Power, Passion, and Persistence
by Jerry D. (“JD”) Hertz
Rock stars. Who are these people who have the power to influence humanity?
They are you. They are me. They are them. They are us. They are themselves and nobody else. Sometimes, they are everyone and everywhere.
In this ever changing world we find ourselves immersed in, a world of growing cross cultural influences, we find ourselves experiencing influences to new appreciations once scoffed at or even hated, and vice versa. Additionally, deep in the roots of who we are, and how we express that, lies our experiences of childhood, good and bad, revered or hated.
Throughout the history of humanity, even before the written word, there was music and the musicians who created this first language of sound.
On August 8th 2025, I had the great privilege to meet with the band Nonpoint, who excel in this language of sound.
With gracious accommodation, their tour manager/manager, Rob Ruccia, set me up to speak with the bands’ front man, Elias Soriano, who I’ve long admired, aboard the tour bus.
I had the opportunity to pick Elias’ brain in such a relaxed state as he and Rob presented, since this was the first show kicking off their “Painful Statements Tour Part 2”, at the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center (HMAC), in Harrisburg, PA.
The band, consists of Elias Soriano (Lead vocals), Robb Rivera (Drums), Jaysin Zeilstra (Lead guitar), Rasheed Thomas (Rhythm guitar), and Adam Woloszyn (Bass).
They have a dynamic history of driving home their messages, since 1997, with the multi-layered influences hip-hop, R&B, rap, classic rock, and heart punching metal.
Whether you’re a seasoned band with a long history of hits, or an up and coming band plowing the fields of inspiration for their own place on the charts, artists in every genre, in every media variant, draw from the inspirations of others.
Jump aboard the tour bus with me and join this conversation with Elias Soriano of Nonpoint for some head banging good laughs and inspirations!
INSPIRATIONS:
Jerry D. Hertz: ’97. So, you guys have been around awhile. A big following, big hits. As artists, I’m a sculptor myself, one thing that’s important in my art as your art, all forms of art for that matter, is creating that emotional impact. I mean, without that what do you have? You know, an empty run of lyrics? What does it mean to anybody? So, in your early days, when you guys were an up-and-coming band, where did you draw your inspirations from? Where did that vibe come in that really set your direction?
Elias Soriano: You know, in the early days I was leaning on my guys a lot. What was drawing me to the scene. I was more of a hip-hop kid and kinda just fell into the scene. My style influence was where it comes from with most of my artists. It’s what they like, what they grew up on. You know, what they’re currently listening to, and that kind of… I think it was BB King who said, (In paraphrase) The fastest way to find who you are is to listen to your favorite artists and “borrow something”.
JD: Inspirations!
ES: Absolutely. I would say the stacks, the harmonies, a lot of my melodies probably come from my R&B days. A lot of my cadences are Hip-Hop cadences. Then, when you get into the big choruses & stuff like that, I also grew up on classic rock. You got big voices coming from Kansas, Fleetwood Mac, Steely Dan. Those were the bands that my parents were listening to, and for lack of a better word “FORCED” to listen to!
JD: I know the feeling, man!! Mom’s house cleaning day!
ES: Yeah! Yeah! Saturdays, Saturdays!
JD: Those priceless childhood memories that continue forward into our adult lives, turning OMFG moments into invaluable inspirations, setting the stage for success!
ES: I drew from youthful interests because it was something that was fun, and I stuck to that.
JD: I think, you know, when we kinda inspire, or pluck the ear of familiarity, we’re able to reach into people and bring back memories and good feelings, and for that matter, bad feelings. That gets you to reconsider your life, and where it’s going, your interactions, and how you interact.
ES: Lyrics are all mind, you know. That’s where everything else was learned, and where I found I was different.
JD: Well, tell me about that, where you found you were different.
ES: Well, just my voice, and my style was a bit different than the general rock sound. Let’s just say you put me next to, let’s say, David Draiman, or Corey Taylor, or Sully, or anybody of my era that came up. I have my own sound.
JD: Absolutely! (Thoughts flashing through my mind of the band as a whole, has Nine Inch Nails mosh across my neurons, David Draiman’s incredible versatility, Corey Taylor’s throat grabbing choruses, Sully Erna’s nuclear-powered punch-through voice!) …and when I hear Nonpoint on the radio, THAT’S Nonpoint! It’s NONPOINT!
