Sonny Sandoval, the dynamic frontman of P.O.D., is stepping into new territory with the release of his deeply personal memoir, Son of Southtown: My Life Between Two Worlds.
In a recent interview with Skratch N Sniff and SNSMix.com, Sandoval opened up about his journey, his faith, and his early influences—while also teasing an unexpected twist: a solo reggae album in the works.
With a sneak peek track hidden in the audiobook version of his memoir and ambitions to hit the American reggae festival circuit, Sandoval is proving that his musical evolution is far from over. Beyond discussing his book and upcoming reggae album, Sandoval shared details about 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.
A Sneak Peek at Sonny Sandoval’s Solo Reggae Album
Included with the audiobook version of Son of Southtown: My Life Between Two Worlds is a solo track from Sonny’s upcoming solo release. Reflecting on how the album came to be, Sandoval shared:
“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.”
Sandoval continued,
“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 Rog. 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 Rog 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.”
Will the Track Be Released Digitally?
When asked if the track will eventually surface digitally, Sandoval responded:
“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.”
Interest in Reggae Festivals and the American Reggae Scene
Sandoval also discussed the possibility of touring in support of his solo reggae album and his interest in playing major American reggae festivals, such as Cali Roots, Cali Vibes, and Reggae Rise Up. These festivals have previously welcomed genre-blending artists like Ice Cube, Yelawolf, and Cypress Hill to their lineups.
“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. 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.”
Can P.O.D. Fit into Reggae Festivals?
Sandoval also emphasized that P.O.D. wouldn’t be out of place on the reggae festival circuit, arguing that their music already blends multiple genres.
“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.”
With a reggae solo album on the horizon and continued enthusiasm for pushing musical boundaries, Sonny Sandoval is ready to make waves in the reggae scene while staying true to his rock roots. Fans can expect a fresh, unique sound that blends Sandoval’s signature energy with reggae’s smooth, rhythmic vibes.
