In a recent interview with Chasta and Baby Huey of the San Francisco Bay Area’s 107.7 The Bone, iconic System Of A Down vocalist Serj Tankian shared his take on honesty as an artist . Known for his political and social positions, Tankian has often divided part of his audience. During this interview, he talked about the importance of being true to yourself, even if it means losing fans.
The importance of honesty for an artist
When asked about the possibility of losing fans because of his activism, Tankian responded bluntly. “I think at the beginning you have to decide what role you want to play in this industry. If you want to maximize your audience, be a good musician, write music without talking about things that might turn people off, you will probably be an incredible entertainer.”he said. However, he stressed that true artists must be honest in their work, even at the risk of displeasing. “If you want to be a true artist, whether it’s a painter, a musician or an architect, you must be honest, and that honesty must shine through in your work. You’ll end up disappointing some fans, and that’s something you have to accept if you want to stay true to the truth.”
This philosophy has guided Tankian since his beginnings, where he already considered himself an activist before being a musician. He explains that his passion for truth has always influenced his personal and artistic life. This quest for sincerity allows him to stay close to people and keep his feet on the ground, despite the monumental success of System Of A Down.
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Activism and a musical career: a delicate balance
This isn’t the first time Tankian has addressed the impact of his activism on his music career. Last May, in an interview with NPR, he already discussed his position on this subject. “An artist is not supposed to please everyone. He must receive the truths of his time and reflect them through his art”he said. This quest for truth, even at the cost of losing fans, is essential for him. “If we as artists can’t do it, then we’re just entertainers.”
In the group System Of A Down, Tankian was often the one carrying the militant message. He admitted that there was sometimes a tension between the music and political messages, with his bandmates often preferring not to have the music overwhelmed by the messages. “I understood that, because I also loved music. But for me, when there was a message to convey, it was just as important, if not more, than the music itself.”
System Of A Down : un futur album possible ?
Despite a career marked by success, System Of A Down has not released an album since 2005. However, in 2020, the group surprised their fans by releasing two new tracks, Protect The Land and Genocidal Humanoidz, inspired by the conflict between Artsakh and Azerbaijan. These songs, the first in fifteen years, raised more than $600,000 for humanitarian efforts in Armenia, once again highlighting Tankian and the band’s political commitment.
But since then, the question of a new album remains unanswered. In a recent interview with The Sun, Tankian addressed this subject, stating that if System Of A Down were to ever record a new album, “it would be a new adventure, in a completely new direction.” He also revealed the existence of unreleased tracks from the band, although nothing is planned at the moment.
Additionally, Tankian released his new solo EP Foundations on September 27. It contains songs from different periods of his career, including the early days of System Of A Down. The latest single, Cartoon Buyer, is available below.
