by Mike Cox

MVRemix: Serj, in regards to “Elect The Dead” your solo debut on Serjical Srtike/Reprise Records, you have been quoted as saying “the title is open to interpretation” tell us a little about your interpretation.

Serj Tankian: I am more interested in how people interpret the phrase “Elect The Dead” than what I may or may not have intended. I named the album after the track, which is a spiritual song about love, life and death and is the heaviest song on the album without having any heavy instruments.

I have gotten some great responses from friends/colleagues as to what the meaning could be.

1) The current leaders are not qualified enough to lead us through these trying times, so we need to look for guidance from past leaders (Martin Luther King, Jr., Gandhi, JFK, etc). The living ideas of the dead are more powerful and effective than the dead ideas of the living.

2) The victims of the epitome of civilization should elect our next leaders so we can live in a more just society.

3) We need to gain the wisdom from beyond history, from beyond the material and physical worlds, to be able to deal with not just electing our political leaders today, but learning how to elect ourselves as leaders.

MVRemix: You basically took the true punk rock DIY ethic to a new level. You played virtually every instrument on the new album aside (as I understand) from guest drummer’s Brian “Brain” Mantia (G N R and Primus) and SOAD (System of a Down) drummer John Dolmayan. One can only imagine the process. After almost 10 years recording with SOAD it must have been quite the transition. Did it feel smooth and natural?

Serj Tankian: Much of it is culled from recordings I’ve amassed over a long period of time, up through this past year. I have such a backlog of material and when I was going through everything, the songs on the album are the ones that stood out. When I wrote everything, I wrote it on piano and acoustic guitar, and I didn’t know I was going to arrange it as a rock record. Producing this was something- in the beginning when I first started, I was a little skeptical about it, because what if I succeeded as an artist and not as a producer? So I had that in the back of mind, but I really knew what kinds of sound I wanted from the tones, what kind of guitars I wanted to use, how I wanted my pianos, strings and vocals to sound. I was very involved, and knew what I was going for, so as I went along, layer by layer developing the songs, it was getting there, so I didn’t want to bring someone else in and change things at that point. But I had to do that, to step out into the control room, take my artist/songwriter hat off, put on the producer’s hat and say “How could this be better, is this the best it could be” at every point in the game. I did have the help of some close friends/artists to collaborate with. Dan Monti, my engineer and guitarist played on the record, as did my friend and opera singer Ani Maldjian. John Dolmayan (SOAD’s drummer) and Brian “Brain” Mantia (Primus, Gun N’ Roses) helped by playing drums.

MVRemix: Speaking of Serjical Strike, your new label I’ve noticed the association with Reprise. Is it an association of contractual or logistical necessity?

Serj Tankian: Our deal with Reprise is on Serj Tankian “Elect the Dead,” and not on any of our other records. We are not tied to any major label and can take our acts anywhere ultimately.

Some bands we’ve released indie ourselves (Buckethead and Friends, BAd Acid Trip, Kittens for Chrisitan), others we’ve put out through majors (Fair to Midland on Universal, Axis of Justice CD/DVD on Sony, and Elect the Dead on Reprise/Warner).

MVRemix: Your back-up band F.C. C. – I love the name. It’s an oblivious jab at the institutional powers, the self - righteous few with the power to punish and the right to censor. Care to elaborate?

Serj Tankian: FCC in the U.S. stands for the Federal Communications Commission, the governmental body that levies penalties for swear words in broadcasting. We decided to make the FCC itself a cuss word to outline the hipocrisy of their existence. Our band is called the Flying Cunts of Chaos.

MVRemix: Having just wrapped up the U.S. leg of the tour, care to shed some insight on what it was like heading a new line-up?

Serj Tankian: I remember that it felt very comfortable getting on stage as a solo artist from the first show on. We’ve already played arenas in the UK with the Foo Fighters, and a host of shows on our own in Europe and the U.S. to promote Elect the Dead.

MVRemix: Was the vibe natural? Was the acclimation smooth?

Serj Tankian: Very

MVRemix: Having played all over the world, do you prefer to play stateside or over-seas?

Serj Tankian: Both can be very fun depending on the season.

MVRemix: On that note, have the fans embraced the new project or are they constantly requesting SOAD songs? If so do the SOAD requests get old?

