System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian has been steadfast as a political activist over the years, and he’s well aware that his beliefs might come at the cost of losing a some fans of his music.
Tankian admitted that he was “okay” with that fact in a new interview with NPR, citing his desire to be an artist rather than just an entertainer.
Get System of a Down Tickets Here
“I’m okay with that because an artist isn’t supposed to please everyone,” Tankian said. “An artist is supposed to basically try to receive through the collective consciousness whatever truths that we’re trying to live by, the truths of our times. If we can’t do that as artists, then we’re entertainers. From day one, you have to make that choice: Are you an entertainer only or are you going to be an artist?”
He continued,...
Tankian admitted that he was “okay” with that fact in a new interview with NPR, citing his desire to be an artist rather than just an entertainer.
Get System of a Down Tickets Here
“I’m okay with that because an artist isn’t supposed to please everyone,” Tankian said. “An artist is supposed to basically try to receive through the collective consciousness whatever truths that we’re trying to live by, the truths of our times. If we can’t do that as artists, then we’re entertainers. From day one, you have to make that choice: Are you an entertainer only or are you going to be an artist?”
He continued,...
- 5/20/2024
- by Jon Hadusek
- Consequence - Music
Serj Tankian has unleashed the solo single “A.F. Day,” a song that he had hoped to record with System of a Down during the band’s early days. The track will appear on the singer’s upcoming EP, Foundations, due this fall.
“This is a song I wrote in the early days of Soad that I never released,” stated Tankian of the the tune. “The majority of the instrumentation and vocals are recordings from that time. Dystopian in mood, it’s a reflection of the angst and anti-authoritarian attitude I had to conformity.”
“A.F. Day” (short for “Another Fucking Day”) features Tankian in full scream mode during the chorus, and would fit right into the System of a Down catalog both musically and lyrically. The song includes lines like, “Why do religions require from their faithful blind and questioning servitude?/ If thy path is so righteous, then why...
“This is a song I wrote in the early days of Soad that I never released,” stated Tankian of the the tune. “The majority of the instrumentation and vocals are recordings from that time. Dystopian in mood, it’s a reflection of the angst and anti-authoritarian attitude I had to conformity.”
“A.F. Day” (short for “Another Fucking Day”) features Tankian in full scream mode during the chorus, and would fit right into the System of a Down catalog both musically and lyrically. The song includes lines like, “Why do religions require from their faithful blind and questioning servitude?/ If thy path is so righteous, then why...
- 5/17/2024
- by Spencer Kaufman
- Consequence - Music
Serj Tankian is set to release his memoir, Down with the System, on Tuesday (May 14th). In an advance excerpt, the singer reveals that System of a Down auditioned a new vocalist after he had asked out of the band.
In the past, Tankian has admitted that he was responsible for the the band’s long hiatus from 2006 to 2011, largely due to his desire to step away from touring, as well as his creative differences with singer-guitarist Daron Malakian.
Tankian has also spoken openly about his chronic back troubles that make it difficult for him to tour, plus he has expressed distaste for the touring life in general. However, the passages from his autobiography shed new light on how close he was to leaving the band entirely.
In fact, it was Tankian himself who suggested the band find a new singer in 2017, as he notes in the book excerpt shared...
In the past, Tankian has admitted that he was responsible for the the band’s long hiatus from 2006 to 2011, largely due to his desire to step away from touring, as well as his creative differences with singer-guitarist Daron Malakian.
Tankian has also spoken openly about his chronic back troubles that make it difficult for him to tour, plus he has expressed distaste for the touring life in general. However, the passages from his autobiography shed new light on how close he was to leaving the band entirely.
In fact, it was Tankian himself who suggested the band find a new singer in 2017, as he notes in the book excerpt shared...
- 5/13/2024
- by Spencer Kaufman
- Consequence - Music
System of a Down singer Serj Tankian has announced a new EP titled Foundations, and has offered a brief teaser of the forthcoming lead single, “A.F. Day.”
The track is set to drop on May 17th and originates from the early days of System of a Down. Tankian opened up about “A.F. Day” — which stands for “Another Fucking Day” — in a press release.
Get System of a Down Tickets Here
“This is a song I wrote in the early days of Soad that I never released,” Tankian stated. “The majority of the instrumentation and vocals are recordings from that time. Dystopian in mood, it’s a reflection of the angst and anti-authoritarian attitude I had to conformity.”
The lyrics definitely have the same bite as some of Soad’s earlier songs: “Twice sorrowed by mistake for the color of my step seems too dry / The Ruby of the...
The track is set to drop on May 17th and originates from the early days of System of a Down. Tankian opened up about “A.F. Day” — which stands for “Another Fucking Day” — in a press release.
Get System of a Down Tickets Here
“This is a song I wrote in the early days of Soad that I never released,” Tankian stated. “The majority of the instrumentation and vocals are recordings from that time. Dystopian in mood, it’s a reflection of the angst and anti-authoritarian attitude I had to conformity.”
The lyrics definitely have the same bite as some of Soad’s earlier songs: “Twice sorrowed by mistake for the color of my step seems too dry / The Ruby of the...
- 4/29/2024
- by Jon Hadusek
- Consequence - Music
Slash teams up with composer Bear McCreary for an epic new song “The End of Tomorrow” from the latter’s forthcoming album, The Singularity, arriving May 3rd.
The near-11-minute track opens with an instrumental orchestral intro before Slash’s guitar cuts through the mix. His tone and style are immediately recognizable, with McCreary entrusting the Guns N’ Roses axeman with the main melodic lines in the arrangement.
Get Slash Tickets Here
Bear’s brother, Brendan McCreary, contributes lead vocals to the track and assumes a prominent role, as the song traverses many movements and cinematic turns — not surprising given Bear’s background in film, television, and video game scores.
For those approaching the song via Slash’s notable guest spot — namely Gn’R fans — “The End of Tomorrow” immediately recalls “November Rain” in its maximalism and narrative weight, and the Use Your Illusion masterpiece was a direct influence according to McCreary.
The near-11-minute track opens with an instrumental orchestral intro before Slash’s guitar cuts through the mix. His tone and style are immediately recognizable, with McCreary entrusting the Guns N’ Roses axeman with the main melodic lines in the arrangement.
Get Slash Tickets Here
Bear’s brother, Brendan McCreary, contributes lead vocals to the track and assumes a prominent role, as the song traverses many movements and cinematic turns — not surprising given Bear’s background in film, television, and video game scores.
For those approaching the song via Slash’s notable guest spot — namely Gn’R fans — “The End of Tomorrow” immediately recalls “November Rain” in its maximalism and narrative weight, and the Use Your Illusion masterpiece was a direct influence according to McCreary.
- 4/19/2024
- by Jon Hadusek
- Consequence - Music
Film and television composer Bear McCreary has unleashed “Incinerator” as the latest single from his recently announced album The Singularity, arriving May 10th. The song features Serj Tankian on vocals, and has a sonic vibe that would fit comfortably in System of a Down’s catalog.
“When I got the music, when I got this song specifically, I was blown away,” stated Tankian. “It’s explosive.”
