A Dirty Dozen with JONATHAN NORRIS from KINGDOM COLLAPSE – October 2026
According to a recent press release: “San Antonio, Texas-based rockers KINGDOM COLLAPSE have unleashed the beast! The band has shared the video for new single “Victorious,” featuring champion AEW professional wrestler and former MMA star Thunder Rosa. The song is a high octane rager that comes out of the gates hard. The band deftly strikes a balance between aggression and melody, fearlessly toeing the line and kicking some ass. The video features Thunder Rosa doing what she does best — kick some ass. Kingdom Collapse originated from the childhood friendship between singer Jonathan Norris and bassist Aaron Smith, who grew up together, discovered music around the same time, and recognized its power after Jonathan lost his father at eight years old.” We get singer Jonathan to discuss new music, influences, and more…
1. Tell us a little about your latest release. What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through? Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?
SURVIVOR from front to back takes you through the ups and downs of life. I put my entire self into this album so personally, I’d say to give the entire album a listen. We hope that the listener finds the songs and lyrics that really resonate with them. It’s always awesome hearing fans stories about how they connect with certain songs.
2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?
At an early age, I always loved music. I remember being 5 years old and my mom had her old beat up family record player and a ton of awesome records anywhere from The Beatles, to Elvis, to Creedence Clearwater Revival. Hearing some of those timeless songs, it was like magic. So that definitely shaped my love for music and ultimately my path in life.
3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?
When I started playing guitar at 10 years old, Creed was the biggest band in the rock world. I fell in love with Mark Tremonti’s guitar playing. That definitely shaped my early musician years.
4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?
Sonny from P.O.D. P.O.D. is one of my favorite bands ever and I think the vocal contrast would be perfect.
5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour? What do you like to do to unwind?
I love catching up on sunlight. Haha tour turns us into Vampires so it’s nice to get back to Texas and soak up the sun a little bit.
6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?
We’re in-your-face hard rock with a metal energy. Big hooks/choruses, aggressive vocals, driving drums. We’ve heard comparisons to Three Days Grace, Beartooth, Sevendust, but we just do what we do. So I’m sure people could hear all kinds of different influences if they wanted.
7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?
David or Gaston are the cooks, it’s usually me or Aaron breaking out the drinks, I’ll break out the acoustic guitar after the drinks and then the rest is history.
8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?
I met Mark Tremonti a couple years back and it was probably the closest to “starstruck” I’ve been considering he is my #1 musical “hero” so to speak.
9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?
Kingdom Collapse or bust.
10. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?
No, everyday is a different adventure. It’s all led us to grow so much and refine what we do over the last several years.
11. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?
Creed’s Human Clay. That album was such a huge turning point in the genre and Creed’s career. Would’ve loved to be a fly on the wall for it.
KINGDOM COLLAPSE LINKS:
Category: Interviews
About the Author (Author Profile)
ToddStar - that's me... just a rocking accountant who had dreams of being a rock star. I get to do the next best thing to rocking the globe - I get to take pictures of the lucky ones that do. I love to shoot all genres of music and different types of performers. If it is related to music, I love to photograph it. I get to shoot and hang with not only some of my friends and idols, but some of the coolest people around today.Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
