P.O.D. – The Awakening

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) You are about to release your ninth studio album. What is the feel and vibe for The Awakening?

A) We probably have done more than that with our independent records. We’ve been a band for twenty-three years and for us the vibe of the record is a concept record. Before the last record we took a four year break and recharged the batteries and made sure we were moving in the same direction. When we got off that record, we started working on this one. It kind of has that old school P.O.D. feel like our older records, like a Fundamental Elements vibe and style of music. It’s a heavy record, but it has reggae moments and softer pieces in there. We intertwined them the way that P.O.D. does it.

Q) “This Goes Out To You” is the lead single off the album. What is it about the song that fans are connecting with?

A) Every song on the record is like a piece of a story. Like I said, it’s a concept record. There are characters and a theme through the songs. That song, as far as its place on the record, is kind of a dedication to the fans over the years. It could be a spiritual thing or a fan thing. It’s more paying homage to the people that you are thanking. It’s an uplifting track. It’s an uplifting, up tempo jam. It has the feel of our “Boom” song. It’s a driving tempo and uplifting lyrics.

Q) You worked again with producer Howard Benson. How much of  hand did the band have in the production of the music?

A) As far as our band, we have worked with him so many times and our history with him goes back to 1998. We were the first platinum record band that he had ever had. We have always had a great relationship with him. Everyone knows his strength lies with vocals. With this record, we came in pretty prepared as far as the structuring of the songs, the verses and the chorus. I feel like Howard has enough confidence in the band that he just stands in the back, orchestrates and shines up what we have. When it comes down to the vocals, that’s where he really digs in with Sonny [Sandoval] and puts on that Howard Benson shine.

Q) What is the song writing process like for you? Do you need to have the music and the beat before the lyrics?

A) That’s been the case with our band since the beginning. Sonny never comes with his notepad and says, “He man, I’ve got these lyrics. Let’s lay a song down.” That’s never happened once. With our band, we’re kind of more like a garage band. We start in the studio with everyone just jamming. Most of the time, we’ll come up with the riff, bring it to the studio and start piecing it together. It might sound like a verse or chorus, but once everyone digs in and gives their part that’s when we make the decision of whether it is a verse or chorus. We build around whatever the original riff is and then we demo it out in our own personal studio and then pass it to Sonny. We’ll sit around and talk about what we think the feel or vibe for the chorus is and let Sonny run wild with the idea the whole band has. It’s been the way we have written since 1992. It seems to work with us because everyone has their say. It’s not one person over the other. Each person has their say. We started in a garage together and we’re going to keep on writing together.

Q) You also worked on the album with Maria Brink from In This Moment and Lou Koller of Sick of it All as well. How did those collaborations come about?

A) Those were awesome! We played with In This Moment on the Uproar Tour and developed a relationship with them being on tour. Then, personalities clicked and I thought she was awesome. We never really went in thinking, “Let’s get Maria!” The song kind of lent itself to her voice. Once we got done writing the song, we thought we needed a female part in there and everybody collectively thought Maria would be perfect if we could get her. They had just gotten back from Europe while we were in the studio so it just worked out timing wise. Sonny gave her a call and she said she was down to do it. It worked out and the song came out really sick! As far as Lou, we always play homage to the bands we respect and listen to. We’ve done Matisyahu and even Katy Perry before she blew up! So, when we did the song “Revolution” we thought of Sick of It All. We reached out to him and he was down to do it.

Q) What can fans expect from a live P.O.D. show?

A) I think a lot of people over the years have come to realize that P.O.D. is more of a live band. I think we come out with great records and they sound nice, but as far as our band (as a whole) I think it is the live performance where our strength is. It’s not that we’re the best musicians, but it is more of a connection that we have with the people who listen to our music. Even if they are hearing our music for the first time, they can tell we have been doing it for a long time. We’re not rock stars. We’re just grateful to be able to play in front of anyone. So, we make this connection. Everyone is a part of it. It’s not about, “Check out the entertainers that are entertaining me.” It’s more like we hype up the crowd and that’s great. I’ve always felt our live performances it the meat of POD.

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to interact with your fans?

A) That’s the way we’ve done it since the beginning before their was social media, even when we were touring in our van for nine years across the country in the mid-nineties connecting with our fans face to face. This is just another branch to stay as connected as we can. If you don’t stay connected, your fans lose touch with you. The people who listen to our music want to know what is going on and we want to get the feedback from them. We don’t want to try to be a mysterious band and not do anything. We’re out there in the streets hitting the pavement and we want to know what people feel and we want them to know what we’re doing.

Q) What can fans do to help promote The Awakening?

A) We always say when they hear our new stuff or they feel like the songs are connecting to them then share it with their friends. We’ve always been a word-of-mouth band and you can tell at shows if they are radio listener fans or someone who has dug into our music as a whole. So, we always say if you’re feeling it then spread the word!

Q) What would you like to say to all of your fans and supporters?

A) We try to tell them the appreciation we have for the listener as often as we can. It’s hard to be in this industry, as it is, especially after twenty-three years. It’s because of the fans. And I know that’s the cliché answer, but as far as the listeners we will see guys who have been fans since they were in junior high school that are now bringing their kids to our shows. That happens on a daily basis! The gratitude we have for that and to see their kids as excited as their parents were is something you can’t really express. It’s that feeling. You just feel blessed!

ALL QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY NOAH “WUV” BERNARDO