NONPOINT-ARTIST SPOTLIGHT & INTERVIEW

Nonpoint have been a major mainstay in the modern metal scene for over 20 years. With 12 albums and numerous singles under their belt, Nonpoint have proven to be a dynamic musical powerhouse. Constantly on the road, the band has amassed a huge following here in the U.S and abroad Throughout  the years, they have shared the stage with such luminaries as Papa Roach, Disturbed and Stone Sour. Nonpoint have also played countless worldwide music festivals including multiple stints with Ozzfest.

Nonpoint consists of original members Elias Soriano (Lead Vocals), Robb Rivera (Drums) alongside Rasheed Thomas (Rhythm Guitar), Adam Woloszyn (Bass) who both have a ten year tenure. Jaysin Zeilstra took over lead guitar duties in 2019.

Nonpoint‘s new EP, Ruthless, is something special for the band. Ruthless is the first release on their newly minted independent label, 361 Degrees Records. This gives the group complete creative control of their music and the road they choose to embrace. Partnering with Amuse Music for distribution, Nonpoint have established an unbelievable team to further their illustrious destiny.

Ruthless is a killer EP. All five songs are monstrous with pulverizing sonic intensity. Just listen to the opening song, “Back In The Game”. The track breathes fire. The bass is grinding while the guitars deliver colossal riffs. Rivera’s drums pound with relentless energy. Soriano’s vocals are brazenly forceful with a tenacious edge. “I Don’t Care” is savagely alive with a driving cadence. “Ruthless” is aggressive and hammering. Nonpoint‘s cover of Prince’s “When Dove Cry” is truly magical. The song plainly cranks with its groove laden flow. Ruthless is amazingly vibrant and catapults Nonpoint to the next level.

Elias Soriano was kind enough to give AMP an extensive interview.

AMP: How does it feel to be back on the road?

ELIAS: It’s very exciting even though this new Covid variant has us on our toes. We are trying to get to the fans with these make-up shows for the ones we were supposed to do last fall. After our trailer incident and Robb and I contracting Covid we had to postpone our tour. Our fans have been patiently waiting and we are enthusiastic to play in front of live crowds.
AMP: Most of the band has been together for quite awhile. Does it feel like family?

ELIAS: Oh Yeah! Adam and Rasheed are like brothers to me. We have definitely crossed the threshold of friendship into family. We are Nonpoint!

AMP: What keeps the band musically focused?

ELIAS: I think it’s really the hustle. We like putting out new music and reinventing ourselves. Also surprising our fans. Once one cycle is wrapping up, we are onto the next step. It’s a bit of a hamster wheel. Constantly on the move.

AMP: Nonpoint have taken political and social stances in the past. Do you feel that bands should have a moral conscience?

ELIAS: I feel people have to stop separating the humans who make music from the rest of humanity. I’m a person of opinion. I’m a citizen of this country and I have an opinion like any other citizen. Just because I have a larger platform to voice it shouldn’t negate my point of view. I have seen lots of musicians take political stances and get treated as if they were aliens or foreign to this country. We all have families that we care about and when it comes to governance we have to feel we can look at the next person and feel we did the right thing. Everyone deserves to be comfortable and safe.

AMP: What was the motivation behind the creation of your independent label, 361 Degrees Records?

ELIAS: We wanted to find our own answers to questions we have been asking over and over, year after year. We are now trying to solve problems with a team approach. When we saw the opportunity to go independent, we realized it was the perfect time to build a team to aim us in the right direction. Now we can put our focus on the more important things like our music, visuals, imagery and artwork. We are trying to keep ourselves as nimble as possible. It’s all about planning and pivoting.

AMP: Your new EP, Ruthless, is a powerhouse. Do you feel the songwriting has advanced in terms of musical style?

ELIAS: Yeah, we are thinking about the music a lot more than we ever have. We are also giving our fans the ability to see our changes and see our growth. We keep them very close. As we grow as individuals we try to do the same with our music.

AMP: What kind of feedback are the fans giving you?

ELIAS: They have been pretty vocal. They’ve been wanting us to get heavy and touch on some of our old school roots. We really feel we accomplished that with our new music.

AMP: Your cover of Prince’s “When Doves Cry” is amazing. Who came up with the idea and developed the storyboard?

ELIAS: The concept for the video came out of a photo shoot with our photographer Francesca Ludiker. The actual idea of doing this song was something we established through our Instagram page. We started with 12 songs in a tournament similar to NCAA  brackets. We let our fans battle it out each and every day till we were down to 2. It was between Metallica and Prince. Obviously Prince won.

AMP: Do you have a favorite song to play live?

ELIAS: Right now it’s “I Don’t Care” which surprised me. It wasn’t the one I thought it would be off the new EP but it’s so much fun to play live.

AMP: Is there a “best gig ever”?

ELIAS: “Best gig ever”?  That’s hard but I would probably put that on Rock On The Range from a few years ago. It was so packed. There were fans from the front of the stage to the rafters. They were everywhere. It was so much fun to play. That one really stuck in my mind.

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To learn more about Nonpoint: check out their Website

Follow: Facebook / Instagram / YouTube / Twitter
Stream their music: Spotify / Pandora / Bandcamp / Deezer / iHeart
Purchase: Amazon / Apple Music

 

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