The song is explosive, indeed, starting out with a blistering guitar riff before Tankian’s soaring trademark vocals take the spotlight. About two minutes into the track, Tankian shifts into a chaotic rapid delivery reminiscent of Soad’s “Chop Suey!”
The tune serves as the album’s leadoff track, with McCreary remarking, “Once I heard Serj’s searing vocals, I knew immediately that ‘Incinerator’ would be the first song on the album, acting like a warning that a massive, aggressive, and emotional journey lay ahead.
“When I got the music, when I got this song specifically, I was blown away,” stated Tankian. “It’s explosive.”
The song is explosive, indeed, starting out with a blistering guitar riff before Tankian’s soaring trademark vocals take the spotlight. About two minutes into the track, Tankian shifts into a chaotic rapid delivery reminiscent of Soad’s “Chop Suey!”
The tune serves as the album’s leadoff track, with McCreary remarking, “Once I heard Serj’s searing vocals, I knew immediately that ‘Incinerator’ would be the first song on the album, acting like a warning that a massive, aggressive, and emotional journey lay ahead.
- 3/22/2024
- by Spencer Kaufman
- Consequence - Music
Acclaimed composer Bear McCreary has announced a new concept album, The Singularity, which includes contributions by Guns N’ Roses’ Slash, System of a Down’s Serj Tankian, Slipknot’s Corey Taylor, and more renowned artists. Ahead of its May 10th release, McCreary has released the single “Type III” featuring Rufus Wainwright.
The album also features Jens Kidman (Meshuggah), Joe Satriani, Buck Dharma (Blue Öyster Cult), Kim Thayil (Soundgarden), Scott Ian (Anthrax), Brendon Small (Dethklok), Ben Weinman (The Dillinger Escape Plan), Warren Fitzgerald (The Vandals), Esjay Jones (We Are Pigs), Gene Hoglan (Dethklok), and others.
The award-winning McCreary is best known for his musical composition on such TV shows and movies as Battlestar Galactica, Outlander, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, The Walking Dead, and more, as well as a number of notable video games. He co-wrote The Singularity with his brother Brendan McCreary, who also lends his vocals to eight of the tracks.
The album also features Jens Kidman (Meshuggah), Joe Satriani, Buck Dharma (Blue Öyster Cult), Kim Thayil (Soundgarden), Scott Ian (Anthrax), Brendon Small (Dethklok), Ben Weinman (The Dillinger Escape Plan), Warren Fitzgerald (The Vandals), Esjay Jones (We Are Pigs), Gene Hoglan (Dethklok), and others.
The award-winning McCreary is best known for his musical composition on such TV shows and movies as Battlestar Galactica, Outlander, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, The Walking Dead, and more, as well as a number of notable video games. He co-wrote The Singularity with his brother Brendan McCreary, who also lends his vocals to eight of the tracks.
- 2/23/2024
- by Spencer Kaufman
- Consequence - Music
On the eve of Sundance and Berlin, XYZ Films has hired former STX, Studiocanal and Wanda executive Celine Lin as SVP of international sales and distribution.
Lin will spearhead distribution and licensing strategy across the Apac region and select European markets. She will report to XYZ president of international sales and distribution Tatyana Joffe.
Lin most recently served as SVP of international sales at STX Entertainment in London. Prior to that she held senior executive posts at Studiocanal in Paris and Wanda in Beijing. She began her career managing international sales for Coproduction Office.
Joffe said, “We are thrilled for...
Lin will spearhead distribution and licensing strategy across the Apac region and select European markets. She will report to XYZ president of international sales and distribution Tatyana Joffe.
Lin most recently served as SVP of international sales at STX Entertainment in London. Prior to that she held senior executive posts at Studiocanal in Paris and Wanda in Beijing. She began her career managing international sales for Coproduction Office.
Joffe said, “We are thrilled for...
- 1/17/2024
- ScreenDaily
Company premiering Skywalkers: A Love Story, Krazy House in Sundance.
On the eve of Sundance and Berlin, XYZ Films has hired former STX, Studiocanal and Wanda executive Celine Lin as SVP of international sales and distribution.
Lin will spearhead distribution and licensing strategy across the Apac region and select European markets. She will report to XYZ president of international sales and distribution Tatyana Joffe.
Lin most recently served as SVP of international sales at STX Entertainment in London. Prior to that she held senior executive posts at Studiocanal in Paris and Wanda in Beijing. She began her career managing international sales for Coproduction Office.
On the eve of Sundance and Berlin, XYZ Films has hired former STX, Studiocanal and Wanda executive Celine Lin as SVP of international sales and distribution.
Lin will spearhead distribution and licensing strategy across the Apac region and select European markets. She will report to XYZ president of international sales and distribution Tatyana Joffe.
Lin most recently served as SVP of international sales at STX Entertainment in London. Prior to that she held senior executive posts at Studiocanal in Paris and Wanda in Beijing. She began her career managing international sales for Coproduction Office.
- 1/17/2024
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Black Sabbath founders Tony Iommi and Bill Ward each took to social media to give fans and followers an end-of-year update, and it turns out both are in the studio working on separate projects.
Iommi shared a short video on Facebook, recapping his 2023 and dropping some hints of what we can expect from the Sabbath guitarist in 2024.
While he didn’t offer any specifics, Iommi has been “working in the studio” and “writing and doing plenty of stuff,” presumably for his previously mentioned solo LP.
“It’s sounding really good,” he said. “I’m very happy with it. I might use some orchestration, I might not. So we’ll see how it goes.”
Iommi also shared an update on the long-awaited Tony Martin-era Black Sabbath box set, which Iommi teased in his year-end message last year. The collection is now expected to drop in a May after a period of delay.
Iommi shared a short video on Facebook, recapping his 2023 and dropping some hints of what we can expect from the Sabbath guitarist in 2024.
While he didn’t offer any specifics, Iommi has been “working in the studio” and “writing and doing plenty of stuff,” presumably for his previously mentioned solo LP.
“It’s sounding really good,” he said. “I’m very happy with it. I might use some orchestration, I might not. So we’ll see how it goes.”
Iommi also shared an update on the long-awaited Tony Martin-era Black Sabbath box set, which Iommi teased in his year-end message last year. The collection is now expected to drop in a May after a period of delay.
- 1/2/2024
- by Jon Hadusek
- Consequence - Music
System of a Down singer Serj Tankian and Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, together with Gibson CEO Cesar Gueikian, have teamed up for the new benefit single “Deconstruction.” Proceeds will aid the Armenia Fund’s Artsakh Refugee Initiative.
The three artists have recorded the song under the name The Gibson Band, which will feature a rotating cast of musicians that will release music to benefit various philanthropic causes around the world.
Both Tankian and Gueikian are of Armenian descent, with Tankian long championing Armenian causes via his work with System of a Down and as a solo artist.
“It’s a dream come true to have collaborated with my good friend, Cesar Gueikian, and Tony Iommi, who I have collaborated with before,” stated Tankian. “I am happy that we are using our platform to donate the music, my art, and Gibson’s incredibly unique guitar for such a great charity.
