1 00:00:15,476 --> 00:00:23,076 Speaker 1: Pushkin. Darren Malachean first made his name as the enigmatic 2 00:00:23,116 --> 00:00:27,236 Speaker 1: guitarist and songwriter behind System of a Down. Between nineteen 3 00:00:27,276 --> 00:00:29,516 Speaker 1: ninety eight and two thousand and five, the band released 4 00:00:29,636 --> 00:00:32,276 Speaker 1: five albums, three of which debuted at number one on 5 00:00:32,316 --> 00:00:35,716 Speaker 1: the Billboard Charts. In two thousand and six, System announced 6 00:00:35,756 --> 00:00:39,836 Speaker 1: an indefinite hiatus. Eager to keep creating, Darren launched a 7 00:00:39,876 --> 00:00:43,596 Speaker 1: new project, Scars on Broadway. Their debut album arrived in 8 00:00:43,636 --> 00:00:47,316 Speaker 1: two thousand and eight to critical acclaim. Since then, he's 9 00:00:47,316 --> 00:00:50,636 Speaker 1: reunited with System for a series of live performances, including 10 00:00:50,636 --> 00:00:54,436 Speaker 1: a recent South American tour that drew massive crowds. Their 11 00:00:54,476 --> 00:00:58,316 Speaker 1: final stop in South Polo, Brazil attracted an estimated seventy 12 00:00:58,356 --> 00:01:02,396 Speaker 1: five thousand fans. Now, after seven years in the making, 13 00:01:02,876 --> 00:01:06,276 Speaker 1: Darren is releasing Addicted to the Violence, their third Scars 14 00:01:06,316 --> 00:01:09,236 Speaker 1: on Broadway album, featuring what he considers some of the 15 00:01:09,236 --> 00:01:12,996 Speaker 1: best songs he's ever written. On today's episode, Lea Rose 16 00:01:13,036 --> 00:01:15,356 Speaker 1: sits down with Darren to talk about why he believes 17 00:01:15,356 --> 00:01:17,716 Speaker 1: he was destined to be a rock star and how 18 00:01:17,756 --> 00:01:20,596 Speaker 1: his parents' journey from Baghdad to Hollywood helped make that 19 00:01:20,716 --> 00:01:24,996 Speaker 1: dream possible. He also explains what people often misunderstand about 20 00:01:24,996 --> 00:01:28,756 Speaker 1: his relationship with System frontman Surge Tonkien and reveals the 21 00:01:28,876 --> 00:01:32,876 Speaker 1: surprising contrast between this outrageous on stage persona and who 22 00:01:32,916 --> 00:01:39,956 Speaker 1: he really is off stage. This is broken record, real musicians, 23 00:01:40,196 --> 00:01:48,556 Speaker 1: real conversations. Here's Lea Rose with Darren Malachean. 24 00:01:49,756 --> 00:01:53,436 Speaker 2: Let's talk about this new album, so Scars on Broadway. 25 00:01:53,516 --> 00:01:56,876 Speaker 2: Album it's called Addicted to the Violence to first album 26 00:01:56,916 --> 00:02:00,476 Speaker 2: in seven years. And I was curious, like, since it 27 00:02:00,516 --> 00:02:02,796 Speaker 2: sounds like you've been working on the songs for a 28 00:02:02,836 --> 00:02:07,476 Speaker 2: little while, and I was curious if in that process, 29 00:02:08,396 --> 00:02:12,076 Speaker 2: because we live in such a tumultuous time, just every 30 00:02:12,156 --> 00:02:15,396 Speaker 2: day just brings something new, something different, something that is, 31 00:02:15,636 --> 00:02:19,876 Speaker 2: you know, more shocking than maybe the next day. Did 32 00:02:19,916 --> 00:02:22,596 Speaker 2: any of those songs that you were writing. Did the 33 00:02:22,676 --> 00:02:24,276 Speaker 2: meaning sort of change for you? 34 00:02:25,916 --> 00:02:29,516 Speaker 3: The thing is, I didn't write these songs necessarily during 35 00:02:29,636 --> 00:02:32,156 Speaker 3: these times. Some of these songs I wrote many, many 36 00:02:32,276 --> 00:02:36,916 Speaker 3: years ago, but they still kind of relate to the 37 00:02:36,956 --> 00:02:40,996 Speaker 3: world we live in. I think there's always some kind 38 00:02:41,036 --> 00:02:45,396 Speaker 3: of chaos in the world, whether it was twenty years ago, 39 00:02:45,516 --> 00:02:50,036 Speaker 3: ten years ago, five years ago, I think, one hundred 40 00:02:50,076 --> 00:02:56,436 Speaker 3: years ago. So I think chaos and I think that's 41 00:02:56,436 --> 00:03:01,156 Speaker 3: something that's been kind of that's always been there during mankind. 