Topic: Interviews

His son has got him covered. System of a Down's artist of choice is Vartan Malakian, the guitarist's dad.

On the walls of a quiet Spanish-style house in suburban Glendale hang two paintings that, although largely unknown to art critics, are million-sellers.
Titled "Mezmerize" and "Hypnotize," the works are the source images for the covers of two albums released in 2005 by the hard-rock band System of a Down. The originals might constitute an odd choice of home décor for Vartan and Zepur Malakian — except that Vartan, 59, is the artist who created them, and the couple's son, Daron, is System's guitarist, co-vocalist and principal tunesmith.

“The project with Wu-Tangs GZA is going to be big”

In a posh hotel at the Potsdamer Platz the record company is asking for an interview. To answer the questions bass player Shavo Odadjian and drummer John Dolmayen come together with the journalists separately.
Shavo obviously enjoys the luxury of having such a comfortable room like this to give interviews.

On an sideboard are fruits right next to an expensive looking carafe with alcohol. The room is modern furnished and offers an excellent view to the Christmassy Potsdamer Platz. With Hypnotize, System Of A Down have an album with them that is extremely heavy and are accordingly happy.

With an album as fun as it is political, System Of A Down are on the path to enlightenment, System Of A Down have accomplished something only politicians could dream of with their latest album, Hypnotize (American-Columbia). Having rounded off their neo-politico punk opera, started six months earlier on Mezmerize, they attack war propaganda, show their support for troops in Iraq and lay their Armenian ancestors' souls to rest by commemorating the 1915 Armenian Genocide. Plus, their stump speech is delivered with a post-Zappa, schizoid punk that breaks boundaries between thrash metal and smooth grooves. Along with artists like the Dead Kennedys, Nausea and even Bob Dylan, System Of A Down have started to move from pop culture to pop commentators. The final verse of the Armenian national anthem goes, "Everyone dies only once, but lucky is the one who is sacrificed for his nation." With that in mind, if they break up tomorrow, System can do so with pride. Bassist Shavo Oadadjian explains why.

System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadjian has a few words for fans and music listeners who think they know what to expect on the just-released second half of its "Mezmerize/Hypnotize" project.

"What to expect from us is the unexpected, I guess," Odadjian said, speaking via telephone from a recent System of a Down show at Nationwide Arena. "If we do something common, it doesn't match us. People look at us differently. They look at us with one eye and say, 'Why are they doing that?'"
Fans haven't questioned the odd time signatures, socio-political lyrics and aggressive rhythm section. The first half of the group's two-album set, "Mezmerize"--released in May, and produced by Rick Rubin and System of a Down guitarist Daron Malakian--hit No. 1 on The Billboard 200 charts after selling about 475,000 copies during its first week out. Vocalist Serj Tankian and drummer John Dolmayan round out the group's lineup.

They are Avant-garde and intelligent. They are all great individuals, very serious and at the same time wild.

All four members of the famous American rock group “System of a Down” are of Armenian descent. They play aggressive neo-metal music on stage, but in real life they are very subtle and openhearted philosophers. It is impossible to connect their music with any other style. It is an incredible mixture which attracts everyone. People either love them or don’t accept them. There are more people that love the group. Recently, the Netherlands authorities closed down the airport upon their arrival because there were too many fans. Usually, unexpected fame and fortune turn people into egoistic rock stars. This was not the case for the boys of “System of a Down”. In just a matter of time, Serj Tankian, Shavo Odadjian, Daron Malakian and John Dolmayan were able to reach fame and become the most famous alternative rock group in the world. “We don’t play and sing to be liked by the people,” they say.

The group creates interesting musical combinations, writes clever and impressive lyrics where there are sounds of revolt. “We are like a cake. Everyone tries to find something in us, someone wants the sweet part, the other wants the biscuit,” says Serj Tankian an. The aggressiveness in their rock music is beautifully compiled with Eastern melodies and the political lyrics add rhythm to it all. The album entitled “Toxity” which was released in 2001 broke the music chain in America.