The three artists have recorded the song under the name The Gibson Band, which will feature a rotating cast of musicians that will release music to benefit various philanthropic causes around the world.
Both Tankian and Gueikian are of Armenian descent, with Tankian long championing Armenian causes via his work with System of a Down and as a solo artist.
“It’s a dream come true to have collaborated with my good friend, Cesar Gueikian, and Tony Iommi, who I have collaborated with before,” stated Tankian. “I am happy that we are using our platform to donate the music, my art, and Gibson’s incredibly unique guitar for such a great charity.
- 12/8/2023
- by Spencer Kaufman
- Consequence - Music
System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian and Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, who recorded the song “Patterns” together in 2000, have reunited for a new song that will help raise money for imperiled Armenians.
The tune was the brainchild of Cesar Gueikian, CEO of Gibson Brands. Gueikian, an Argentine member of the Armenian diaspora, teamed with Tankian and Iommi on a new song, “Deconstruction,” that’s coming out under the banner of the Gibson Band via Gibson Records as a charity single. The tune is a six-minute descent into psychedelic...
The tune was the brainchild of Cesar Gueikian, CEO of Gibson Brands. Gueikian, an Argentine member of the Armenian diaspora, teamed with Tankian and Iommi on a new song, “Deconstruction,” that’s coming out under the banner of the Gibson Band via Gibson Records as a charity single. The tune is a six-minute descent into psychedelic...
- 12/8/2023
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Shortly after actor-director Michael Goorjian wrote the script for “Amerikatsi,” which is Armenia’s candidate for the international Oscar, he turned to System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian – who is also of Armenian descent – for feedback on the tale of an Armenian-American who repatriates in 1948 to what has become Soviet Armenia.
The Grammy-winning musician and political activist then became an executive producer on the film, which uses an ironic Chaplin-esque tone to depict the dream of the Armenian diaspora to reconnect with their roots.
Goorjian, who wrote and directed the movie, also stars as Charlie, an Armenian immigrant to the U.S. who returns to his homeland, now under Soviet rule, and almost immediately gets thrown into jail. But from his cell, he can see a prison guard’s home. Gradually, his life and that of the Armenian guard and his wife become vicariously entwined.
Goorjian and Tankian spoke...
The Grammy-winning musician and political activist then became an executive producer on the film, which uses an ironic Chaplin-esque tone to depict the dream of the Armenian diaspora to reconnect with their roots.
Goorjian, who wrote and directed the movie, also stars as Charlie, an Armenian immigrant to the U.S. who returns to his homeland, now under Soviet rule, and almost immediately gets thrown into jail. But from his cell, he can see a prison guard’s home. Gradually, his life and that of the Armenian guard and his wife become vicariously entwined.
Goorjian and Tankian spoke...
- 11/23/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
System of a Down drummer John Dolmayan has not shied away from sharing his political opinions — especially during the months surrounding the 2020 US presidential election and its aftermath.
An outspoken supporter of embattled former US president Donald Trump, Dolmayan took to Instagram on Sunday (October 22nd) to claim that he’s lost “people that I thought were friends” and “hundreds of thousands of fans” because of his beliefs and willingness to espouse them online.
The drummer shared the following statement posted as an image on his account, suggesting that some of his detractors are now seeing the validity of his opinions:
“I lost people that I thought were friends over the last few years primarily due to my unwillingness to accept the narratives they are now questioning the validity of. Not to mention hundreds of thousands of fans who couldn’t handle my opinions here on Instagram. When you endeavor to help those in peril,...
An outspoken supporter of embattled former US president Donald Trump, Dolmayan took to Instagram on Sunday (October 22nd) to claim that he’s lost “people that I thought were friends” and “hundreds of thousands of fans” because of his beliefs and willingness to espouse them online.
The drummer shared the following statement posted as an image on his account, suggesting that some of his detractors are now seeing the validity of his opinions:
“I lost people that I thought were friends over the last few years primarily due to my unwillingness to accept the narratives they are now questioning the validity of. Not to mention hundreds of thousands of fans who couldn’t handle my opinions here on Instagram. When you endeavor to help those in peril,...
- 10/26/2023
- by Jon Hadusek
- Consequence - Music
Serj Tankian, frontman of hard rock band System of a Down, will release his memoir Down With the System on May 14, 2024 via Hachette Books. The musician described the tome as an “accidentally hatched philosophical memoir.”
“Boom! – I wrote a new book,” Tankian wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “I had a blast working on this accidentally hatched philosophical memoir as it’s given me the unique opportunity to deep dive into my family history, my own motivations from a young age and lessons I didn’t know I had learned.”
The...
“Boom! – I wrote a new book,” Tankian wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “I had a blast working on this accidentally hatched philosophical memoir as it’s given me the unique opportunity to deep dive into my family history, my own motivations from a young age and lessons I didn’t know I had learned.”
The...
- 10/25/2023
- by Emily Zemler
- Rollingstone.com
Serj Tankian has announced that he has written a memoir titled Down With the System. The autobiography from the System of a Down singer will be released on May 14th, 2024, via Hachette Books (pre-order here).
“Boom! – I wrote a new book,” wrote Tankian on his social media pages. “I had a blast working on this accidentally hatched philosophical memoir as it’s given me the unique opportunity to deep dive into my family history, my own motivations from a young age and lessons I didn’t know I had learned.”
A description of the memoir on Hachette Books’ official website reads as follows:
“In Down With the System, Serj presents readers with a memoir that is far more than just a rock ‘n’ roll fable. It’s an immigrant’s tale, it’s an activist’s awakening, and it’s a spiritual journey from darkness toward light. And all of...
“Boom! – I wrote a new book,” wrote Tankian on his social media pages. “I had a blast working on this accidentally hatched philosophical memoir as it’s given me the unique opportunity to deep dive into my family history, my own motivations from a young age and lessons I didn’t know I had learned.”
A description of the memoir on Hachette Books’ official website reads as follows:
“In Down With the System, Serj presents readers with a memoir that is far more than just a rock ‘n’ roll fable. It’s an immigrant’s tale, it’s an activist’s awakening, and it’s a spiritual journey from darkness toward light. And all of...
- 10/24/2023
- by Spencer Kaufman
- Consequence - Music
TikToker Mac Glocky has quickly made a name for himself on the social media platform for re-imagining songs in the style of different bands. System of a Down are one of his go-to’s, and a recent viral clip sees him interpreting The B-52’s classic “Rock Lobster” a la Soad.
“This one is cursed,” Glocky warns in the introduction. “This one is definitely cursed.”
More like cursedly accurate. Mac overdubs himself to create the effect of a full band, first opening the song with the iconic “Rock Lobster” riff played through a heavily affected guitar tone, as Soad’s Daron Malakian is wont to do.
From there, Glocky lays down his best Serj Tankian impression, and it’s a good one, nailing all Serj’s dramatic delivery and signature mid-verse vocal exaggerations. Glocky clearly has a lot of fun putting on the impersonation — and he’s well practiced. His channel has multiple Soad re-imaginings,...