42 00:03:01,236 --> 00:03:03,956 Speaker 3: So that's why I think. But you know, not all 43 00:03:03,956 --> 00:03:09,436 Speaker 3: my songs are about chaos. But you know, the Idol 44 00:03:09,516 --> 00:03:13,236 Speaker 3: track is called Addicted to the Violence. But I can't, 45 00:03:13,236 --> 00:03:16,276 Speaker 3: you know, sit there and say every song on the 46 00:03:16,356 --> 00:03:18,836 Speaker 3: record is about the same thing, and it is about 47 00:03:19,076 --> 00:03:22,276 Speaker 3: there was this theme. Because I write songs. I always 48 00:03:22,516 --> 00:03:25,676 Speaker 3: tell people write I write songs, I don't write albums, 49 00:03:26,156 --> 00:03:30,356 Speaker 3: And those songs end up on albums. But I wasn't 50 00:03:30,396 --> 00:03:35,356 Speaker 3: writing those songs for an album. That right makes sense. 51 00:03:35,436 --> 00:03:40,396 Speaker 3: So at some point when I get off my ass 52 00:03:40,436 --> 00:03:43,436 Speaker 3: and I'm like, let me, let me record some of 53 00:03:43,476 --> 00:03:46,796 Speaker 3: these or you know, I play around them. I entertain 54 00:03:46,956 --> 00:03:49,556 Speaker 3: myself with my songs. I don't really write them for 55 00:03:49,596 --> 00:03:53,596 Speaker 3: anybody else. The fact that anybody else outside of me 56 00:03:53,916 --> 00:03:58,076 Speaker 3: likes them is a complete bonus. They're usually just for 57 00:03:58,196 --> 00:04:01,956 Speaker 3: me to begin with. The last thing I think of 58 00:04:02,036 --> 00:04:04,716 Speaker 3: when I write a song is I can't wait till 59 00:04:04,756 --> 00:04:12,236 Speaker 3: everybody hears this. It's just completely If I didn't have scars, 60 00:04:12,316 --> 00:04:15,996 Speaker 3: if I didn't have system, I would still be doing this. 61 00:04:17,236 --> 00:04:20,756 Speaker 2: Do you remember the first time you saw somebody react 62 00:04:20,796 --> 00:04:21,876 Speaker 2: to something that you wrote. 63 00:04:23,316 --> 00:04:25,156 Speaker 3: It was when I was a teenager. I used to 64 00:04:25,236 --> 00:04:29,316 Speaker 3: have a group of friends that were because I wrote 65 00:04:29,356 --> 00:04:33,436 Speaker 3: songs when I was like thirteen fourteen. You know, I 66 00:04:33,476 --> 00:04:36,636 Speaker 3: started playing guitar when I was like twelve, and I 67 00:04:36,676 --> 00:04:40,076 Speaker 3: started writing my own songs at around thirteen fourteen, fifteen 68 00:04:40,156 --> 00:04:43,436 Speaker 3: years old. And my group of friends they were not 69 00:04:43,876 --> 00:04:48,756 Speaker 3: and still aren't. All my friends are plumbers. They're all 70 00:04:48,756 --> 00:04:50,996 Speaker 3: because they're all my old high school friends. And all 71 00:04:51,036 --> 00:04:54,756 Speaker 3: my old high school friends weren't musicians. They were more 72 00:04:55,436 --> 00:04:58,836 Speaker 3: kind of tough guy kind of you know, that's the 73 00:04:58,956 --> 00:05:02,716 Speaker 3: kind of crowd I hung out when was like, we 74 00:05:03,356 --> 00:05:05,476 Speaker 3: fought a lot out of school, and we were just 75 00:05:05,676 --> 00:05:06,756 Speaker 3: we were those guys. 76 00:05:07,076 --> 00:05:07,356 Speaker 2: Yeah. 77 00:05:07,516 --> 00:05:12,316 Speaker 3: So we'd get together group of friends and I'd played 78 00:05:12,516 --> 00:05:14,876 Speaker 3: my song's original songs that I had written when