UP AND COMING:
JD: So, speaking of pinging your ears: Within the realm of new music coming out, who rings your bell when you’re listening to new music?
ES: There’s a few. I mean, at opposite ends of the spectrum. Dayseeker is one that stands out right now. Slay Squad that stands out to me. You know, ‘cus I like great voices and I like aggression too! Dayseeker who definitely have the medleys, the big voice, and the runs. He’s (ref. Rory Rodriguez), got a phenomenal, phenomenal voice! Then, the voice of Slay Squad (Brahim Gousse & Keilo Kei, vocals). They throw down! They really have that ability to stand out. I feel like they’re really standing out!
JD: Yeah, man! And there’s the punch through! “Standing out”!
ES: Yeah! Yeah! And more so with their style. The message is just way different. So, I’d say check out those two!
CHALLENGES:
JD: When it comes to challenges, you know, you’re evolving, you’re coming onto the floor and breaking into the industry. I mean, like, in the earlier days of fusion rock, and crossover music, you guys are coming onto the scene with this new style that not everyone was used to hearing at one point, but you killed it! (Not like dead, but ALIVE)! Just killed it, and very much appreciated to this day, no doubt.
THE BREAK-IN:
JD: What do you think were some of your biggest challenges in getting over the hump of that break-in period?
ES: You know, there’s a lot of traffic in the industry. Obviously, a great song is a great song. The dollars and the support really does help, of course. We came up during a very tumultuous time. Labels were shutting doors left and right when we started out. So, it was a bit of a transition. But, that’s the music industry. This industry changes often. It cycles through different formats and different eras, and that’s what I’m here for. I’m here to decorate this section of time with my music. That way, when people listen to what I’ve done they’re transported. You know, the way I’m transported is when I hear Steely Dan and Korn and all those bands.
JD: Did I just hear Steely Dan and Korn merged into the same state of mind?!
ES: And by the way, I just put Steely Dan and Korn in the same f**king sentence! And how is THAT relevant at all?!
JD: I think, at that moment, crowds had to be gathering outside of the tour bus, which happened to be parked directly in front of the HMAC entrance, because they thought there must be an awesome comedy show going on before the main event! The laughing certainly had the sidewalks shaking!
I wasn’t going to say anything Elias, but (laughing), well, the lines of relevance can be deep and mysterious!
ES: Yeah, and well blurred in MY head! Hahaha
VEHICLES FOR EXPOSURE:
JD: OK. Haha! Back to business! So, in that effort of being recognized and accepted, not just by the corporate end of things, but more so in the fan base, what vehicles of exposure do you think were most effective for you and the band. Things that really gained the ear of the public and made the industry recognize your importance?
ES: At the end of the day, it has to do with the song. I put out a good enough song, and people are gonna listen!
JD: Yeah, man! When the song hits home, it’s undeniable!
ES: Yeah! Yeah! That’s where it should be aimed at. That’s what everybody should be aimed at. You write a good song and the rest should come right at you!
JD: And I think that goes to what we were talking about earlier, when it comes to achieving that emotional impact. When the punch hits the heart hard enough, in a good way, you just can’t deny it! You’re here to stay!
ES: That’s right!
JD: And you guys definitely achieved that! I appreciate you guys!
ES: Thank you! Thank you!
ON THE ROAD AGAIN:
JD: So, being on the road. Here we are in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I keep reflecting back on the early days, then and now, because I think it’s important for new bands coming into the industry, and fans for that matter, to understand the challenges that groups go through in order to achieve the level of recognition and appreciation that you guys have reached. How has being on the road changed from back then to today, or is there much of a difference at all?
ES: It’s gotten more expensive, without a doubt! (Other than that) It hasn’t changed much. You know, crews, production, putting on a good show, putting on a good enough set list, putting on a good tour.
JD: Yeah, like having a good tour manager! (Rob Ruccia, aka TOUR MANAGER, aka band manager, etc, is standing beside me, nodding his head in agreement, watching the clock, and we all get a chuckle! Although, I have to say in all seriousness, this guy’s multifaceted job is no joke)!
ES: Yeah, a good crew lineup. It all matters. Paying attention to the details. If you’re gonna get out there, do it right! I think that’s what we focus on, trying to make that hour (on stage) the most important thing in our day! Hopefully, that’s a testament to our longevity.