“This one is cursed,” Glocky warns in the introduction. “This one is definitely cursed.”
More like cursedly accurate. Mac overdubs himself to create the effect of a full band, first opening the song with the iconic “Rock Lobster” riff played through a heavily affected guitar tone, as Soad’s Daron Malakian is wont to do.
From there, Glocky lays down his best Serj Tankian impression, and it’s a good one, nailing all Serj’s dramatic delivery and signature mid-verse vocal exaggerations. Glocky clearly has a lot of fun putting on the impersonation — and he’s well practiced. His channel has multiple Soad re-imaginings,...
- 10/23/2023
- by Jon Hadusek
- Consequence - Music
The Los Angeles Armenian American community is ramping up its public concerns over an international regional conflict between ethnic Armenians and Azerbaijan.
Last week, a protest blocked the southbound 101 in downtown Los Angeles after Azerbaijan resumed military attacks on an enclave where roughly 120,000 ethnic Armenians live. Thousands have fled their homes, according to Human Rights Watch, which added that most cannot flee because Azerbaijan had sealed the border.
The enclave in dispute is known as Nagorno Karabakh. Azerbaijan has laid claim to the land, which is at the heart of the dispute.
The recent escalation has raised concerns from several prominent Armenian voices from the entertainment community.
For Grammy Award winning Serj Tankian and Cher, and TV star Kim Kardashian, a crisis in a little-known region is not just a humanitarian disaster in a faraway land.
Using their star power, the three are elevating the plight of the vulnerable population...
Last week, a protest blocked the southbound 101 in downtown Los Angeles after Azerbaijan resumed military attacks on an enclave where roughly 120,000 ethnic Armenians live. Thousands have fled their homes, according to Human Rights Watch, which added that most cannot flee because Azerbaijan had sealed the border.
The enclave in dispute is known as Nagorno Karabakh. Azerbaijan has laid claim to the land, which is at the heart of the dispute.
The recent escalation has raised concerns from several prominent Armenian voices from the entertainment community.
For Grammy Award winning Serj Tankian and Cher, and TV star Kim Kardashian, a crisis in a little-known region is not just a humanitarian disaster in a faraway land.
Using their star power, the three are elevating the plight of the vulnerable population...
- 9/24/2023
- by The Deadline Team
- Deadline Film + TV
In his early videos, the musician Teezo Touchdown mostly appeared in his front yard, standing sort of mawkishly in a way that brings to mind Edward Scissorhands and sporting the now-signature metal nails that adorn his hair. There, he would perform snippets of mostly acoustic, minimal-sounding pop-punk ballads that possessed a bleeding earnestness, almost childlike in their sincerity. Songs like the treacly but heartfelt “Strong Friend,” which doubled as a kind of PSA for mental health awareness. For a long time on Instagram, the primary distribution mechanism for these video snippets,...
- 9/12/2023
- by Jeff Ihaza
- Rollingstone.com
Serj Tankian is urging Imagine Dragons to cancel their scheduled show in Azerbaijan due to a “humanitarian catastrophe” being carried out by the country’s regime. After privately reaching out a few months ago, the System of a Down singer is now going public with the letter he sent to the pop-rock band.
Tankian and System of a Down have long spoken out against Azerbaijan, even releasing Soad’s first new songs in 15 years in 2020 to call attention to the country’s “crimes against humanity.”
In a new Instagram post, Tankian details the reasons he’s asking Imagine Dragons to nix the concert, as well as his frustrations in not getting a response:
“Now it has to be said.
A few months ago, it came to my attention that @imaginedragons had planned a show on Sept 2nd in Baku Azerbaijan. I was sure they were unaware that Azerbaijan’s petro-oligarchic...
Tankian and System of a Down have long spoken out against Azerbaijan, even releasing Soad’s first new songs in 15 years in 2020 to call attention to the country’s “crimes against humanity.”
In a new Instagram post, Tankian details the reasons he’s asking Imagine Dragons to nix the concert, as well as his frustrations in not getting a response:
“Now it has to be said.
A few months ago, it came to my attention that @imaginedragons had planned a show on Sept 2nd in Baku Azerbaijan. I was sure they were unaware that Azerbaijan’s petro-oligarchic...
- 8/17/2023
- by Spencer Kaufman
- Consequence - Music
Exclusive: Indie distributor Variance Films has snapped up North American rights to the period drama Amerikatsi, written and directed by and starring Michael A. Goorjian, slating it for an exclusive theatrical release in New York and L.A. on Friday, September 8, with a national rollout to follow.
Shot in Armenia by People of Ar Productions, Amerikatsi centers on Charlie (Goorjian), who returns to the country in 1948 — decades after fleeing to the U.S. as a child, due to persecution by the Ottoman Empire. What he finds in doing so is a country crushed under Soviet rule. And after being unjustly imprisoned, Charlie falls into despair, until he discovers that he can see into a nearby apartment from his cell window — the home of a prison guard. As his life unexpectedly becomes entwined with the man’s, he begins to see that the true spirit of his homeland is alive in its passionate people.
Shot in Armenia by People of Ar Productions, Amerikatsi centers on Charlie (Goorjian), who returns to the country in 1948 — decades after fleeing to the U.S. as a child, due to persecution by the Ottoman Empire. What he finds in doing so is a country crushed under Soviet rule. And after being unjustly imprisoned, Charlie falls into despair, until he discovers that he can see into a nearby apartment from his cell window — the home of a prison guard. As his life unexpectedly becomes entwined with the man’s, he begins to see that the true spirit of his homeland is alive in its passionate people.
- 8/8/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Nick Cave has teamed up with the Miraculous Love Kids of Afghanistan — a musical group of girl refugees — for their new single “Breathless/Beautiful.” Listen to it below.
Based on “Wife With Eyes Closed,” a poem Cave wrote about his wife Susie for Issue #60 of his The Red Hand Files, “Breathless/Beautiful” is a resonant number heightened by the children’s saccharine harmonies. Group founder Lanny Cordola intros the track with gravelly vocals backed by slow acoustic guitar before Cave’s gruffness enters the picture.
“The words resonated deeply in my soul and it struck me how even in loss, grief, and the harsh agonies of the world, we can create a sacred chamber in the heart to keep our loved ones,” Cordola said in a press release. It was his idea to expand on the poem, having first read it just two days after losing his brother. “Then the...
Based on “Wife With Eyes Closed,” a poem Cave wrote about his wife Susie for Issue #60 of his The Red Hand Files, “Breathless/Beautiful” is a resonant number heightened by the children’s saccharine harmonies. Group founder Lanny Cordola intros the track with gravelly vocals backed by slow acoustic guitar before Cave’s gruffness enters the picture.
“The words resonated deeply in my soul and it struck me how even in loss, grief, and the harsh agonies of the world, we can create a sacred chamber in the heart to keep our loved ones,” Cordola said in a press release. It was his idea to expand on the poem, having first read it just two days after losing his brother. “Then the...
- 7/11/2023
- by Cervanté Pope
- Consequence - Music
Mongolian folk-metal act The Hu and UK rockers Asking Alexandria are teaming up for a co-headlining 2023 US tour. The outing, dubbed the “Psycho Thunder Tour,” will feature support from Bad Wolves and Zero 9:36.
