Tetragrammaton with Rick Rubin

Serj Tankian

May 15, 2024

In a captivating discussion, Serj Tankian, the Grammy-winning frontman of System Of A Down and a passionate activist, delves into his memoir, celebrating resilience and identity shaped by history. He shares moving insights on the Armenian genocide and his personal journey to reconnect with his roots. The emotional power of music in mobilizing social movements is explored, particularly during a commemorative concert for the genocide. Tankian also reflects on the harmony between spirituality and artistry, highlighting the transformative impact of creative expression.

01:36:45

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Serj Tankian

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Quick takeaways

Tankian's diverse musical career spans System Of A Down, solo albums, and film compositions, showcasing his versatility.

Tankian's commitment to human rights, environmental causes, and Armenian heritage shapes his activism and artistic expression.

The podcast delves into Tankian's profound journey of self-discovery through writing, exploring justice, spirituality, and personal evolution.

Deep dives

The Evolution into Writing a Memoir

Initially considering writing a philosophy book, the speaker later decided to write a memoir exploring the intersections of justice and spirituality, gaining insights into personal evolution as a human and an artist. Delving into family history for research, the writing process became a profound learning experience, leading to self-discovery and introspection through sharing personal stories and lessons.

Challenging Censorship in Democracy

01:24

Connecting with Ancestral Roots and Heritage in Armenia

01:57

Decentralized Civil Disobedience - A New Form of Revolution

01:26

Early Music Composition in Film Production

01:21

Intro

2min

Music, Memory, and Historical Struggles

17min

A Journey to Ancestral Roots: Reflections on Armenia

3min

Armenian Identity and Geopolitical Complexity

16min

Cultural Resonance and Cognitive Insights of Nicotine

3min

Unity Through Music: A Commemorative Concert

10min

Finding Home in New Zealand

5min

Harmonizing Spirituality and Musical Expression

15min

Nostalgic Harmonies and Healthy Snacking

6min

10.

Musical Journeys: Passion and Transformation

21min

Serj Tankian is a Grammy-award-winning artist best known for being the frontman of System Of A Down. His powerful vocals and thought-provoking lyrics helped the group achieve wild success, including over 40 million records sold worldwide, multiple platinum albums, more than a billion YouTube plays, and multiple Grammy nominations (winning Best Hard Rock Performance in 2006 for "B.Y.O.B."). Beyond System Of A Down, Tankian has released five solo albums (Elect the Dead, Imperfect Harmonies, Harakiri, Orca, Jazz-Iz-Christ, and Elasticity), composed music for film and television (Body of Lies, Godzilla: King Of The Monsters, Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields, among many more), and been a prominent activist for human rights, environmental issues, and causes related to his Armenian heritage (In 2011, he was awarded the Armenian Prime Minister's Medal for his significant contributions to the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide). His book Down with the System: A Memoir (of Sorts)—which shares his extraordinary life story, from his childhood in war-torn Beirut and his family’s move to Los Angeles, to his decision to pursue music and his rise to fame as the lead singer of System—is out now!