the world says. You’ve been lied to, you’ve been deceived. My Jesus, He was a rebel. He’s a punk rocker. He loved the people. He healed them, and He made a way for us to have communication with God Almighty.”
These words could have been spoken by Sonny Sandoval from the stage in the mid-1990s, when he was in his late teens, but here he is today, still sharing that same much-needed message. In a world where so many of our childhood heroes have lost their faith, Sonny’s unwavering devotion serves as a refreshing reminder of what first drew me to this music so many years ago.
When I first heard P.O.D. blasting through the speakers at the legendary, now-defunct Pterodactyl Club just outside Atlanta, I was nine years old, wide-eyed, overwhelmed, and momentarily retreating to the dollar movie theater across the street because, quite honestly, I wasn’t yet prepared for the sheer intensity and volume coming from Sonny Sandoval and the band on stage. Nearly three decades later, speaking with Sonny Sandoval about his compelling new book, *Son of Southtown*, brought all those early feelings rushing vividly back.
Sonny’s book—and even more, hearing him narrate his own audiobook—is vulnerable, raw, and strikingly authentic. As we talked, he reflected on the unique experience of voicing such deeply personal stories, admitting, “It was different. You know, I’ve never done anything like that. I knew I wanted to narrate the book… I love listening to books as well, and I’m kind of bummed when the author doesn’t read it himself or herself. But I was so worried that it was going to sound with no emotion and just cold. For what it’s worth, it came out a lot better than I thought.”
The power of Sonny’s narrative lies in its honesty and his commitment to not stepping on anyone else’s story. Sonny candidly shared, “I wanted to be gracious to everybody. It’s not about anybody else’s story. Let them tell it. If anything, I feel bad after I listen to it back. I think Marcos got the worst of it. And it just because I’ve always seen him as a little brother… I didn’t want it to come across like I don’t feel good on him.”
If there is one thing that hasn’t changed in the life of Sandoval, it’s his enduring pride in his neighborhood, Southtown, a place immortalized in P.O.D.’s music. Sonny explained, “I’ve always wanted to, and I still do, highlight my neighborhood, the city I’m from. I’m super proud of my community and the people. It’s made us who we are.” He continued passionately, “Where we come from, it’s normal to drive down the street and somebody’s playing rap, somebody playing mariachi music, somebody playing metal. It was never contrived, never forced. Number one, we’re fans of music. We love all kinds and types of music.”
The authenticity of P.O.D.’s sound and message resonated deeply, even across unexpected demographics. Sonny recalled the band’s surprising mainstream appeal: “We’re being authentically ourselves. What really shook things up for us was when we were on MTV. You had these kids from Tulsa, these kids from Iowa watching MTV because they’re watching Britney Spears, and all of a sudden they’re seeing a whole different culture they’ve never seen before.”
Faith was central to our discussion. Sonny emphasized the depth and consistency of his relationship with God, saying powerfully, “It’s undeniable. I had an encounter with God that was real. I don’t live my life always asking God for proof. I know God is good; I know He exists, and I love Him, and I know that He loves me. My relationship with Him is real, so no one’s going to tell me anything different.”
We revisited P.O.D.’s incredible rise during the late ’90s and early 2000s, notably their unprecedented mainstream crossover, symbolized powerfully in their album *Satellite*, which was tragically but prophetically released on September 11, 2001. Sonny described that surreal experience vividly: “We just came off a record that sold a million albums, and that wasn’t a million Christians. That was people that were paying attention to P.O.D. ‘Alive’ was number one on MTV’s Total Request, the biggest TV video show in the world. And then we’re getting ready to wake up after our signing… All of a sudden we’re getting the call, and it’s like the record release didn’t matter anymore. We were just like everybody else—what’s going on? Praying.”
Sonny acknowledged how, even in the midst of tragedy, their music provided hope and meaning: “We wrote that song beforehand. We didn’t know that this was going to happen, but that was always our intention, to just give people hope. Let’s give them love. Let’s let them know that it’s going to be okay tomorrow.”
Reflecting on the broader cultural moment, Sonny described the challenges P.O.D. faced as believers in a secular space: “We knew we had to be undeniable so that they can sit back and be like, ‘What are you going to say after you see?’ Like, I don’t believe in God or I’m not into that whole churchy Christian stuff, but those dudes, they killed it. You can’t say nothing.”
Sonny remains steadfastly authentic, deeply rooted in his faith, yet continuously humble. “I’m grateful to be living out my faith. I’m not saying I’m perfect. I am not your poster child. Just don’t try to take away my freedom or put me into a box because I’m trying to live it out the best I can.”
Speaking with Sonny reaffirmed why P.O.D. was not only influential in shaping a generation’s music taste but also instrumental in demonstrating an authentic, powerful Christian faith that transcended boundaries, challenged stereotypes, and reached into hearts worldwide. It’s a powerful reminder, through Sonny’s journey, that true faith, genuine music, and authentic life, when combined, remain undeniably powerful.
*Son of Southtown* is a deeply personal journey, a story of resilience, faith, community, and the profound power of music. To fully appreciate Sonny’s incredible story, pick up the book today, and watch the video of our conversation, visit our YouTube channel for the full interview.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.