The tour kicks off August 30th in San Antonio, Texas, and runs through an October 8th gig in Los Angeles. A Live Nation pre-sale starts Thursday (June 15th) at 10 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster using the code Disco, while general sales begin on Friday (June 16th). Fans can also check for deals or pick up tickets to sold-out shows via StubHub, where your purchase is 100% guaranteed through StubHub’s Fan Protect program.
The Hu are touring in support of the upcoming deluxe version of their 2022 album, Rumble of Thunder. The expanded edition, due June 30th, features such guests as System of a Down’s Serj Tankian (“Black Thunder”), Alice in Chains’ William DuVall (“This Is Mongol”), and more.
The tour kicks off August 30th in San Antonio, Texas, and runs through an October 8th gig in Los Angeles. A Live Nation pre-sale starts Thursday (June 15th) at 10 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster using the code Disco, while general sales begin on Friday (June 16th). Fans can also check for deals or pick up tickets to sold-out shows via StubHub, where your purchase is 100% guaranteed through StubHub’s Fan Protect program.
The Hu are touring in support of the upcoming deluxe version of their 2022 album, Rumble of Thunder. The expanded edition, due June 30th, features such guests as System of a Down’s Serj Tankian (“Black Thunder”), Alice in Chains’ William DuVall (“This Is Mongol”), and more.
- 6/13/2023
- by Spencer Kaufman
- Consequence - Music
Every composer who scores a true crime series is dealing with ghosts. Their challenge is to help make a show riveting, dramatic — even entertaining — while trying not to exploit a real tragedy with real victims.
For Danielle Furst and Khari Mateen, the composers behind “Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal,” an added challenge was writing music knowing that the families and friends of victims would likely be watching.
“Every time we were working on it, I was thinking about the parents,” says Furst, “listening to what was behind their testimonies and their story and wanting them to feel good about it.”
At the heart of “Murdaugh” is the death of Mallory Beach, a teenager whose death in a boating accident instigates a series of other calamities and murders.
“It was a big responsibility,” Furst says.
Then there are all the usual scoring considerations of tempo, orchestration and mood. Furst found a hurdy-gurdy,...
For Danielle Furst and Khari Mateen, the composers behind “Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal,” an added challenge was writing music knowing that the families and friends of victims would likely be watching.
“Every time we were working on it, I was thinking about the parents,” says Furst, “listening to what was behind their testimonies and their story and wanting them to feel good about it.”
At the heart of “Murdaugh” is the death of Mallory Beach, a teenager whose death in a boating accident instigates a series of other calamities and murders.
“It was a big responsibility,” Furst says.
Then there are all the usual scoring considerations of tempo, orchestration and mood. Furst found a hurdy-gurdy,...
- 6/1/2023
- by Tim Greiving
- Variety Film + TV
System of a Down hosted their only scheduled performance of 2023 at Las Vegas’ inaugural Sick New World festival on Saturday, and the top-billed heavy metal outfit did not hold back for their first live set in over a year.
The Grammy-winning rock quartet, who have only made sporadic on-stage appearances since their contentious hiatus in 2006, closed the main stage for the single-day event and unleashed one blistering hit after another, including the trio of breakout singles, “Chop Suey!” (which still scares singer Serj Tankian to this day), “Toxicity,” and “Aerials,” from 2001’s Toxicity.
The band also revived several rarities from their 1998 self-titled debut like “Soil,” “Darts,” “Suite-Pee,” and “Peephole,” the last receiving its first live rendition in 10 years. The stacked setlist truly spanned the group’s whole career as they played the early era demo track “Dam” along with their two 2020 comeback tracks, “Genocidal Humanoidz” and “Protect the Land.” Watch...
The Grammy-winning rock quartet, who have only made sporadic on-stage appearances since their contentious hiatus in 2006, closed the main stage for the single-day event and unleashed one blistering hit after another, including the trio of breakout singles, “Chop Suey!” (which still scares singer Serj Tankian to this day), “Toxicity,” and “Aerials,” from 2001’s Toxicity.
The band also revived several rarities from their 1998 self-titled debut like “Soil,” “Darts,” “Suite-Pee,” and “Peephole,” the last receiving its first live rendition in 10 years. The stacked setlist truly spanned the group’s whole career as they played the early era demo track “Dam” along with their two 2020 comeback tracks, “Genocidal Humanoidz” and “Protect the Land.” Watch...
- 5/14/2023
- by Bryan Kress
- Consequence - Music
In celebration of Earth Day (April 22nd), Mongolian rockers The Hu have unveiled a new version of the song “Mother Nature,” as well as plans to plant 12,000 Siberian elm trees in Mongolia.
The Hu have posted the English-translated lyric video for their environment-focused single “Mother Nature.” The updated version of the song appears on the band’s upcoming deluxe version of their 2022 album, Rumble of Thunder, due out June 30th via Better Noise Music.
“Everyone in this world belongs to a mother and this song narrates the similarities between one’s relationship with their mother and the connection between humans and the Earth,” The Hu said in a statement. “In a way, Earth is another mother that bore us to this world. In Mongolia, mothers are highly regarded and respected and we believe that even after death, their soul protects their child as their love is limitless.”
Along with the new single,...
The Hu have posted the English-translated lyric video for their environment-focused single “Mother Nature.” The updated version of the song appears on the band’s upcoming deluxe version of their 2022 album, Rumble of Thunder, due out June 30th via Better Noise Music.
“Everyone in this world belongs to a mother and this song narrates the similarities between one’s relationship with their mother and the connection between humans and the Earth,” The Hu said in a statement. “In a way, Earth is another mother that bore us to this world. In Mongolia, mothers are highly regarded and respected and we believe that even after death, their soul protects their child as their love is limitless.”
Along with the new single,...
- 4/21/2023
- by Anne Erickson
- Consequence - Music
Mongolian rockers The Hu have announced that a deluxe version of their 2022 sophomore album, Rumble of Thunder, will arrive on June 30th via Better Noise Music. In advance of its release, the band has unveiled a new version of the track “Black Thunder” featuring vocalist by System of a Down singer Serj Tankian and Bad Wolves vocalist Dl.
The new set, Rumble of Thunder: Deluxe Album, will feature four acoustic renditions and three newly recorded singles featuring guest appearances and English-translated vocals from Tankian and Dl, Alice in Chains’ William DuVall, and solo artist Laura Pergolizzi. Pre-orders for the album on a variety of platforms, both digital and physical, are available now here.
“Black Thunder” (featuring Tankian and Dl), follows the release of the single “This Is Mongol” (featuring DuVall), and offers a “refreshed look at the culturally shaped track with a new perspective.” The song’s original music video...
The new set, Rumble of Thunder: Deluxe Album, will feature four acoustic renditions and three newly recorded singles featuring guest appearances and English-translated vocals from Tankian and Dl, Alice in Chains’ William DuVall, and solo artist Laura Pergolizzi. Pre-orders for the album on a variety of platforms, both digital and physical, are available now here.