I 79 00:05:14,916 --> 00:05:18,916 Speaker 3: was like maybe fourteen years old, more kind of folky, 80 00:05:19,036 --> 00:05:22,916 Speaker 3: sometimes ballady type. Lonely Day, you could say, is a 81 00:05:22,956 --> 00:05:27,116 Speaker 3: song that is kind of in that world of the 82 00:05:27,156 --> 00:05:29,036 Speaker 3: type of songs I used to write at that time. 83 00:05:29,756 --> 00:05:37,236 Speaker 3: And sometimes one of my friends, who's probably somebody that 84 00:05:37,276 --> 00:05:40,476 Speaker 3: you wouldn't see, get very emotional or you know, that's 85 00:05:40,596 --> 00:05:43,236 Speaker 3: just kind of the group that I was in would 86 00:05:43,316 --> 00:05:47,756 Speaker 3: like get emotional after I sang one of my songs 87 00:05:47,756 --> 00:05:49,996 Speaker 3: that like could get together or a party or whatever. 88 00:05:50,036 --> 00:05:56,356 Speaker 3: And I could see that, like my song touched touched them. 89 00:05:56,556 --> 00:06:00,716 Speaker 3: And it was then that I realized, Yeah, I love music. 90 00:06:00,756 --> 00:06:03,436 Speaker 3: I've always loved music. I started collecting records when I 91 00:06:03,476 --> 00:06:06,596 Speaker 3: was like four or five, really young. But it was 92 00:06:06,756 --> 00:06:12,156 Speaker 3: then that I realized that but my path in music 93 00:06:12,396 --> 00:06:15,756 Speaker 3: was it wasn't about being a shredding guitar player. It 94 00:06:15,796 --> 00:06:19,716 Speaker 3: wasn't about even an instrument. At the end of the day, 95 00:06:19,956 --> 00:06:22,356 Speaker 3: I realized the instrument is just a tool to bring 96 00:06:22,396 --> 00:06:27,876 Speaker 3: out these songs. Writing songs is my strength. This is 97 00:06:27,916 --> 00:06:32,396 Speaker 3: something that I can do and I love to do, 98 00:06:32,436 --> 00:06:35,876 Speaker 3: and I do it myself, but it seems to touch 99 00:06:35,956 --> 00:06:38,796 Speaker 3: other people as well, even though that's not why I 100 00:06:38,836 --> 00:06:43,836 Speaker 3: wrote those songs, but it does, and that's how I 101 00:06:43,916 --> 00:06:46,836 Speaker 3: kind of that's my focus kind of stayed through all 102 00:06:46,836 --> 00:06:50,876 Speaker 3: these years. Like even if you you know, read my 103 00:06:50,956 --> 00:06:53,796 Speaker 3: interviews from twenty years ago, I'd always say that I'm 104 00:06:53,836 --> 00:06:57,836 Speaker 3: a songwriter. I write songs, I compose songs. That's what 105 00:06:57,916 --> 00:07:01,396 Speaker 3: I did for System, so I do for Scars. That's 106 00:07:01,476 --> 00:07:03,516 Speaker 3: my you know, in music, you got a lot of 107 00:07:03,636 --> 00:07:06,836 Speaker 3: different you got the people who are technical musicians, You've 108 00:07:06,836 --> 00:07:10,156 Speaker 3: got the composers, you got producing, and there's so many 109 00:07:10,236 --> 00:07:13,396 Speaker 3: musicians that are just better musicians than I am. But 110 00:07:13,476 --> 00:07:16,476 Speaker 3: if you put me in a room with musicians, I 111 00:07:16,516 --> 00:07:21,196 Speaker 3: can make I can make those musicians sing together with 112 00:07:21,356 --> 00:07:21,876 Speaker 3: my song. 113 00:07:22,756 --> 00:07:23,276 Speaker 2: Mm hmmm. 114 00:07:23,476 --> 00:07:26,436 Speaker 3: Because you guys, you got guitar players who are amazing 115 00:07:26,476 --> 00:07:28,156 Speaker 3: guitar players, but they can't write songs. 116 00:07:29,316 --> 00:07:30,996 Speaker 2: Do you like amazing guitar players? 117 00:07:30,996 --> 00:07:31,076 Speaker 3: Like? 118 00:07:31,116 --> 00:07:32,836 Speaker 2: Do you like super technical players? 