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System Of A Down's Serj Tankian Hopes Second Solo LP Doesn't Rock |
Posted by lidra on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 - 02:39 PM
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 Serj
is shooting for jazzier, 'more orchestral' sounds; also reveals 'FCC' backing
band, talks Wyclef Jean collaboration.
It's six days until Serj Tankian's inaugural solo debut, Elect the Dead,
hits record stores, and yet, the wild-eyed System of a Down frontman is already
mulling his next album and the direction he wants to take with it. In fact, the
dude's stockpiled about 4,500 songs he's written over the last few years from
which to mine.
"They're not all like [the songs on Elect the Dead]," he said. "They're not all
rock or pop or anything like that. I've got classical music, electronic
compositions, experimental songs, noise, punk, metal I have a lot of different
types of music because when I have free time, I write music, regardless of what
project I'm working on at the time. I will always have more material than I can
afford to release."
For album numero dos, Tankian is thinking he'd like to take his sound in a more
orchestral direction, with jazz numbers interspersed throughout.
"I have some songs written and recorded for it, and I think it will be a more
jazzy, orchestral record, which is kind of what I wanted to do with this [Elect
the Dead]," he said. "If you strip down all these songs from Elect the Dead into
their original form with pianos, strings, acoustic guitars they're very
classically written songs, but they kind of asked for the rock instruments. I
kind of ended up with a rock record without even anticipating it myself because
the songs asked for those dynamics of drums and guitars. So I started
arranging them that way, and when I was done, I was like, 'Damn, I came up with
a rock record again.' For the next one, I think I want it to be a really heavy,
guttural record without the heavy instruments. That's the next challenge for
me."
With System of a Down on an indefinite hiatus, Tankian will surely have plenty
of time to work on Elect the Dead's follow-up. Like the rest of his bandmates,
Tankian felt it was time to take a break from System, so he could "make the
record [he] was meant to make." And no, he hasn't been approached to work with
Achozen, System bassist Shavo Odadjian's project with Wu-Tang Clan's RZA; or
Scars on Broadway, the side project started by SOAD guitarist Daron Malakian and
drummer John Dolmayan. Not yet, anyway.
"I think it would be too much like System if that were the case," he explained,
"but I am looking forward to hearing [Scars on Broadway's] music. The stuff I've
heard from Shavo is amazing though. The thing is, we're all friends. We started
out together, and we formed this amazing band that we've been a part of for 11
years. We put out five records, and we're supportive of each other and what
we're all doing."
For the foreseeable future, Tankian will be on his own well, that's not
entirely true. On Friday in Chicago, the setting for Serj's first live gig as a
solo artist and the first date on Tankian's tour with opener the Nightwatchman
(a.k.a. Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello), he revealed his backing band to
the world: the Flying Cu--s of Chaos, or "FCC" for short. The group features
Primus' Larry LaLonde and Buckethead collaborator Dan Monti on guitars, Antonio
Pontarelli on bass, and others.
"The FCC stands for Federal Communications Commission, the agency that penalizes
people, journalists, artists people that cuss in the press," he said. "Not the
politicians; they're obviously immune to it. So I thought it would be cool to
make the FCC a cuss word. That way, they can penalize themselves."
Tankian and the FCC will soon head over to Europe, the singer said, to open for
the Foo Fighters, who he teamed up with during the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards
for a cover of the Dead Kennedys' "Holiday in Cambodia." He said he plans to
spend much of next year on the road in support of Elect and also admitted that
he's slightly nervous about playing live without System behind him.
"It's more like nervous-excitement energy, to get up and do it again with a
different outfit and stuff," he said. "But I've been onstage at different events
in the past with different bands by myself, so it won't be that bad. Yes, I'm a
little excited, a little nervous, but it's what I do."
On Elect, Tankian does what he's always done expressed his thoughts on
political issues and "life in general." He said that "romantic relationships,
the war in Iraq, hypocrisy over genocide denial, film, other music, poetry and
other artists" all had a bearing on the project. But Tankian's political musings
aren't anything new; he's long been one of the artists whom fans have relied on
to take a stand on political issues. These days, speaking out is in vogue, with
several artists finally publicly chiming in with their views and ire over the
current state of the world. But why did it take so long for others to join the
crusade?