“Black Thunder” (featuring Tankian and Dl), follows the release of the single “This Is Mongol” (featuring DuVall), and offers a “refreshed look at the culturally shaped track with a new perspective.” The song’s original music video...
- 3/31/2023
- by Anne Erickson
- Consequence - Music
Metallica have dropped the new song “72 Seasons” — the title track of their forthcoming album, arriving April 14th.
The band teased a significant portion of the song’s music video on social media before releasing the full track and music video today (March 30th). The performance clip sees the band illuminated by red lasers, giving off the effect of Metallica barreling through space.
It’s fitting visuals for what is the fastest and grooviest of the four singles we’ve heard from 72 Seasons, following “Lux Æterna,” “Screaming Suicide,” and “If Darkness Had a Son.” James Hetfield may have recently said that he and his fellow bandmates were “average” players, but this new track proves otherwise.
Lars Ulrich is locked into the pocket of the quick tempo, and the riff structures and palm-muted chugs hit with undeniable power. Hetfield’s more pronounced drawl also works nicely around the arrangement and vocal melody,...
The band teased a significant portion of the song’s music video on social media before releasing the full track and music video today (March 30th). The performance clip sees the band illuminated by red lasers, giving off the effect of Metallica barreling through space.
It’s fitting visuals for what is the fastest and grooviest of the four singles we’ve heard from 72 Seasons, following “Lux Æterna,” “Screaming Suicide,” and “If Darkness Had a Son.” James Hetfield may have recently said that he and his fellow bandmates were “average” players, but this new track proves otherwise.
Lars Ulrich is locked into the pocket of the quick tempo, and the riff structures and palm-muted chugs hit with undeniable power. Hetfield’s more pronounced drawl also works nicely around the arrangement and vocal melody,...
- 3/30/2023
- by Jon Hadusek
- Consequence - Music
Amazon has released the song “Where the Shadows Lie” from Grammy-winning artist Fiona Apple. The track will be part of the Season 1 soundtrack and appear in the season finale of Prime’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Listen to the song below.
The song was written by series composer Bear McCreary and was inspired by the Ring-verse written by J.R.R. Tolkien in the original The Lord of the Rings trilogy. As written, the poem was composed by the Free Peoples of Middle-earth about the origins of the Rings of Power and their relationship under the power of the One Ring.
The song was produced by McCreary, Apple, and Andrew Slater, and engineered by Jason Larocca and David Way. An instrumental version of the song featuring Serj Tankian of System of a Down and Danish composer Jesper Kyd is online at YouTube.
Listen to the Fiona Apple version below.
The song was written by series composer Bear McCreary and was inspired by the Ring-verse written by J.R.R. Tolkien in the original The Lord of the Rings trilogy. As written, the poem was composed by the Free Peoples of Middle-earth about the origins of the Rings of Power and their relationship under the power of the One Ring.
The song was produced by McCreary, Apple, and Andrew Slater, and engineered by Jason Larocca and David Way. An instrumental version of the song featuring Serj Tankian of System of a Down and Danish composer Jesper Kyd is online at YouTube.
Listen to the Fiona Apple version below.
- 10/8/2022
- by Bruce Haring and Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
System of a Down’s Serj Tankian will release his next solo project through an augmented reality app.
On Monday, Sept. 19, the musician announced a five-track EP, Perplex Cities, which will arrive on Oct. 21. But before the full EP hits the usual streaming services, Tankian will trickle out tracks on the app Arloopa, starting today with “Pop Imperialism,” and continuing over the next four weeks. Each song will be accompanied by an Ar video, in which Tankian discusses the new music and listens along to the tack.
“I’m always...
On Monday, Sept. 19, the musician announced a five-track EP, Perplex Cities, which will arrive on Oct. 21. But before the full EP hits the usual streaming services, Tankian will trickle out tracks on the app Arloopa, starting today with “Pop Imperialism,” and continuing over the next four weeks. Each song will be accompanied by an Ar video, in which Tankian discusses the new music and listens along to the tack.
“I’m always...
- 9/19/2022
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
Rolling Stone interview series Unknown Legends features long-form conversations between senior writer Andy Greene and veteran musicians who have toured and recorded alongside icons for years. All are renowned in the business, but some are less well known to the general public. Here, these artists tell their stories, giving an up-close look at life on music’s A list. This edition features drummer Bryan “Brain” Mantia.
Guns N’ Roses’ 2002 Chinese Democracy tour and Tom Waits’ 2004 Real Gone tour were such wildly different affairs that comparing them almost seems ludicrous. Gn...
Guns N’ Roses’ 2002 Chinese Democracy tour and Tom Waits’ 2004 Real Gone tour were such wildly different affairs that comparing them almost seems ludicrous. Gn...
- 8/4/2022
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
System of a Down’s Serj Tankian channels a message of “unity and harmony” on his new song, “Amber,” which he sings in his native Armenian language.
“Amber” — which is pronounced “ahm-be’r” and means “clouds” in Armenian — is a plaintive folk song filled with piano, strings, and additional vocals from the celebrated Armenian singer Sevak Amroyan. The track also arrives with a music video, directed by Hrag Yedalian, that finds Tankian and Amroyan performing the song as a young boy (Darren Chilingirian) flips through a sketchbook with handwritten phrases...
“Amber” — which is pronounced “ahm-be’r” and means “clouds” in Armenian — is a plaintive folk song filled with piano, strings, and additional vocals from the celebrated Armenian singer Sevak Amroyan. The track also arrives with a music video, directed by Hrag Yedalian, that finds Tankian and Amroyan performing the song as a young boy (Darren Chilingirian) flips through a sketchbook with handwritten phrases...
- 6/6/2022
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
System of a Down’s Serj Tankian is taking his next art exhibition online, offering a mix of animated non-fungible tokens and archival giclée prints.
Not for Touching — The Intangible Composition, presented by CurioNFT, comprises 21 pieces, which will be unveiled and go on sale on Dec. 6 via an interactive gallery. Viewers will be able to peruse simulated gallery rooms with large-scale animated graphics designed by visual effects master Roger Kupelian (The Lord of the Rings, Hugo). Music scored by Tankian will soundtrack the experience.
One animated piece from the exhibit,...
Not for Touching — The Intangible Composition, presented by CurioNFT, comprises 21 pieces, which will be unveiled and go on sale on Dec. 6 via an interactive gallery. Viewers will be able to peruse simulated gallery rooms with large-scale animated graphics designed by visual effects master Roger Kupelian (The Lord of the Rings, Hugo). Music scored by Tankian will soundtrack the experience.
One animated piece from the exhibit,...
- 11/22/2021
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
System of a Down, the popular Armenian-American band hailing from Glendale, Calif., was forced to cancel this weekend’s shows because frontman Serj Tankian has a breakthrough case of the coronavirus.
The band announcement today came just hours before they were scheduled to take the stage with Korn, Helmet and Russian Circles at Banc of California Stadium.
Tankian said on social media that he had tested positive for Covid-19. The 54-year-old Tankian said he was fully vaccinated, and said he had been “incredibly careful” over the course of the pandemic.