Serj Tankian: We’ve had an amazing response to the new songs on Elect the Dead and have not heard any SOAD requests from the audience. I think everyone knows that this is a new project and have embraced it.

MVRemix: I have heard you’re covering “Holiday In Cambodia” live on tour. Nice choice. Any other covers in the line up?

Serj Tankian: Beatles’ Girl

MVRemix: As everyone knows, you are politically motivated. After posting the “Understanding Oil” essay post - 911 you took a lot of flack. The ensuing years have found you championing several causes, are your convictions as strong as ever?

Serj Tankian: Yes.

MVRemix: Do you really think music (and or musicians) can make a viable impact in the Political arena?

Serj Tankian: Music is an intuitive medium, and if communicated correctly has the ability to inspire and change people’s hearts. The hearts change the minds, and the minds can change the world.

MVRemix: Speaking politics, in early 06′ you and Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine had the rare opportunity to interview imprisoned Journalist/Political Activist Mumia Abu-Jamal (who was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1981 murder of a Philadelphia Police Officer). What was that like?

Serj Tankian: It was a really eye opening interview with a journalist who is well read and well spoken. He has been made the example despite the lingering questions of injustice in the case, and he’s well aware of it.

MVRemix: And for the final redundant question…any plans for a SOAD reunion?

Serj Tankian: SOAD is currently on an indefinite hiatus after 10+ years of being a touring and recording band. SOAD is not a corporation that needs to put out a product every year to sustain. We’re a group of artists and we create music together when we want to. We are enjoying prioritizing other artistic and personal efforts. We’re all friends and supportive of each others’ art. If and when we need to speak as one to the world, the world will be aware.

Original Serj Tankian article

Patrick Wolf Interview By Gena Perala

I was fortunate to catch Patrick Wolf perform at the Plaza here in Vancouver. It’s a small venue so the show was nice and intimate. When I asked Mr. Wolf whether he’s surprised by the type of crowd that comes out to see him perform, his answer was “not really, each crowd is fantastic…I remember one week, I played for 2 people and then the next week I played for a packed church” and as far as the ‘type’ of crowd? “I don’t see people as a label”, he said, which made me feel pretty superficial and slightly ashamed for asking. “I can fall in love with a 17 year old tranie or a 29 year old homelady” confirming the fact that for him, people are just people.

Are you a romantic? I asked, “I don’t know, I’m just Patrick”. Just Patrick, dressed as an angelic elfin type boy wearing knee socks, cut off shorts a bit too small by his own admittance, gold sparkled suspenders, and a green Peter Pan style shirt? Riiiight, just Patrick.

Do you feel the fantastical element to your shows limits the scope of your audience? Lessens people’s ability to take you seriously? He doesn’t feel there is a fantastical element to his shows, which I might add, included a mystical starry night forest backdrop with dirt pathway and a swirling light show that made me feel as though I was under water. His outfit on top of that, well, the whole thing seemed rather fantastical to me, but maybe that’s just who he is so he doesn’t see it that way. As for being taken seriously “I dress down for the stage” he says, which makes me wonder how he dresses in his day-to-day life; “I’ve never cared about being taken seriously, I’m not going to compromise and I’m not scared of being embarrassed, I don’t have to win people”.

So you get embarrassed? “Yeah”, he replied in his soft voice, which made me feel better, and a little more connected to this rather eccentric fellow. Speaking of his voice, it’s incredible. Truly beautiful, at some points during his show I was riveted simply by the range and accuracy of his notes. He plays numerous instruments, mixes them with electronic beats, and in Vancouver he was accompanied by his laptop, a drummer, a stand up bass and a violin player.

He’s on tour right now promoting his latest album “The Magic Position” released on Loog Records, which is being well received. When he played the title track live, he introduced it as “that time in your life when you quit your job and fall in love– it’s like…the magic position”. It was perfect, just as he began to play I saw my ‘crush’ out of the corner of my eye. I went and stood beside him in my very own little magic position. After the show, my ‘crush’ who will remain nameless, mentioned simply as an observation, how ‘un-political’ Patrick Wolf was. It’s true; although he did ask at one point during the show if there were “any Muslims in the audience”, which I found amusing and apparently so does Patrick because according to him, “there never are.” Isn’t that a label? Or labeling people? Hmmmm….