"Part of it is the backlash from commercial culture on people that speak out,
and I felt a lot of that after September 11 when I wrote 'Understanding Oil,' "
an essay he posted on System of a Down's Web site soon after the attacks on New
York, he said. "We had a lot of people dropping [System single] 'Chop Suey' from
radio at the time because of that essay. There was a strong reactionism
prevailing in the country, based on what happened on September 11, which is
understandable. Years later, when we can look at things with more intellect, in
a more balanced way, and see how our democracy's been hijacked into abusing our
patriotism to do things in other countries like occupying other countries,
wreaking havoc in other places based on oil concerns or strategic geopolitical
concerns then we're a little more aware. People are saying, 'Yes, our name was
abused to do all of these things, but I am not for those things anymore.' And
that's where we're at right now. Public opinion has drastically changed, and a
lot of artists are speaking out, which is encouraging. But it's always easier to
speak out when public opinion is on your side."
Beyond touring and working on his next LP, Tankian recently teamed up with
Wyclef Jean on a track called "Trouble Again" for the ex-Fugee's forthcoming
offering, Carnival II: Memoirs of an Immigrant, which is due December 4.
"He sent me the track and said, 'Check it out, and let me know what you think
and if you want to do something on this,' and I thought it was a very
progressive song," Tankian said. "I like progressive music things that change,
tempo changes, parts that change. I thought it was a really great song, and I
did my own poetic, rhythmical talking if you want call that rap, go ahead, but
I wouldn't and some other little taglines here and there."
By Chris Harris -
MTV News
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Comments
Unorthodox_Lullabye
17.10.07, 22:25
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Oh my goodness. If that's what Serj is going to do, his next album is going to be genius.
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tiffanyevett
17.10.07, 22:47
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wow that alot of songs he worte, 4,500songs geezs, it will suck that soad isn't going to get any heavyer, but u got to think there not young as they used to be u know, lol, but a 2nd album wow i'm already getting curies , lol, well i can' wait till he gets that album done, lol
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obeythegiant
17.10.07, 23:15
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this report kinda depressed me.
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Kakashi24
18.10.07, 05:00
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I hope serj didn't focuss to solo karier,,,but se focuss for the next album of System Of A Down :D :D Because SOAD is very very I love band :D
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system_of_a_down_lover
18.10.07, 05:26
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Wow thats awesome. Thanks for this! 4,500 songs? Thats alot? Maybe he was exaggerating.. maybe not!! 0_o Serj is so...awesome. I would buy his album if he were just farting..... I really would. ahaha gross. I cant wait for the 2nd album :P
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Commodore
18.10.07, 07:02
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who the fuck is Antonio Pontarelli (ps dont tell me i dont really give a shit)
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Commodore
18.10.07, 07:03
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And I hope Serj puts out more solo shit, it's much better than what he did with system (MY OPINION dont bitch at me)
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anniemannie3
18.10.07, 09:49
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Crap . . . 4500 songs!! OMG! Wow . . . Umm . . . stuff my theory that SOAD will be back around 2010 . . . But wow . . .
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daronfan66
18.10.07, 17:00
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4500 wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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soil44
18.10.07, 17:15
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I thought that maybe after Serj's tour he will return to SOAD. I guesse I was wrong :/ but still love Serj ;*
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soil44
18.10.07, 17:17
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And about the record. I'd rather like sth harder.
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risteristevski
18.10.07, 21:58
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I am disappointed. I dont like Jazz music. I love only metal music and little Rock.
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rscnaid
19.10.07, 08:46
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sounds cool, 4,500 songs ibet at leats 3000 are like the title theme to bug, that sort of thing. i heard a little whisper dont know how much truth there is to it but apperntly, late 2008 serj tankian will be involved in a 1 album deal super group, including posiible, (these are romuors remeber) John frusciante, slash, , rex from pantera, joey jordison, sounds like a bit of bull-sh*t to me, but hey you never know
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mom45
21.10.07, 21:01
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I don't want to go off on a rant here....but has anyone ever noticed certain rock stars/bands that start out with hard-rocking angry meaningful songs, and then after they "make it" they get comfortable and put out nothing but mellow wussy shit? I mean, Elton John used to rock, back in the 70's. Phil Collins was awesome with Genesis. Billy Joel used to write about drug abuse & masturbation & shit. Now all they do is Disney soundtrack bullshit. What the fuck? Okay, if Serj needs to explore & branch out & express himself though different types of music, I'll listen. But I hope he never forgets his roots. And never quits rocking.
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DaroNa
26.11.07, 06:28
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wHOOO hooooo. Thats why I like SOAD (fortunately Serj is in there) becuz they have awefull music. Mixing many kind of music is enrich the sound. Thats unique.
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joemaumie
01.12.07, 00:15
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to tell you the truth i think that its about time that serj dose somthing new
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