The shows will now be held on February 4 and 5, 2022.
The Los Angeles shows were eagerly awaited by fans. After a 15-year hiatus, System of a Down finally released new music last year to spotlight the problems in the ongoing war between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Some of System of a Down’s biggest hits include “Chop Suey,” “Toxicity,” and “B.Y.
The band announcement today came just hours before they were scheduled to take the stage with Korn, Helmet and Russian Circles at Banc of California Stadium.
Tankian said on social media that he had tested positive for Covid-19. The 54-year-old Tankian said he was fully vaccinated, and said he had been “incredibly careful” over the course of the pandemic.
The shows will now be held on February 4 and 5, 2022.
The Los Angeles shows were eagerly awaited by fans. After a 15-year hiatus, System of a Down finally released new music last year to spotlight the problems in the ongoing war between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Some of System of a Down’s biggest hits include “Chop Suey,” “Toxicity,” and “B.Y.
- 10/22/2021
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
System of a Down’s Serj Tankian pairs his poetry with classical music in the new video for “Disarming Time: A Modern Piano Concerto.” The piece appears on a new collection, Cool Gardens Poetry Suite, which arrives Thursday, July 8th.
Tankian originally released “Disarming Time” as a standalone musical composition back in June, while this new version finds the musician reciting several poems over the expansive 23-minute piece. “Disarming Time” also arrives with a music video, crafted by visual artist David Bradford, that further animates and complements the Tankian’s mix of music and poetry.
Tankian originally released “Disarming Time” as a standalone musical composition back in June, while this new version finds the musician reciting several poems over the expansive 23-minute piece. “Disarming Time” also arrives with a music video, crafted by visual artist David Bradford, that further animates and complements the Tankian’s mix of music and poetry.
- 7/8/2021
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
Serj Tankian has shared a 24-minute instrumental titled “Disarming Time: A Modern Piano Concerto,” a portion of a classical composition that the System of a Down frontman worked on during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“When quarantine hit and all our projects and releases were canceled, I started itching for a musical challenge. One night sitting in bed looking through different voice memos on the iPhone I realized I have this huge trove of short, special, unrealized musical ideas,” Tankian said of the piece in a statement (via Blabbermouth).
“Right then the...
“When quarantine hit and all our projects and releases were canceled, I started itching for a musical challenge. One night sitting in bed looking through different voice memos on the iPhone I realized I have this huge trove of short, special, unrealized musical ideas,” Tankian said of the piece in a statement (via Blabbermouth).
“Right then the...
- 6/19/2021
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
Rage Against the Machine, Serj Tankian, Roger Waters, Run the Jewels and Patti Smith are among the 600 musicians who have signed an open letter asking fellow artists to boycott performing in Israel until there is a “free Palestine.”
The Musicians for Palestine letter was also signed by the Strokes’ Julian Casablancas, the Roots’ Black Thought and Questlove, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Thurston Moore, Bun B, Royce Da 5’9″, Cypress Hill, Talib Kweli and hundreds more.
“As musicians, we cannot be silent. Today it is essential that we stand with Palestine. We...
The Musicians for Palestine letter was also signed by the Strokes’ Julian Casablancas, the Roots’ Black Thought and Questlove, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Thurston Moore, Bun B, Royce Da 5’9″, Cypress Hill, Talib Kweli and hundreds more.
“As musicians, we cannot be silent. Today it is essential that we stand with Palestine. We...
- 5/27/2021
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
System of a Down’s Serj Tankian has released the new music video for “Rumi,” a track of his recent solo EP Elasticity.
The song is a tribute to Tankian’s six-year-old son and the 13th century Sufi poet Rumi, for whom Tankian named his son. Tankian doesn’t often share the lyrics to his songs, but he did so for “Rumi,” saying in a statement, “Lyrical specificity in music is generally discouraged because less people internalize them as they have less of a personal connection. But there are cases...
The song is a tribute to Tankian’s six-year-old son and the 13th century Sufi poet Rumi, for whom Tankian named his son. Tankian doesn’t often share the lyrics to his songs, but he did so for “Rumi,” saying in a statement, “Lyrical specificity in music is generally discouraged because less people internalize them as they have less of a personal connection. But there are cases...
- 4/30/2021
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
Serj Tankian thanked President Joe Biden Saturday after the president declared April 24th as “Armenian Remembrance Day,” which coincides with the United States recognizing the 1915 Armenian genocide for the first time.
“Thank you to President Joe Biden for properly recognizing the #ArmenianGenocide today,” the System of the Down singer wrote on Instagram.
“This is extremely important but only a milestone towards the long road of justice ahead with Turkey and its imminent need to do the same and make amends towards the descendants of 1.5 Million Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians systematically...
“Thank you to President Joe Biden for properly recognizing the #ArmenianGenocide today,” the System of the Down singer wrote on Instagram.
“This is extremely important but only a milestone towards the long road of justice ahead with Turkey and its imminent need to do the same and make amends towards the descendants of 1.5 Million Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians systematically...
- 4/24/2021
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
Serj Tankian mocks would-be martyrs and jihadists waging war in the name of religion on “Your Mom,” a track off his recent Elasticity EP. He plays up the song’s cartoonish side in a new lyric video.
In between animations of soldiers carrying guns and karate-kicking moms, Tankian rolls his eyes dramatically and raises his eyebrows as he sings about “radical greed” and “despicable fools.” At the end of the clip, he laughs at the idea that jihadists believe they’ll be given 72 virgins after they die.
Despite the heavy subject matter,...
In between animations of soldiers carrying guns and karate-kicking moms, Tankian rolls his eyes dramatically and raises his eyebrows as he sings about “radical greed” and “despicable fools.” At the end of the clip, he laughs at the idea that jihadists believe they’ll be given 72 virgins after they die.
Despite the heavy subject matter,...
- 4/16/2021
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Sometimes, you grow up thinking you’re going to be one thing, but you end up being many things. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, either. It just goes to show you’re multi-faceted and talented. Serj Tankian, for example, is multi-faceted. He’s a singer. He’s a songwriter. He is a producer. He is a political activist. He’s a son. He’s a husband. He’s a father. He’s a bandmate. He’s everyone’s favorite guitarist from System of a Down, and you know exactly who he is. He grew up loving music, but did he think he’d end up being so much in the
10 Things You Didn’t Know about Serj Tankian...
10 Things You Didn’t Know about Serj Tankian...
- 3/30/2021
- by Tiffany Raiford
- TVovermind.com
Serj Tankian has shared a music video for his song “Electric Yerevan,” which looks back at a series of Armenian protests.
The clip, directed by Garin Hovannisian, offers a visual timeline of the events leading up to the 2015 protests and the ensuing 2018 Velvet Revolution. It also reveals the importance of peaceful protests around the world.
“The song was inspired by the successful Electric Yerevan protests in Armenia in the summer of 2015 where people protested against proposed hikes in utility prices,” Tankian said in a statement. “My writing from that time...
