System of a Down’s Serj Tankian Continues Evolving With Solo Career

Curly-mopped System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian continues evolving with his solo career. He is releasing 'Elect the Dead Symphony,' a CD/DVD combo including orchestral re-imaginings of his solo debut, 'Elect the Dead,' which were recorded with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra in New Zealand. It also includes the previously-unreleased-until-now 'Charades,' which was originally intended for SOAD.

"My music is just evolving," Tankian told Noisecreep when asked about his solo shift and drift away from hard rock. "For years, I have been writing music of varying colors and shapes. Yet what I'm known for is the progressive rock elements, above all. With the musical, the orchestral show with the APO and the new solo record, I am presenting some of the other elements that I have always created. The new solo record, in particular, has a style and genre all its own that is fresh, deep and original. How you dress up a song changes its dynamics and approach, yet a good song is still a good song irrespective of its dressing."

That 'new solo record' is rumored to be titled 'Music Without Borders.' Tankian admits he was never able to predict what different directions he'd eventually go in when System of a Down got their start over a decade ago. "I have always been exploring the kiddy pool of music," he said. "I was never a loyal, committed guardian of any particular genre of music, including rock or metal. So, although I didn't know in 1998 what exactly I'd be working on 12 years later, specifically, I never assumed I'd continue doing one thing musically for the rest of my life. That's artistically static and not interesting for me personally. To re-release the same record over and over again due to commercial interests is a compromise art can do without."