NONPOINT Drummer: 'We Love What We Do'

Scott Fishman of The Miami Herald recently conducted an interview with NONPOINT singer Elias Soriano and drummer Robb Rivera. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

On topping the bill for 93 Rock's End of Summer Slam Saturday (Sept. 30) at Markham Park in Sunrise, Florida:

Rivera: "It's extremely nerve-wracking. I also know it will be fun, and I know our die-hard fans will be out there. I'm excited."

On touring with bands like STAIND, SEVENDUST and LINKIN PARK:

Soriano: "The best experience I got touring with [those] bands was exactly that: experience. Bands like that are out here to work. It just puts the bigger picture into perspective, that we are out here to work and win people over."

On the popularity of its cover of PHIL COLLINS' 1980s hit "In the Air Tonight", which is featured on the "Miami Vice" movie soundtrack:

Rivera: "It was an awesome opportunity. When we got the phone call about it, we were all pretty stoked. It's a legendary TV show, and the original PHIL COLLINS track was on it. It's pretty cool having [director] Michael Mann handpicking us to be the first-choice single. You couldn't ask for a better situation."

On using Spanish lyrics in some of NONPOINT's songs:

Rivera: "I just thought that playing heavy music in Spanish sounds a little heavier. It's just something that we like to do, mixing things here and there. We're just doing it because we love it, not because we want to be part of a genre or start a genre.''

On early fan buzz in South Florida and the band's longevity:

Rivera: "We couldn't ask for a better group of fans. The last two shows at club Revolution sold out. So that's very good in showing where we stand in the local area.

"We love what we do. It's been . . . a dream of ours for a long time. I've been living it 10 years strong so far, and it's been a real good ride."