119 00:07:33,516 --> 00:07:36,956 Speaker 3: I appreciate it, but it's not what I want to 120 00:07:36,956 --> 00:07:40,556 Speaker 3: do or even I have moments where I'll listen to 121 00:07:40,596 --> 00:07:43,436 Speaker 3: somebody like that. But if I want to talk about 122 00:07:43,476 --> 00:07:47,516 Speaker 3: like my I was always into drums more than I 123 00:07:47,756 --> 00:07:50,276 Speaker 3: had drums and vocalists, and I am into guitars. But 124 00:07:50,356 --> 00:07:52,756 Speaker 3: if I had to pick like guitar players, I like 125 00:07:52,876 --> 00:07:58,956 Speaker 3: like I like Roy Buchanan, I like Jerry Garcia. Oh nice, 126 00:08:00,156 --> 00:08:03,116 Speaker 3: just dudes that aren't necessarily But you know, growing up, 127 00:08:03,196 --> 00:08:06,796 Speaker 3: I used to really love Randy Rhodes, But as I 128 00:08:06,836 --> 00:08:10,116 Speaker 3: got older, the guitar players I enjoy listening to are 129 00:08:10,156 --> 00:08:14,436 Speaker 3: not necessarily shredders there, And when I do a guitar 130 00:08:14,516 --> 00:08:17,396 Speaker 3: soul in a song, it's usually kind of melodic. I 131 00:08:17,476 --> 00:08:22,236 Speaker 3: like the melodic kind of guitar players, So yeah, I mean, 132 00:08:22,596 --> 00:08:25,316 Speaker 3: but the guitar for me is just a tool to 133 00:08:25,396 --> 00:08:28,956 Speaker 3: write songs. I've written plenty of songs on synthesizers and 134 00:08:30,316 --> 00:08:34,756 Speaker 3: just maybe a vocal comes out first, never really focused 135 00:08:34,796 --> 00:08:38,316 Speaker 3: on it being you know, the guitar, being like I 136 00:08:38,396 --> 00:08:41,316 Speaker 3: really have to perfect this instrument or anything like that. 137 00:08:41,596 --> 00:08:44,836 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's so interesting. Does it feel for you like 138 00:08:44,876 --> 00:08:47,316 Speaker 2: when you're up on stage? Is it an outlet to 139 00:08:47,436 --> 00:08:50,116 Speaker 2: get something out and to express something. 140 00:08:50,556 --> 00:08:54,196 Speaker 3: When I'm on stage, there is a personality that comes 141 00:08:54,196 --> 00:08:57,956 Speaker 3: out of me. I don't fake it, It just comes out. 142 00:08:58,716 --> 00:09:03,276 Speaker 3: And that dude, that dude's really different. Like I don't 143 00:09:03,316 --> 00:09:05,716 Speaker 3: know how to explain it. But the second I walk 144 00:09:05,796 --> 00:09:08,436 Speaker 3: onto that stage, you put a microphone and the guitar 145 00:09:08,556 --> 00:09:12,836 Speaker 3: on my shoulder, and I start turning into a much 146 00:09:12,876 --> 00:09:18,476 Speaker 3: more confident version of myself and I'm comfortable up there. 147 00:09:18,876 --> 00:09:23,436 Speaker 3: I've always loved performing. Performing is also something that you know, 148 00:09:23,476 --> 00:09:27,516 Speaker 3: aside from the songwriting, I consider myself a performer as well. 149 00:09:28,196 --> 00:09:31,276 Speaker 3: But it's it's it's something that is just all of 150 00:09:31,276 --> 00:09:33,316 Speaker 3: it has just come natural to me. It's never been 151 00:09:33,356 --> 00:09:37,996 Speaker 3: something that I think about too much. It just happens. 152 00:09:38,036 --> 00:09:40,836 Speaker 3: I get on stage and I say shit that I 153 00:09:40,876 --> 00:09:44,756 Speaker 3: would never say real life. I do things that I 154 00:09:44,756 --> 00:09:48,276 Speaker 3: would never do in real life. I could see, like 155 00:09:48,316 --> 00:09:50,516 Speaker 3: when I see pictures of me, I see the way 156 00:09:50,556 --> 00:09:54,156 Speaker 3: I am on stage. You know that guy dances, that 157 00:09:54,196 --> 00:09:56,636 Speaker 3: guy screams, that guy yelled, that guy does all these 158 00:09:56,676 --> 00:10:02,196 Speaker 3: things Like I don't dance. I'm kind of really, kind 159 00:10:02,196 --> 00:10:06,076 Speaker 3: of mellow most of the time. It's almost like that 160 00:10:06,116 --> 00:10:11,636 Speaker 3: guy is not a good representation of who I am 161 00:10:13,036 --> 00:10:16,756 Speaker 3: in real life. But that's who comes out. That that's 162 00:10:16,756 --> 00:10:19,876 Speaker 3: who comes out when I walk on to stage, and 163 00:10:19,876 --> 00:10:22,516 Speaker 3: and that's cool. But you know, he just I'm glad 164 00:10:22,516 --> 00:10:23,356 Speaker 3: he stays there. 