The clip, directed by Garin Hovannisian, offers a visual timeline of the events leading up to the 2015 protests and the ensuing 2018 Velvet Revolution. It also reveals the importance of peaceful protests around the world.
“The song was inspired by the successful Electric Yerevan protests in Armenia in the summer of 2015 where people protested against proposed hikes in utility prices,” Tankian said in a statement. “My writing from that time...
- 3/19/2021
- by Emily Zemler
- Rollingstone.com
System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian is no stranger to backlash, death threats, making enemies with various governments and even being labeled a spy on his quest for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and his work to bring true democracy to his homeland. The documentary “Truth To Power” lifts the veil on Tankian’s life, his rise to fame with System of a Down, his prolific solo music career and showcases his tireless activism.
Tankian’s grandfather, Stepan Haytayan, was five when he witnessed his father’s murder during the genocide. He went blind from hunger and finally arrived at an orphanage in Lebanon. Serj was born in Beirut, Lebanon and his family fled to Los Angeles during the country’s civil war in 1975. Before his grandfather passed, Tankian vowed to put awareness and recognition of the genocide at the forefront of whatever he did with his life.
Tankian’s grandfather, Stepan Haytayan, was five when he witnessed his father’s murder during the genocide. He went blind from hunger and finally arrived at an orphanage in Lebanon. Serj was born in Beirut, Lebanon and his family fled to Los Angeles during the country’s civil war in 1975. Before his grandfather passed, Tankian vowed to put awareness and recognition of the genocide at the forefront of whatever he did with his life.
- 2/19/2021
- by Jeff Cornell
- Variety Film + TV
The straw-man argument at the center of Truth to Power, a documentary about the art and activism of System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian, is: “Can music change the world?” If you know anything about Tankian — or Fela Kuti, Pete Seeger, Billie Holiday, N.W.A, Ludwig van Beethoven, and on and on — the answer is self-evident. But once filmmaker Garin Hovannisian moves past this question and begins showing how Tankian and his bandmates have improved the status of their ancestral homeland, Armenia, the power of truth starts hitting its marks.
- 2/19/2021
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
System of a Down is a renowned, Grammy-winning hard rock band, but the new Garin Hovannisian-directed documentary Truth To Power at Oscilloscope Laboratories shows a different side of them — specifically putting the spotlight on the band’s frontman, Serj Tankian.
Opening in virtual theaters today, Truth to Power brings audiences into the world of Tankian. Through exclusive interviews and original footage personally filmed by the international rock star, the docu pulls the curtain back as we see his revolutionary music career, his work in social justice and how he uses his platform for political change. His decades-long campaign for formal U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide was finally approved by Congress in 2019. He’s loved by his fans but has a very divisive relationship with the government.
The film features insight from his bandmates, producer Rick Rubin, Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello as well as social...
Opening in virtual theaters today, Truth to Power brings audiences into the world of Tankian. Through exclusive interviews and original footage personally filmed by the international rock star, the docu pulls the curtain back as we see his revolutionary music career, his work in social justice and how he uses his platform for political change. His decades-long campaign for formal U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide was finally approved by Congress in 2019. He’s loved by his fans but has a very divisive relationship with the government.
The film features insight from his bandmates, producer Rick Rubin, Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello as well as social...
- 2/19/2021
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
At first glance it’s tempting to call “Truth to Power,” a documentary about the music and activism of System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian, the “Last Dance” of music docs. Impressive archival footage can’t disguise how overly reverential a treatment Garin Hovannisian’s film is. That’s not surprising considering that, like “The Last Dance,” its subject was an instrumental part of its making. Tankian reached out to Hovannisian to initiate the project, and had even scored two of Hovannisian’s previous movies. That cozy relationship has a cost: as with “The Last Dance,” “Truth to Power” is a promotional film, not a work of journalism.
But unlike “The Last Dance,” it doesn’t have an hours-long narrative worth losing yourself in to the point that you begin to forget those critiques. What you get instead is a Wikipedia-like blow-by-blow account of key moments in his...
But unlike “The Last Dance,” it doesn’t have an hours-long narrative worth losing yourself in to the point that you begin to forget those critiques. What you get instead is a Wikipedia-like blow-by-blow account of key moments in his...
- 2/19/2021
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
Serj Tankian explores Los Angeles’ Little Armenia in this exclusive clip from Truth to Power, a documentary about the System of a Down singer that arrives February 19th.
In the clip, Tankian visits the close-knit Armenian community hidden in the heart of Hollywood. “My own family came here to Los Angeles, migrated in 1975,” Tankian says while driving through the neighborhood. “Right in the middle of Hollywood, the Armenian community had a school, a church, different cafes, bakeries, restaurants. It was a settlement with Armenians from all over the world.”
The singer continued,...
In the clip, Tankian visits the close-knit Armenian community hidden in the heart of Hollywood. “My own family came here to Los Angeles, migrated in 1975,” Tankian says while driving through the neighborhood. “Right in the middle of Hollywood, the Armenian community had a school, a church, different cafes, bakeries, restaurants. It was a settlement with Armenians from all over the world.”
The singer continued,...
- 2/11/2021
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
System of a Down’s Serj Tankian has announced his new solo EP Elasticity, and with it the video for the title track.
“When I conceived possibly doing another record with the guys from System of a Down a few years back, I started working on a set of songs that I arranged in rock format for that purpose,” Tankian said in a statement. “As we weren’t able to see eye to eye on the vision going forward with a Soad album, I decided to release these songs under my moniker.
“When I conceived possibly doing another record with the guys from System of a Down a few years back, I started working on a set of songs that I arranged in rock format for that purpose,” Tankian said in a statement. “As we weren’t able to see eye to eye on the vision going forward with a Soad album, I decided to release these songs under my moniker.
- 2/5/2021
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
System of a Down premiered their new video for “Genocidal Humanoidz” Saturday following a charity livestream to provide humanitarian aid to Armenians affected by the conflict over the disputed area known as Nagorno-Karabakh.
A mix of live performance and animation, the visual features System of the Down playing their first new song in 15 years amid animated imagery of war-torn townspeople banding together to fight off the demons that have invaded. The video was directed by Soad’s Shavo Odadjian and Deep Sky Animation’s Adam Mason.
Prior to Saturday’s livestream,...
A mix of live performance and animation, the visual features System of the Down playing their first new song in 15 years amid animated imagery of war-torn townspeople banding together to fight off the demons that have invaded. The video was directed by Soad’s Shavo Odadjian and Deep Sky Animation’s Adam Mason.
Prior to Saturday’s livestream,...
- 1/30/2021
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
Foo Fighters have been a reliable alt-rock institution for more than 25 years. A band with that kind of august track record could get bored or complacent with their job. But Dave Grohl and Co. just keep happily chugging along, putting out solid-to-great records, satisfying their enormous fan base with killer stadium shows, and keeping things fresh for themselves by coming up with interesting concepts (like their 2014 HBO doc series/album Sonic Highways) and tossed-off collaborations with pals like Justin Timberlake, Rick Astley, or Serj Tankian.
The Foos’ 10th album is...
The Foos’ 10th album is...
- 1/26/2021
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
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