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  • Serj Tankian will perform with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra i

    The Press (Christchurch, New Zealand)
    January 31, 2014 Friday

    Serj Tankian


    Ahead of his one-off New Zealand performance with the Christchurch
    Symphony Orchestra, System of a Down vocalist Serj Tankian talks to
    Vicki Anderson about combining music with art and symphonies with
    metal.

    --------------------

    AXIS OF JUSTICE

    Axis of Justice is a non- profit organisation formed by Tom Morello
    (Rage Against the Machine/The Nightwatchman) and Tankian. Its purpose
    is to bring together musicians, fans of music, and grassroots
    political organisations to fight for social justice. While in
    Christchurch, Tankian is looking for non-profit organisations he can
    offer support to. .


    Serj Tankian knew the moment his feet touched New Zealand soil that he
    belonged here.

    Best known as the lead vocalist of metal group System of A Down, the
    Armenian- American singer, songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist
    and artist shares his time equally between Auckland and Los Angeles.

    "Life in New Zealand for me it's a moralistic lifestyle, a relaxed
    space to be," he says.

    "Ultimately it was the feeling I got when I first landed here back in
    1999, it was a feeling of intuitive belonging. Ultimately you know
    where you are supposed to be."

    With the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Tankian will perform a
    one-off New Zealand concert in Christchurch next month for his
    critically acclaimed symphony ORCA and Elect the Dead, a symphonic
    interpretation of the rock record.

    "I've been having an ongoing conversation for a few years with Hamish
    McKeich from the CSO and it's always been a time issue. This year I am
    planning to spend a lot of time in New Zealand and it worked out."

    Gretchen La Roche, artistic manager for the CSO, says it is a big
    highlight of the organisation's 2014 programme.

    "It is an unbelievable privilege for us to be sharing the stage with
    such an outstanding musician as Serj Tankian," she says. "Everyone
    here is excited about it."

    Tankian hasn't been to Christchurch since 2002 and believes
    "emotionally and artistically, some positivity would be beneficial"
    for the city.

    He has recently completed a European tour which included dates in
    Russia, and will bring in musicians for the one-off show, one from
    Armenia alongside two "audio specialists" and he says he is interested
    in hearing how the CSO interprets ORCA.

    He describes the symphony as "symbolism for humanity".

    "Killer Orca comes from the dolphin family which we view as so
    helpful, dolphins guide people to safety in the water but killer
    whales are somehow bad. It speaks volumes about humanity. We are both
    the dolphin and the killer whale."

    ORCA was, he says, born out of a "complete accident".

    He was in Piha, working on his album Imperfect Harmonies, and a few
    pieces of music he had written for the album were too long to be
    included.

    "I was sitting down with a friend of mine and I played them and
    suggested they could perhaps be bonus tracks on the album as they were
    too long, nine or 10 minutes.

    "He said 'these are the first two movements of your symphony'. It
    sounds naive and dumb but that didn't occur to me initially."

    The music came naturally, inspired by the vast ocean around him. The
    first two parts of the symphony reached land in Piha, Victorious
    Orcinus and Oceanic Subterfuge while Delphinus Capensis and
    Lamentation of the Beached arrived when Tankian returned to Los
    Angeles.

    "It went through multiple changes before it was recorded live in Austria."

    Tankian does not like to confine himself to musical boundaries.

    "It's about not putting commercial limitations on yourself."

    His solo albums and symphonies, ORCA, Elect the Dead and Jazz-iz
    Christ - sonic adventures flowing over a jazz backdrop - might seem
    worlds away from the bombastic textures of metal in System of a Down,
    but Tankian views them as equally rich.

    "I enjoy being able to taste all of these fruits".

    Moving people in different ways enthrals him.

    In his orchestral music, the instrumentation is vulnerable and
    beautiful, and, when combined with his strong rock sensibilities, is
    particularly powerful.

    He describes creating as "a communication with the universe".

    "My favourite time to write is when all the chores are done and I have
    playtime. I can go into the studio and create something fresh, writing
    with an open canvas and unlimited colours. If I have a focus, say a
    film score or a video game score, I get it done quickly. Playing
    around, it is a communication with the universe.

    "On larger projects like an album I exercise, eat a light lunch, then
    spend 10-14 hours a day in the studio, I become consumed by a project,
    sleep with it. At the end I feel exhausted and drained, but having
    created something, I feel redeemed."

    This year he is in New Zealand "taking some time off".

    That said, he has just finished the score for a video game called
    Midnight Star, which he describes as "orchestral, electronic, rock, a
    huge bombastic musical score" and there's a "film or two" that he's
    looking at writing scores for.

    Last year he turned his creative vision to combining music with visual art.

    Searching for a way to make his music an exclusive experience led to
    the app Eye for Sound and a musical painting exhibition, Disarming
    Time, was shown in Hollywood last November.

    Disarming Time included 22 original artworks by Tankian, each paired
    with a track of music composed specifically for each visual work.

    "I'm hoping to do a couple of exhibitions in New Zealand this year and
    I'm looking for New Zealand musicians who are also artists to get them
    involved."

    Whether you're a diehard metaller or a classical buff, this ORCA swims
    in a sea of beauty.

    THE DETAILS:

    Serj Tankian and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra present Orca and
    Elect the Dead Symphony at CBS Canterbury Arena on March 29. Tickets
    $59.90-$89.90 plus applicable fee, available from Ticketek.co.nz

    --------------------

    CAPTION:

    Coming soon: Serj Tankian will perform with the Christchurch Symphony
    Orchestra in March.



    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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