165 00:10:24,596 --> 00:10:24,756 Speaker 1: Is it? 166 00:10:24,996 --> 00:10:27,076 Speaker 2: Is it? Is it therapeutic for you? 167 00:10:27,156 --> 00:10:27,916 Speaker 3: Like? Does it? 168 00:10:27,956 --> 00:10:30,996 Speaker 2: Does it achieve something? Help you work through something? Whereas 169 00:10:31,076 --> 00:10:34,516 Speaker 2: I'm thinking of your friends, like your friends maybe aren't 170 00:10:34,556 --> 00:10:39,036 Speaker 2: as vulnerable and expressive as you, like, I feel bad 171 00:10:39,036 --> 00:10:41,436 Speaker 2: for people who don't have that outlet like you have 172 00:10:41,516 --> 00:10:42,916 Speaker 2: this amazing outlet. 173 00:10:43,556 --> 00:10:46,956 Speaker 3: He too, No, it is therapy. I look, I'm sure 174 00:10:46,996 --> 00:10:51,796 Speaker 3: everything that's there is here, but I can't express it here. 175 00:10:51,876 --> 00:10:55,836 Speaker 3: The same way, you know, and then it feels comfortable 176 00:10:55,916 --> 00:11:01,956 Speaker 3: to let loose and be angry, be you know, sometimes 177 00:11:01,956 --> 00:11:05,076 Speaker 3: I'm completely stupid. I say some stupid shit up there. 178 00:11:05,396 --> 00:11:10,516 Speaker 3: Sometimes I'm funny, like, uh, you know, Sarah. Sarah will 179 00:11:10,556 --> 00:11:12,516 Speaker 3: come to me after the show and he's like, dude, 180 00:11:12,556 --> 00:11:14,876 Speaker 3: you had me laughing the old time, like I could 181 00:11:14,956 --> 00:11:19,316 Speaker 3: barely fucking say out laughing, you know. And the rest 182 00:11:19,316 --> 00:11:21,596 Speaker 3: of the band, you know, they they have like I turned, 183 00:11:21,756 --> 00:11:23,636 Speaker 3: I say something. I turned to my band and they're 184 00:11:23,676 --> 00:11:26,876 Speaker 3: all like laughing because they didn't know I'm gonna say that. 185 00:11:27,076 --> 00:11:29,316 Speaker 3: I didn't know I was gonna say that, and it 186 00:11:29,556 --> 00:11:33,476 Speaker 3: just you know, I'm the audience doesn't know what's about 187 00:11:33,516 --> 00:11:37,596 Speaker 3: to happen. And there's just different sides that, you know, 188 00:11:38,036 --> 00:11:41,516 Speaker 3: and even in the songs that I write, Yeah, I 189 00:11:41,556 --> 00:11:44,876 Speaker 3: can't sit there and say that, you know, whether it's 190 00:11:44,876 --> 00:11:47,756 Speaker 3: System or Scars, that it's just like pure I mean metal, 191 00:11:47,796 --> 00:11:48,356 Speaker 3: because it's not. 192 00:11:48,876 --> 00:11:51,796 Speaker 2: No, it's not. It changes, it's changed a lot. 193 00:11:52,356 --> 00:11:59,836 Speaker 3: There's all kinds of emotions that human beings go through. Yeah. Uh, 194 00:11:59,956 --> 00:12:02,636 Speaker 3: you have your like I said, you had your funny times, 195 00:12:02,676 --> 00:12:05,196 Speaker 3: you have your stupid times, you have your sad times. 