Serj Tankian Stays Busy With “Harmonies”

Since the indefinite hiatus of System of a Down in 2006, lead singer, Serj Tankian, has done everything in his power to stay busy.

He’s working on a new album, a musical, overseeing his label Serjical Strike, promoting various causes, publishing books, producing albums and scoring music for films, TV and video games; a lifestyle he never had time for while fronting SOAD.

Since his solo debut back in 2007, Serj has sold over 300,000 copies of his Elect the Dead album, and now, in 2010, he’s looking to do the same with his new album Imperfect Harmonies , out September 21st, on his own record label. The only difference with this album, is that Serj is going to be moving away from that SOAD sound he has become so famous for over the years. His new album explores elements of electronica, orchestral music and jazz.

Serj says, “I feel like I’ve established myself as an artist aside from System of a Down, and I’m comfortable with that,” adding that the group regularly receives offers to perform but no such plans are in the works for a reunion tour. Being the true musician that he is, Serj Tankian doesn’t care about how many records he sells, or of high appraises for his music. He is solely doing this for himself, and for his love of music. Says he, “When I die, I’m not going to care whether I’ve sold X number more records or less,” he says. “I’m going to care if I made the right expressions, if I explored enough and did something new, and put something new on this planet.” He has been prepairing for his new tour by trying out orchestras, and he says he will have a 24-45 piece orchestra ensemble with him in addition to his rock band at all the shows he is going to play.

If all this wasn’t already enough, Tankian already has several other projects lined up. His musical “Prometheus Bound” is scheduled to open in March 2011 at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Mass., and he’s also finishing up a “classical jazz symphony” that he hopes to premiere next year. The forthcoming year may also find the artist publishing a second poetry book, “Glaring Through Oblivion,” and starting work on a nonfiction title. It looks like SOAD fans are going to have to wait a little longer for another album and tour.