Serj Tankian is the first to arrive at the Marquis. This is the first time the four members of System of a Down have been together since Christmas, and swiftly becomes obvious how much they seem to genuinely care for each other. The singer has brought along gifts for the rest of the band: there�s a directors chair for Serj, (yes I noticed this to it should be Shavo!) and a stash pot and a book on the peaceful origins of the swastika for Daron (I don�t see what he�s bought for John, although you can bet it wasn�t a jumped and a pair of socks).
Since Serj is here first, we go and sit on the roof of the hotel to conduct the interview. He hints quite strongly that, at some point, he may stop doing press altogether in order to focus more on music. Even now, he�s totally disinterested in the usual attention-seeking stunts and self-promotion that many of his peers opt for. Instead, he�s genuinely interested in other peoples lives, and takes up much of our allotted time asking about my life rather than talking about his own. Softly spoken, but articulate, the singer is surrounded by a wonderful, almost messiah-like air of tranquility. Two thousand years ago, they�d have probably nailed him to a tree.
Are you aware of the public�s perception of you as an enigmatic spiritual person?
Serj: �Perception is exactly that. We�re sitting here now and I�m looking around and I�m looking at you, and it�s hard for me to jump into your eyes, and see what you see. The most honest way of doing things in a band is not to pay attention to the perceptions or the reactions and it�s very difficult. Like when I wrote that little article about September 11th (on SOAD�s official website), I never knew people were really listening. But everything is perception.�
Is it weird when you become aware that so many people are paying attention?
Serj: �Yeah. It�s like sitting in a room with everyone peering at you. But I don�t really feel that way, even if it is that way and I guess it is. I feel that as long as I have space where I can go and sit and think, �This is where I am and this is who I am�, I�ll be comfortable, and no-ones really peering at me. Unless it�s the CIA.�
You�ve said in the past that files are being kept on the band. Is that just you being paranoid?
Serj: �The Doors were seen as subversive, John Lennon was seen as subversive, and he was only preaching about love and revolution. Being seen as subversive is another perception thing and I don�t think most people see us as subversive and if they do its those who are looking at it from that angle, those that are running the show. I think they�ve had a file on me for a long time, but it�s doesn�t matter. Sometimes I get flack for saying what�s on my mind. But If I stop saying that, then what do I have left? Actually I take that back because what�s on my mind is a lot less important than what�s in my heart. You can do a lot, but you shouldn�t be forced to do a lot, even if it�s good because if it makes you uncomfortable then you stop doing it altogether. I�m a very hard worker, but I�ve realised that there�s only so much you can do before you become overwhelmed with that and it�s starts working against you. It�s just about walking your path and not predetermining your path. We have the ability to help create our destiny but there�s also a very underlying universal force with an agenda and were in that.�
It�s refreshing to talk to someone so completely unaffected by stardom�
Serj (shrugging): �The more people I meet and sit and talk to the more I�m learning. Some people teach more than others, but everyone�s a teacher, y�know? A child walking down the street smiling is a teachers because he reminds you to smile too.