196 00:12:05,236 --> 00:12:08,276 Speaker 3: You have your angry times, you have your times that 197 00:12:08,316 --> 00:12:12,396 Speaker 3: you're concerned out society. I mean, and you're this person 198 00:12:12,836 --> 00:12:16,876 Speaker 3: and you're living in this world. And for me to 199 00:12:17,076 --> 00:12:19,876 Speaker 3: just be like, well, I write angry music and it 200 00:12:19,916 --> 00:12:25,556 Speaker 3: would it wouldn't seem honest to all of my emotions 201 00:12:25,916 --> 00:12:29,796 Speaker 3: and all of the human emotion that's out there. And 202 00:12:29,796 --> 00:12:34,156 Speaker 3: and so when I'm writing songs, I never like put 203 00:12:34,196 --> 00:12:39,156 Speaker 3: a wall and say, well that's that doesn't fit in 204 00:12:39,276 --> 00:12:43,116 Speaker 3: this rock metal world or that doesn't and so you know, 205 00:12:44,316 --> 00:12:49,076 Speaker 3: and then sometimes I'm expressing like Killing Spree for example, 206 00:12:49,116 --> 00:12:52,836 Speaker 3: the song is like, you know, it's very heavy riff, 207 00:12:53,876 --> 00:12:56,196 Speaker 3: kind of driving song, but if you listen to the 208 00:12:56,196 --> 00:13:00,436 Speaker 3: way I'm singing the song, it's very cartoon cartoon like 209 00:13:00,636 --> 00:13:04,716 Speaker 3: you know, uh wow ow how wow. You know, there's 210 00:13:04,756 --> 00:13:07,916 Speaker 3: all these and so there's like this series and the 211 00:13:07,996 --> 00:13:11,236 Speaker 3: topic is maybe some thing that's kind of serious. The 212 00:13:11,396 --> 00:13:15,316 Speaker 3: song is kind of heavy, but the emotion that I'm 213 00:13:15,316 --> 00:13:21,196 Speaker 3: singing with is kind of like not heavy, not serious. 214 00:13:21,276 --> 00:13:24,076 Speaker 3: It's cartoon cartoon esque. Yeah. 215 00:13:24,116 --> 00:13:27,076 Speaker 2: I love that. Yeah, I was thinking. One song that 216 00:13:27,116 --> 00:13:29,676 Speaker 2: stood out to me was The Shame Game. 217 00:13:30,316 --> 00:13:31,676 Speaker 3: Oh cool, Yeah, I like that. 218 00:13:31,956 --> 00:13:33,436 Speaker 2: I love that song. Yeah, I think that might be. 219 00:13:33,596 --> 00:13:36,996 Speaker 2: That's one of my favorites on the album. But that 220 00:13:37,236 --> 00:13:39,636 Speaker 2: like how you were saying, it's not all heavy, it's 221 00:13:39,636 --> 00:13:43,996 Speaker 2: not all metal. That's definitely a different sound, kind of psychedelic. 222 00:13:44,236 --> 00:13:45,516 Speaker 3: It's exactly. 223 00:13:46,116 --> 00:13:48,396 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's what I thought. It feels sort of like 224 00:13:49,716 --> 00:13:51,716 Speaker 2: I mean, it's hard to classify, but I was thinking 225 00:13:51,756 --> 00:13:55,236 Speaker 2: kind of like nineties kind of psychedelic. But that song. 226 00:13:55,436 --> 00:13:57,436 Speaker 2: I think that song's gonna sound super good live. 227 00:13:58,116 --> 00:14:01,116 Speaker 3: Thank you. Yeah, proud of that one. You know. I 228 00:14:01,196 --> 00:14:05,116 Speaker 3: tend to really enjoy those type of songs, and I 229 00:14:05,156 --> 00:14:09,556 Speaker 3: feel like as I go into my writing, I kind 230 00:14:09,556 --> 00:14:12,116 Speaker 3: of write more of those type of songs these days 231 00:14:12,116 --> 00:14:18,076 Speaker 3: than I do the heavier stuff. And Scars kind of 232 00:14:18,676 --> 00:14:21,196 Speaker 3: system has that stuff too, Like I wrote when I 233 00:14:21,236 --> 00:14:26,476 Speaker 3: wrote Aerials, Uh, you know, a song like Atua has 234 00:14:26,596 --> 00:14:31,596 Speaker 3: both of those things in it, Like this, the verses 235 00:14:31,596 --> 00:14:36,236 Speaker 3: are very kind of you could say, uh, everly brothers 236 00:14:36,316 --> 00:14:38,716 Speaker 3: Simon and gar. Then we go into you don't care 237 00:14:38,756 --> 00:14:40,556 Speaker 3: about how I feel I don't, and it turns into 238 00:14:40,596 --> 00:14:42,916 Speaker 3: this metal thing and goes in and out of that 239 00:14:43,716 --> 00:14:46,676 Speaker 3: lonely day lost in Hollywood. 