Anyway, Patrick Wolf is a wonderful entertainer, lyricist, performer, singer – Artist. He may come off quite soft and feminine but at 15 he actually sued his school for their views on gay people. They had said that they couldn’t help him with bullying because he was of an ‘effeminate disposition’. So he took them to the European Court of Justice and won, and bought a piano with the money. I read that somewhere…I unfortunately didn’t have enough time before he had to go to ask him about it but I do think it’s worth acknowledging.

If you haven’t heard of Patrick Wolf I encourage you to check him out, and not just this album, his past albums and of course he’s working on his next album as well. When I asked him if there were any discernible themes he replied “depression, darkness, suicide…” So the next album shall be a light one? He didn’t think that was funny or at least he didn’t laugh or respond.

In all seriousness though, it was a pleasure and an honor to talk with Patrick and I look forward to his further success.

Original Article

The Watson Twins original article

With the music industry saturated with “personalities” used only as muses by producers and record labels, one can become jaded by the lack of actual, authentic talent in the music marketplace. Luckily, The Watson Twins proves that artistry and craftsmanship are alive and well in this day and age. A modest, folk duo that hails from Louisville, Kentucky, MVRemix had the chance to chat with half of The Watson Twins, Leigh Watson, to discuss their thoughts on being independent, as well as their debut EP, “Southern Manners”.

Michael Franti (Spearhead) original article

Credible artists are hard to find. Most, when given the opportunity will sell out, why not? We all need money. Few of us actually have strong enough moral fiber to seek something better and inspire change on a global basis. Michael Franti however has. After beginning his musical career frustrated and angry, he moved onto more uplifting, sensual and happy material and travels the globe routinely performing in a unique manner drawing together all audiences he performs before.

Franti visited Iraq last year and also explored Israel and Palestine. His findings drove him to create the forthcoming documentary “I Know I’m Not Alone,” detailing what has gone on and is occurring within these ignored and inaccurately portrayed areas.

James Shaw (Metric) original article

Wes Kirk sits down with James Shaw and Emily Haines, the two founding members of Toronto’s Metric, at Vancouver’s Commodore ballroom at sound check before their April 7th show. First, two drunk dudes chat about music…

Howling Diablos original article

The Blues is rooted in the universal truth of pain. As a musical form of expression, Blues was created by talented people who experienced inexorable adversity. While the average person would be incapable to survive such sorrow, Blues musicians formed a whole new musical genre conceived from their struggle. Born from the misery Blues music has connected every kind race, class, and culture. These universal emotions of pain and sadness are is the link in the musical chains that keep every single human in a type of metaphysical bondage. Although different people experience different levels of this sorrow, the feelings created by Blues music will endure as long as human beings inhabit Earth. Misery loves company. When a person is downhearted, life becomes slightly tolerable when you hear that someone else is experience similar sadness. Born from the hardship of the Deep South, the spirit of the Blues hits everyone in their soul. The Blues spirit also has haunted some White boys in Detroit named, Howling Diablos. The four members are creating their own style of Blues. As Tino Gross sings, the band moves the spirit along. Mike Smith’s addictive guitar work complements the classic sound of the harp and sax of Johnny Evans. Shannon Boone keeps the rhythm rolling with the drums. Acknowledging their influences but remaining true to themselves, Diablos sing about what they know with a respectful appreciation for the art form.

Horrorpops original article

Wes Kirk sits down with punk rock super group the Horrorpops at the Brickyard in Vancouver. Before today, half the band has never been to Canada…

Girl Talk original article

The transcripts from an interview conducted with DJ and Pittsburgh native, Gregg Gillis aka Girl Talk. Although he explains that he is not in fact a DJ, Girl Talk knows how to get that booty to shake right thurr, plus, he also makes you think. After six years of making music, with three albums to show for it, Gregg Gillis has taken control of the Pittsburgh music scene with his dirty, bouncy, and seductively truthful/possibly illegal sampling and sound presentation. Ooh baby, I like it raw and by raw, I mean Girl Talk.

Emily Haines (Metric) original article

A Quicky With Emily Haines… by Wes Kirk

Electric Six original article

Electric Six, infamous for their eccentricities and desperate need to rock just released their second album, Senor Smoke two days before this interview was conducted. There is a follow up article based on these transcripts, titled, Less Melotron, More Electricity: A look at the Greatest Detroit Electro-Synth Dance Rock band.