Nonpoint - The return of the Nu-Metallers!!!

A classic band ready to make waves again!

Joe Denby has a chat with Nonpoint frontman and founding member Elias Soriano ahead of the release of the band's eighth Studio album.

Music Trespass: How are you today?

Elias: Great. It's a beautiful day here in Iowa.

Music Trespass: So we have a new album on the way, "The Return" lets talk about that.

Elias: Sure, We recorded it at Johnny K's studio in Chicago again. It was co-produced by Daniel Salcido who did engineering on the last record. We went back into the studio with fourteen banger's and tied them up the best we could and really did most of the work before we went to the studio and just tried to make this record just as epic if not more epic then the last record. When we hit the studio Johnny really felt like the songs were pretty much there so our main focus was to get this record sonically better then the last record.

Music Trespass: This is also your first record with B.C Kochmit.

Elias: Actually Dave wrote and recorded on the record. D.C came in at the end of it. He will however be on the next record. He did actually help us write on the last record he helped us write 'Pandora's Box' on the self titled. we was actually thinking of making a change back then but he wasn't available. This time around we snatched him up.

Music Trespass: What else do you have planned for 2014?

Elias: Just finishing off touring, we're touring till it's looking like mid December. Then we hit next year we might be picking up a support tour in January and then going over seas in February. Then we might be picking up a package tour for March and April then hopefully a summer tour. So y'know work, work, work!

Music Trespass: Will you be coming to the UK at all?

Elias: Absolutly! We were planing on coming over in January but an unbelievable opportunity came up here in January so we had to push it back unfortunately.

Music Trespass: Nonpoint are kind of similar to Sevendust in a way. You were both thrown in with the wave of Nu-metal bands and didn't get quite the success of many band's of that era but you both have had a long term career that many of those band's didn't get. I mean your on your eighth studio album now. You've come out on top in the end.

Elias: I guess so, We allowed ourselves to change with the times. We're different people to when we were in 1997. Y'know things change. Likes and dislikes change new sounds and new music comes in. For us we don't fear those changes and we don't mind introducing something new into the band. I think that's what gives us our sound. I like what I like, the other guys like what they like. We all have different playlist's so by putting those different flavor's into one song. It's the freedom this band allow's each of it's musician's regardless of who's playing the part's. I shouldn't have to tell some what to play I should be inspired by what they write and let them do their thing. Let each other do their best and shine in their part's.

Music Trespass: You and Robb Rivera are the original member's and Nonpoint have been going now since 1997. How does that feel looking back on your career?

Elias: It feels great I mean, to still be around and writing contracts and touring the World. It's what we got into this for to do. You make decision's and you plan your business once you realize that it is a business and you make decision's so that the band survive's.

Music Trespass: Since "Statement" was released in 2000 the music industry has changed dramatically. Since you came in before the big changes what your view on the industry at the moment?

Elias: So many things have changed. The way we get music, format changes, eight track to CD to mini disc to MP3. We have been around for most of that. I have been around for three format changes. You have understand that that happened in the space of seventeen years so we have only been selling music as a species for sixty to seventy years. You can't really complain about the good old days because their wasn't any good old days, it was only sixty years ago! Just be grateful that your around during this time and adjust your business according to what's going on.

Elias: The light at the end of the tunnel is to be able to write music for a living and as long as you keep that in mind then things like format changes and so on don't effect your view on success. The trick is to re-adjust and focus on the important thing's because that's what matter's. At the end of the day just write a great fucking record. Everything else will take care of itself.

Music Trespass: What do you get up to when your not in Nonpoint?

Elias: We don't really have any downtime. I have my family but if there's not a tour being planned then there' a song being worked on or a t-shirt being designed. There's always something to do! When I'm home, I'm home! I have my daughter, my wife and even then I give Nonpoint four hours a day.

Music Trespass: What music have you been listening to lately?

Elias: I've sort of worked back. I've been listening to a lot of Classic Rock. Listening to some 80's music just getting into the song writing. you know the guilty pleasure song's when you go "Ah man I love that!" New band's? New band's that have caught my eye, I think the guys in Wilson are really awesome. There's a band called Islander that I really like.

Music Trespass: How bout your top albums?

Elias: I would say the last Deftones record. 'Juturna' by Circa Survive, Everything you ever needed to know about silence by Glassjaw and I love the new Eminem record.

Music Trespass: That's a great album.

Elias: It his most amazing work with word play. I had to sit down with a pen and paper just to figure out how he was saying stuff the way he was saying stuff. He is by far the best rapper right now in terms of ability. The mother fucker can do anything.

Music Trespass: So going back to your new record. With the new line up and using the same production team do you feel you have a winning formula now?

Elias: Pretty much. In terms of song writing we did most of the work before we went in so Johnny's main focus was to get the mix in the right place sonically and musically the last record was really hard to best so when we came in he felt musically we had done that so all he had to do was make it sound better.

Music Trespass: Ok Last question. Iron Maiden or Judas Priest?

Elias: Oh man you put me on the spot! I'll tell you why, cos I met Rob Halford on the last festival we did. He played on the main stage. He's a great guy I love Judas Priest but song wise I've got to give it to Iron Maiden.

Iron Maiden 'Number of the Beast' album cover (Pictured Above)

Music Trespass: Your favorute Iron Maiden Album?

Elias: Oh man! 'Number of the Beast'!

Music Trespass: You know what I love about Rob Halford is that he still is a fan of Metal. He is often seen at gigs and still loves hearing new music.

Elias: Man, we were playing our set and about four songs in I saw him standing on the side of the stage watching us. I made eye contact with him and he crossed his arm's and made a double Metal devil horn's sign at me it was amazing! After we talked and he is such a nice guy!

Interview and Questions by Joe Denby