240 00:14:46,356 --> 00:14:48,316 Speaker 2: So lost in Hollywood for sure. 241 00:14:49,156 --> 00:14:54,956 Speaker 3: Scars kind of especially the first album you know, kind 242 00:14:54,956 --> 00:14:57,316 Speaker 3: of has more of that kind of stuff in there. Yeah, 243 00:14:57,676 --> 00:15:01,956 Speaker 3: people ask me to compare Scars to System. I would 244 00:15:01,956 --> 00:15:05,836 Speaker 3: always say, Scars kind of moved into a more rock 245 00:15:07,236 --> 00:15:13,276 Speaker 3: direction and and you'd have those dark moody, more of 246 00:15:13,316 --> 00:15:18,156 Speaker 3: those dark moody, mid tempo kind of songs, songs like 247 00:15:18,276 --> 00:15:20,916 Speaker 3: Insane on the first record Babylon. 248 00:15:21,116 --> 00:15:22,076 Speaker 2: I Love Babylon. 249 00:15:22,916 --> 00:15:25,876 Speaker 3: Like System, we didn't make any more records, but I 250 00:15:26,076 --> 00:15:29,516 Speaker 3: was still going into that direction, and you can see 251 00:15:29,516 --> 00:15:33,276 Speaker 3: it and mesmerize and hypnotize them that direction. So if 252 00:15:33,956 --> 00:15:38,516 Speaker 3: if System continued to make records, I could see that 253 00:15:38,636 --> 00:15:43,156 Speaker 3: System would have moved into that direction. But since there 254 00:15:43,196 --> 00:15:45,836 Speaker 3: we kind of took the hiatus and didn't make the 255 00:15:45,916 --> 00:15:50,956 Speaker 3: records anymore. Scars took me into that direction, right, and 256 00:15:51,036 --> 00:15:54,636 Speaker 3: so that's why you know you hear it moving into 257 00:15:54,676 --> 00:15:59,476 Speaker 3: a more rock direction. Babylon. Babylon is you know, my 258 00:15:59,676 --> 00:16:07,036 Speaker 3: family was in all the wars in Iraq during you know, 259 00:16:07,116 --> 00:16:10,076 Speaker 3: the first Bush, the second book. They were there during 260 00:16:10,116 --> 00:16:15,196 Speaker 3: Iran Iraq War. So it's kind of a song about 261 00:16:16,516 --> 00:16:21,236 Speaker 3: me and my family and my connection to my family 262 00:16:21,236 --> 00:16:25,076 Speaker 3: in Iraq and my concern running to Babylon like to 263 00:16:25,796 --> 00:16:28,236 Speaker 3: you know. And then there was a there's a line 264 00:16:28,756 --> 00:16:33,916 Speaker 3: that's like, I like the way we slept on rooftops 265 00:16:33,956 --> 00:16:38,436 Speaker 3: in the summertime, if we were And so that line 266 00:16:38,476 --> 00:16:41,316 Speaker 3: comes from when I was a kid, my parents would 267 00:16:41,356 --> 00:16:46,076 Speaker 3: always tell me, in the summer, people because it's so hot, 268 00:16:47,156 --> 00:16:50,916 Speaker 3: people would sleep on the roofs, you know. And when 269 00:16:50,956 --> 00:16:53,396 Speaker 3: I went to I went to Iraq when I was 270 00:16:54,156 --> 00:16:57,756 Speaker 3: in like fourteen years old, and it was in the summer, 271 00:16:58,596 --> 00:17:01,236 Speaker 3: and I was like, I would like to sleep on 272 00:17:01,276 --> 00:17:04,556 Speaker 3: the roof because I always I always heard about that 273 00:17:04,636 --> 00:17:08,116 Speaker 3: from my family. So I did. And so a few 274 00:17:08,236 --> 00:17:10,916 Speaker 3: nights at my I think it was my uncles or 275 00:17:10,956 --> 00:17:13,756 Speaker 3: my aunts, I can't remember, but we slept up on 276 00:17:13,836 --> 00:17:16,396 Speaker 3: the rooftop in the summertime. So that was like a 277 00:17:17,196 --> 00:17:20,876 Speaker 3: lived experience that I had that I you know, was 278 00:17:20,996 --> 00:17:24,756 Speaker 3: in the lyrics of the song Oh yeah, yeah. 279 00:17:24,796 --> 00:17:27,396 Speaker 2: How was Iraq different than what you had imagined it 280 00:17:27,436 --> 00:17:30,396 Speaker 2: would be like when you were living in Hollywood. You're 281 00:17:30,396 --> 00:17:33,396 Speaker 2: living in la and you imagine what life was like there. 