P.O.D. frontman Sonny Sandoval recently sat down with Skratch N Sniff and SNSMix.com to discuss his new book, Son of Southtown: My Life Between Two Worlds, published by Baker Books. In the interview, Sandoval opened up about his motivation for writing this deeply personal memoir, his strong faith, and his early musical influences, including legendary bands like Suicidal Tendencies and Bad Brains, which shaped him as a youth.
He also touched on his upcoming reggae solo album, P.O.D.’s lasting impact on the hard rock scene, his son’s band, Blossom, and his charitable work with the Youth of the Nation Foundation.
“I think I always wanted to. It’s just another extension of me personally—myself and what I feel is kind of my calling and my mission in life. But honestly, it was COVID that gave me the time to do it,” Sonny told SNSmix.com. “You know, I’ve been doing P.O.D. for thirty-three years, so it’s always been a priority. We’ve been touring around the world, making music, and I’ve been completely blessed and lucky to do it. And that was the first time we hadn’t played shows in so long. So, I just started jotting down some stuff, getting things going, and seeing where it would go. Then I landed a little deal, and it’s finally out. I’m super excited.”
A Life Between Two Worlds
Growing up in the streets of Southtown, just two exits from the Mexico border, Sandoval always followed his own path. As the frontman of the platinum-selling nu-metal band P.O.D.—a group often described as being “too Christian for the world and too secular for the church”—he has defied expectations, broken barriers, and connected with audiences who never felt like they quite fit in.
In his memoir, Son of Southtown: My Life Between Two Worlds, Sandoval shares his journey of straddling two identities and attempting to live with integrity.
A Raw and Unfiltered Memoir
This book offers readers an unfiltered glimpse into Sandoval’s life, from his gritty upbringing in South San Diego to his rise in the music industry. He details his earliest musical experiences, the struggles and triumphs of P.O.D., and the personal hardships he has faced along the way.
Fans will get an insider’s view of everything from performing in rural cornfields at the Cornerstone Music Festival to rocking MTV’s Total Request Live with Carson Daly, and even playing in New York City just weeks after 9/11. His story is one of resilience, passion, and staying true to oneself—without apology or compromise.
Sandoval Teases Upcoming Reggae Solo Album
He also touched on his upcoming reggae solo album, P.O.D.’s lasting impact on the hard rock scene, his son’s band, Blossom, and his charitable work with the Youth of the Nation Foundation. Included with the Audiobook version of Son of Southtown: My Life Between Two Worlds is a solo track from Sonny’s upcoming solo release, which is the first solo track released by the P.O.D. frontman.
“I’ve always wanted to do some solo stuff, but I never had the time. So during COVID, I started hitting up guys online, overseas, and they would put out their rhythms and beats online. I would check them out, and if I liked them, I’d hit them up. I’d say, Hey, man, we’re all sitting at home—how about you send me some tracks, and I’ll put some vocals on them? People were stoked, and it was all independent guys, no big names, just kids making music online,” he said.
“I would buy the beats off them, and I got a little microphone setup at home and started recording. So, I actually have a whole album I’m sitting on. But first, I had to put out a P.O.D. record. I did the same thing with Gil Migs and Raj. They had one of their instrumentals, and I was like, Yo, those are the homies. Send me a track, and I want to put some vocals on it. And when they heard it, they were like, Yo, this is sick! They actually released it as a single. The song is called Broken Hearts Club—Gil Migs and Raj featuring me. We put it out there just for fun during COVID. But now that the P.O.D. record is out, this song was a bonus if you get the audiobook version. It sums up a lot of what I’m talking about in my book, so it’s kind of a little sneak track in there.”
When pressed if the track will eventually surface digitally Sonny said, “I think we’re going to let people keep discovering it for now. It’s still kind of a mystery, but I have people hitting me up on Instagram, already taking the track and making little lyric clips. I like stuff like that. It shows how people appreciate it and that they’re interested in it. People are messaging me saying, Dude, that song is tight. The lyrics are so good. So yeah, it’s like a pearl in an oyster right now—you gotta dive in for that one.”
Sandoval also talked about the possibility of touring playing reggae shows in support of his solo album. He also expressed interest in playing the American Reggae Festival circuit which includes Cali Roots, Cali Vibes, and Reggae Rise Up, which have previously included genre-bending artists like Ice Cube, Yelawolf, and Cypress Hill in their line-ups throughout the years.
“For me, my reggae music is more like street reggae. You know what I’m saying? It’s still got that little vibe to it, but it’s not traditional Jamaican roots. It’s a different style, a South Dago style. It feels good, it’s fun, and I would love to be a part of those festivals. I need to be on there,” he said with a chuckle. “I’ve toured so much in metal festivals, and I love it, I’m grateful for it. But to be able to go from Knotfest in São Paulo, Brazil, to Cali Vibes, like—come on, man! That’s what I want to do. I want to do all of that, bro. It’s so much fun.”
He also countered that P.O.D. wouldn’t seem out of place on any same Reggae Festivals, “I’ve been saying that forever. Let P.O.D. play! We don’t have to play our heaviest stuff. Not all our music is heavy. I saw 311 play one year in Long Beach at a festival like that. And yeah, I’ve seen Wu-Tang and all those guys. They’re trying to mix it up. Even in between the reggae bands, they’ll play Nirvana or rock and roll, and people start jumping around, having fun. It’s not just reggae only—it’s just a vibe.”
“So, I feel like if they put someone like P.O.D. on a festival like Cali Vibes, people would love it. We wouldn’t have to play our heaviest stuff. We’d just blend right in—some good old rock and roll with some reggae-infused tracks. We have plenty of reggae songs in our catalog that we could break down and fit in really nicely.”
Whether you’re a longtime P.O.D. fan or someone looking for an inspiring story of perseverance, Son of Southtown is a must-read.