JD: When it’s coming from the heart, that always shines through on stage!
ES: I think so.
BEST MEMORIES:
JD: So, best memories from back then till now? Do you have anything that you guys can’t help but laugh at when you’re just sitting around?
ES: You know, it’s funny, this last “Painful Statements” run, these last couple of tours have been pretty amazing!
JD: What’s been so special about them?
ES: Well, you know, just being where we are in our career and still receiving the offers and the reactions. I mean, Rockville is really standing out right now. In Rockville, there was a moment when I was standing on that stage, where we were playing the biggest rock show ever in the history of our country! There was that many people at a rock show, and it’s in the middle of the afternoon. It’s about 3:30/4 o’clock. Prime time. It was unreal! I remember my Dad had passed, and he was a huge Dale Earnhardt fan. He was a huge NASCAR fan, and to be on the Daytona Speedway, you know, to walk past turn 3, to get driven on it! To walk around in it. That was probably one of the most surreal “come-to” moments of my career!
JD: That had to be deep, big time!
ES: Yeah, for sure!
JD: A show of that size, it takes me back to my high school years with the “US Festival. I was like “This is like Woodstock in modern times, maaan!” You know!? Just that many people in one spot, is absolutely incredible! And all that talent in one place, was absolutely mind-blowing!
ES: Yes!
WORST MEMORIES:
JD: I don’t want to say, “worst” memories, but, WORST memories?
ES: Like losing a trailer off the side of a mountain in Tennessee was pretty daunting!
JD: Holy crap!
ES: Luckily, we have great fans and great CASES! We didn’t lose too much, and nobody died! A close 2nd was the Rocky Mountains. At the top of the Rocky Mountains, sliding backwards on the ice!
Rob Ruccia: Yeah! SIDEWAYS!
JD: There are no brakes for that move!
ES: NIGHTIME at the pass!
RR: Motioning with his “hand puppet” bus: Yeah, nighttime on the pass, sideways on the highway!
JD: But you’re all here! Everybody came out of it with all their parts in working order, thankfully!
SELF TIME/FAMILY TIME:
JD: So, on the road, managing self time, like personal time, and family time. How do you cope with that?
ES: It’s quality, obviously. Sometimes you don’t get the quantity. But, at the end of the day, everybody is living their own story. Living their own life. I implore my family not to compare our lives to the lives of their friends. You know, my daughter has seen over 20 states and she’s just turned 14. So, same thing for my wife. I go away weeks, sometimes months at a time. But, when I’m home, Dad’s home 24/7! You know, it ebbs and flows.
JD: It just goes with the territory.
ES: Yeah. It’s just my life. It’s gonna be different than anybody else’s, so… …you have to understand, that’s just the way it goes.
JD: I totally relate. I’ve been a commercial diver by trade. You head out for 2 weeks and it ends up 2½ months!
ES: Yup! You just never know!
PERSONALITIES:
JD: So who’s the first to go HOT, and who’s the first to pull out the fire extinguisher?!
ES: First to go hot?! Probably RIVERA! Haha! (Robb Rivera > drums. Robb could probably walk through a brick wall with no effort if a doorway wasn’t conveniently located)! First to put out the fire? Rasheed. Rasheed is probably the fire extinguisher! (We’re all laughing again)
JD: “Chill out guuuys!” (Rasheed is sitting forward in the bus at the table signing posters with Jaysin Zeilstra in prep for the VIP meet ups).
ES: Yeah, and I’m the guy who walks up and says “Whaaat haaappened?!” (Mooore laughing)!
MOST HILARIOUS MEMORY:
JD: Ok, so what’s the most hilarious memory you can think of? Heh-heh!
ES: Hmm. Most hilarious memory…OH! Last night of the Hed PE tour. The first big run we did with Hed. This is back during video camera days, and we asked the drummer of Hed PE to video tape us during our set. Later on that night, when we went to watch the video tape playback, in the middle of our performance, the video tape STOPPED! And THEN, it was “HIM” standing next to our van! He was like “Hey Nonpoint boys! Great tour! I love you guys! I just wanna send you guys home with something “special”! THEN, he reaches into his butt and wipes his ass with his hand and proceeds to wipe every single handle of every single door (Rob Ruccia chimes in in: “HE STINK BOMBED EVERY SINGLE DOOOR!!!” Naturally, I’m dyin laughing! This story seems to be a popular theme in the business)!
