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 EMP
Magazine got a great interview with System of a down in their summer issue
entitled : Insanity with method !
The countdown is running: 4 years after ”Toxicity” System of a Down return with
big drum beat: ”Mesmerize” and ”Hypnotize” are two separate, new records,
released over six months and letting the innovative style-mix of metal, punk and
Armenian folklore culminate ultimately.
How that works and what's behind it was reported by guitarist and mastermind,
Daron Malakian.
-You're called the workaholic of the band having already written many new songs since the finishing of the new album – is that true?
-It is indeed! Since the recordings for ”Hypnotize” and ”Mesmerize” I wrote about 30 new songs. However it's not sure if they will ever be released. Most of them will never see the light of day. I always carry ideas with me. Of course, that's not really healthy but, hey, that's how I am. IN my life, music plays the same role as eating, drinking or sleeping: it's just something I cannot live without.
And this creative overkill made you release two records in 2005?
-Yes, that's the main reason. However, the material on ”Hypnotize” and “Mesmerize” is not even a tenth part of what I have written in the last four years. I will have to cope with the fact that not everything I write will be released.
Why did you decide to release the two records separately – do you think you'd overtax your fans?
-Absolutely. You cannot play two records of this kind to the people and expect that they listen to you to the last minute. It's the generation of the I-Pod-listeners who are not used to listen to a complete album from start to finish. So our decision to release these records deferred is not the worst because this way you give every song the opportunity to be really listened to. It's the same thing in other areas in life: For example if you meet 30 people at the same time, how big is the chance that you find time for every single one of them? How many of them did you get to know that evening and how many of them will you remember? And that's exactly what I want to avoid with our songs. I want that every one of them is being heard.
Stylistically the album is a colorful potpourri of everything, spiced with a heavy portion of 80s metal.
-Sure, metal of the 80s and metal in general is a definite influence on the music of System Of A Down. But it would be unfair if you'd want to reduce us to that. I think there are many influences to be found in our music. one song may sound like the Zombies, the next like Venom and suddenly you hear harmonies that could derive from the Supremes: You see: my musical taste is widely spread, that's why you'll always hear all sorts of styles in System Of A Down-songs. Let's put it this way: If 10 people would father a child it would show characteristics of all ten of them. It's the same with a System Of A Down-song – it's what the four of us bring in.
To which extent does a song like ”Kill Rock’n’Roll” reflect your attitude towards rock music today?
(Laughs): to be honest, this song has many meanings that are not so striking. The basis was an accident in which I killed a rabbit. on the next day I saw another rabbit and somehow I had the feeling that it was a relative of the other animal. It stared at me and I got a terribly guilty conscience. So I decided to call the dead rabbit ´Rock’n’Roll´ and write a song about his death. Many people will go and say”he? That doesn't make sense!” Well, maybe not for everybody but it does for me.
This song is an example for the funny side of the band – which is often overlooked...
Nice that you mention that because to be honest I'm quite pissed off of the fact that we are often being reduced to the status of the ”polite rockers”. When people hear our name they think: ”SOAD – that's this polit-combo.” And to a certain extent they are right. But it's not that there wouldn't be anything else in our lives or music. Just imagine: most of our songs don't deal with politics at all. But: those few tracks with a political approach were the most successful ones. And the consequence is that people think we are extremely political. As is we'd sit together all day and don't talk about anything else. Of course, we don't! We make jokes and have fun! Just like any other band. Our music is not a vehicle to express our political opinion but a reflection of our everyday life. And that can be very simple in times. For example, I wake up in the morning, take a shower, drive to a burger shop, order something to eat and even although I explicitly mention that I don't want any cucumbers you can be sure that they put them on which makes me really sick. Then I go on and stand at a red light although there is not a single pedestrian in miles, not to mention that any would want to cross the street. So I fucking wonder why I don't just go on. First the cucumbers, then the red light. I'm pissed off and go much faster than I normally do till I unfortunately roll over a rabbit. Those are the experiences I deal with in my songs.
Nevertheless, ”Attack” and “B.Y.O.B.” will get the most attention as the political songs of the album...
-But not even they are really political. As a matter of fact, it's not all about complaining about George W. Bush because it's just boring, anyway. Complaining about him is about the same like going to Disneyland only to vomit over Mickey Mouse
Because you didn't like it. Who would seriously want to do something like that? Who would seriously want to complain to Mickey Mouse? You see? It's the same with George W. Bush.
Would Kerry have been the better president?
-No there was and is absolutely no difference between the two of them. Fact is that the foreign policy of the United States hasn't turned so aggressive only after 9-11 and I regard it as my job to inform the people about this. For why would you want to complain to the president about things he knows, anyway? If there is a chance then we have to open the eyes of the people on the street. Like on the fact that it's always the poor who are forced to make wars for the rich. You will only be successful if you make them think:”hey, why should I go to war? only to make these rich motherfuckers even richer?” Clearing up is very important. However, there are dangers, too. Some people become very angry if you tell them that the book that provides the guidelines for their whole life is a book of lies. The first reaction is pure anger most of the time and you have to watch out. The truth is often seen unpleasant. But our approach with SOAD is to scream it directly into your face. If you don't like what you hear, even better!
Where do the USA invade next? Iran or Northern Korea?
-I don't know but it doesn't matter, anyway. For me, System of a Down is a political band because we say things straight. After all, the political system is only a continuation of our culture. Politicians ask and make the things that are predominantly accepted in our culture. If we would all live in a society that prayed to Satan, all our politicians would be Satanists, and if abortion or homosexuality would be socially appreciated by the majority, all politicians would be positive about abortion or gay marriages. So it's more about social tendencies that have to be influenced. Right now, anyone of the people in the US fears something whatsoever and if you're afraid of something you don't always decide rightly. If we don't manage to relax and understand that our neighbors are OK, really and have no plans to kills you at the next opportunity, we'll go on living in a paranoid society throwing bombs to others. Alone because of the fear that they could be thrown bombs at themselves.
In June, you'll go on tour in Germany playing huge arenas and stadiums. How does that fit the idealism of System of a Down?
-No matter where we play, I'll always remain the person I've always been. I grew up in a one-room apartment that I had to share with my parents for 12 years. Nobody in our family has ever been rich and that stamped me. Ok, meanwhile I have some money and live in a beautiful house in a neighborhood that is rich. But I'm still not like them and the same is true for the band: also when we play stadiums like all the other megastars that doesn't mean that we will change. We will never forget our roots, our integrity or the time that we shared when we were not where we are now. Many bands seem to go mad after some time, seem to loose grip and seem to only care how big their show is and how to earn even more money. But we are different. We only care about music and about remaining who we are. We are simple people who only want to play their songs.
The interview is published in summer issue of EMP magazine click HERE to order your copy Interviewer: Marcel Anders Special Thanks to Christian Albers for giving SOADFans the permission to post the English version of the whole interview.
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