Serj Tankian Interview About What’s Coming in 2023 for System of a Down
Serj Tankian talked with Kyle Meredith about his latest “Perplex Cities” EP album. Also, he added what’s coming in next year, and the System of a Down band’s projects, tours, and upcoming albums.
Short remember what happened 11 years ago. Since coming out of hiatus in 2011, System of a Down has periodically toured. Although in the last 17 years, only two songs, “Protect The Land” and “Genocidal Humanoidz,” have been successfully recorded. The conflict between Artsakh and Azerbaijan inspired the songs. They also released the songs in November 2020. And, with all earnings going to aid projects in System of a Down’s Armenian ancestral country.
They raised over $600,000 with funding support from followers on their social media accounts.
Serj Tankian also discusses the interactive elements he incorporates into each new album as a solo or SOAD band. The upcoming operatic suite performance, and the plans for System of a Down.
During a recent interview with Serj Tankian, he answered some questions about SOAD and his music career(transcribed by metalshout.com):
“As of now, we haven’t talked about anything. We will be making an announcement about something next year that I can’t really tell you about. So there is that. But further than that, I can’t really say.
“Before we uh you mentioned forgive me Father what’s cool about that it’s a blues song that I had done a while back and it just kind of fit the kind of EP like the other songs. In the EP even though it’s different and I realized I was going to redo the vocals that’s the original one take vocal on it.
I was gonna redo it and then it was just had that Vibe and you know I was just riffing and not all the words are even formed and I’m like I’m gonna leave that alone you know like which you generally don’t do for a release but anyway that much for that um um my new exhibition is in La Canada California.
It’s going to start uh next weekend and the public opening is Sunday and uh I’m excited about it it’s gonna it’s they’ve just picked up half of the pieces were picked up uh originally it’s about 20 or so pieces it’s a lot of work and some small some kind of you know a little medium. And some larger works um and it is an anthology of sorts because there’s stuff from way back I started painting in 2013. Or I think my first exhibition sorry I should say it was in 2013. And uh so there’s stuff from way back there and there’s stuff.
I just did a couple of paintings that I just finished like a few weeks ago. And, so it’s like a really cool retrospective. I guess um and all my main paintings are musically scored. So there are musical scores you can listen to each painting the same app that we’re using for “Perplex Cities” our Lupa is what we use for our paintings so you can walk in with your smartphone and listen to the whole exhibition one painting at a time. And it’s a really great experiences that people enjoy so come check it out if you’re in California. And uh enjoy yeah it’s on till November 1st, 2022. ”
When I conceived of 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. As we weren’t able to see eye to eye on the vision going forward with a System of a Down album, I decided to release these songs under my moniker.”
This past September 2022, he answered:
“This whole collection of songs within Perplex Cities is a completely different sound than what I’ve done before. More electronic, subtle and deeper in terms of its layers of presentation musically. Perplex Cities gives off an aura that is unique and unlike my previous releases.
I’m always trying to create new and interesting ways to connect with people via my music. We made some amazing videos for the last EP Elasticity, so I wanted to try something different for Perplex Cities. I love the idea of appearing in the room with someone listening to my music. It’s intimate, fun, and different.”
At that time Serj Tankian shared the Perplex Cities VR experience:
“Your ability to shoot on the beat will enhance your gameplay experience. The more in sync you are with the rhythm, the more intense the music will become and the more destruction you will cause. Defeat the demon hordes with a skull-clad blade or a wide range of murderous guns.
Different about this game. You gotta really be a part of the song and the rhythm to gain the points. It’s really incredible, really fast, really heavy, very interesting, and very progressive. And that’s why I decided to join and be a part of this. I loved the song. It’s 7 minutes, and it takes you on this crazy journey. It’s very fast and very rhythmical so your fingers… you will probably lose some ligaments.”
We don’t know if SOAD will continue on tour in 2023. But we are sure about they will go on a worldwide tour as soon as possible. We will let you know when it happens.