JD: HOLY SHIT! Paybacks a bitch!!! I bet you guys musta been traumatized!
ES: It was funny though, because I filled, during his set, and I’m glad that I did it now, he didn’t even feel it because he was too drunk, I filled his pockets with squeezable grape jelly! I was jamming the bottles into his pockets and just squeezing them! So, later on that night, his legs are all sticky! (Rob interjects: Yeah, and he’s like, “WHAT’S GOING ONNN?!”)
ES: …so he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a sticky purple hand! There ya go! That’s for your big secret!
JD: You’re waay too nice! I would have had to come back hard on that one, maaan! Haha
RELATEDNESS:
JD: So, creating relatedness to your fans, and your fans to the band: For me, as a fan, I think that is a critical thing to achieve in order to gain, let alone maintain, success. I’m pretty sure I understand where you guys are coming from in that, which is why I’ve always been a fan, but what are your thoughts on that?
ES: Well, I definitely want to have a message behind what we do. There’s definitely a feeling I want our fans to walk away with from the show. That’s that they got a good performance, they felt like they got their money’s worth, and they went home with a positive feeling. I feel like we check all those boxes for them.
JD: You know, every time I see one of your shows, it’s full circle! It’s really a privilege to experience that. I mean, as an artist in a completely different realm, myself, I appreciate that I get to experience that from your level.
ES: Thank you! Thank you!
JD: Nonpoint had a US tour back in 2022. They played One Center Square as a stop in Easton, PA about 40 min from my house. I remember that show like yesterday, on Jan 15 of that year, with my concert commando buddy-ette, Kelli. The tour was called “Taken Apart and Put Back Together “. Those words play right into this next segment.
COVERS:
JD: You guys killed it with Phil Collins and Prince! To be able to do a cover and NOT sound like a wedding band! To make it your own. What skill and tact, and actual honor that you give to the original artists who developed those songs! You guys have done that so well! (Phil Collins: “In the Air Tonight” Nonpoint 2004 release. Prince: “When Doves Cry” Nonpoint Sept 2021 with the vid release in Nov. of that year! SLAMMIN! It has a tricky lead-in, and a beautifully crushing punch as the follow through! You gotta see it)!
ES: Thank you! Thank you! Yeah, well, we’re picky, we’re when it comes to it (covers). I think there was seven versions of “Dove” and at least four versions of (“Air”).
JD: Some sound “played-out”, until somebody does it right! Yes! Thank you!
ES: Thank you! We definitely like to reinvent as much as we can.
JD: Like, “taken apart and put back together”! Just phenomenal! A credit to you guys. Not everybody can do that.
ES: Thank you, man! Yeah, yeah! The Prince one was a challenge. It took a minute to get that one out!
JD: OK! Last quick question! New music? And, ok, so, double question: …and what advice to new or up and coming artists?
ES: New music is coming SOON! We’re actually going into the studio and tracking some new stuff in September. To up and coming artists: It’s not as difficult as you think! Get in a room with some people who have the same ideas, the same goals, and work on it every single day and it’ll get there!
JD: And a little dose of networking
ES: Yeah. Every single day! Just work on it every single day. Because, when you run out of music, you start leaning on the business side. When you run out of business, you’ll take foot in the promotions. When you run out of promotions …you just keep it moving! Emerge! It just takes you really, really wanting it enough to work on it EVERY SINGLE DAY, and then the hard stuff starts to move.
JD: Yeah! Yeah! So it feeds itself when your hearts in the right place!
ES: Absolutely! Definitely!
JD: AWESOME! Thank you ALL so much!
ES: Hey, what’s UP everybody?! This is Elias from the Band NONPOINT, and you’re reading MUSIC INSIDER MAGAZIIINE!!!
What a day, what a day! It was certainly a privilege to speak with, laugh with, and gain great industry insight from Elias, Rob Ruccia, and experience this seasoned band of hard rockin hitters called Nonpoint, on stage again! Their driving full force message is loud and clear! You guarantee your loss when you give up. Work on your success EVERY day! Success comes from DOING the work! Obstacles are lessons. Take them to the bank!
Don’t forget to look up Nonpoint’s 2025 Painful Statements Tour, get your tickets, and BE there!