282 00:17:33,396 --> 00:17:35,676 Speaker 2: How was it different actually being there than what you 283 00:17:35,756 --> 00:17:36,556 Speaker 2: thought it would be like? 284 00:17:39,556 --> 00:17:45,156 Speaker 3: Well, I had probably the same perception as most Americans 285 00:17:46,276 --> 00:17:48,516 Speaker 3: would maybe you know, maybe a little different because my 286 00:17:48,596 --> 00:17:53,636 Speaker 3: parents were from there. But you know, I thought I'm 287 00:17:53,676 --> 00:17:56,196 Speaker 3: going to a place where it's like sand and camels, 288 00:17:56,236 --> 00:18:00,516 Speaker 3: you know, honestly, Yeah, But no, there was a it 289 00:18:00,596 --> 00:18:03,396 Speaker 3: was a city, there was cars, There was a city, 290 00:18:03,476 --> 00:18:06,396 Speaker 3: like a very different kind of city, a very different 291 00:18:06,516 --> 00:18:11,036 Speaker 3: kind of vibe obviously because of you know, Saddam and 292 00:18:11,076 --> 00:18:16,076 Speaker 3: all that stuff. But like it was, you know, just 293 00:18:17,436 --> 00:18:22,556 Speaker 3: not as modern as where I was used to growing up. Yeah, 294 00:18:23,356 --> 00:18:26,196 Speaker 3: more modern than I thought it would be at the 295 00:18:26,276 --> 00:18:26,916 Speaker 3: end of the day. 296 00:18:27,556 --> 00:18:30,476 Speaker 2: Do you remember questions people asked you about Hollywood or 297 00:18:30,516 --> 00:18:32,036 Speaker 2: about la it. 298 00:18:32,036 --> 00:18:35,676 Speaker 3: Was I was fourteen years old, such a yeah, totally. 299 00:18:35,996 --> 00:18:38,636 Speaker 3: But I remember, you know, I had all my metal 300 00:18:39,796 --> 00:18:44,316 Speaker 3: cassettes and all the stuff, because that's you know, I would. 301 00:18:44,556 --> 00:18:47,396 Speaker 3: I would just I took a bunch of like rock magazines, 302 00:18:47,476 --> 00:18:50,196 Speaker 3: metal magazines, and I took a bunch of my cassettes 303 00:18:50,796 --> 00:18:52,916 Speaker 3: and I would listen on my headphones. I just remember 304 00:18:52,916 --> 00:18:59,196 Speaker 3: when I would like show and Slayer was extreme for 305 00:18:59,316 --> 00:19:04,676 Speaker 3: that time in the United States in nineteen eighty nine. 306 00:19:04,756 --> 00:19:08,636 Speaker 3: You know, yeah, player was like pretty extreme for your 307 00:19:08,676 --> 00:19:12,836 Speaker 3: average metal guy at that time. But I would sort 308 00:19:12,836 --> 00:19:17,876 Speaker 3: of show the Slayer show No Mercy, and they would 309 00:19:18,116 --> 00:19:21,196 Speaker 3: they would almost like question, It's like, is this even music? 310 00:19:21,476 --> 00:19:26,396 Speaker 3: What is this even? Like I said, it was even 311 00:19:26,476 --> 00:19:28,436 Speaker 3: extreme for the United States at that time. 312 00:19:30,156 --> 00:19:32,316 Speaker 1: We'll be back with more from Darren Malackean and Leah 313 00:19:32,396 --> 00:19:33,716 Speaker 1: Rose after the break. 314 00:19:37,756 --> 00:19:39,636 Speaker 2: Do you still listen to hard music? Like, do you 315 00:19:39,716 --> 00:19:43,236 Speaker 2: find that as you've gotten older, has your music taste 316 00:19:43,276 --> 00:19:46,516 Speaker 2: has it gotten a little softer? Or can you still 317 00:19:46,796 --> 00:19:47,876 Speaker 2: listen to hard music? 318 00:19:49,196 --> 00:19:52,996 Speaker 3: I've always listened to all kinds of music. I could. 319 00:19:53,036 --> 00:19:58,756 Speaker 3: There isn't much that's new in metal that I'm really 320 00:19:59,916 --> 00:20:04,436 Speaker 3: gravitating to, Like I don't, I don't, I don't. I mean, 321 00:20:04,476 --> 00:20:06,956 Speaker 3: I'm I don't. I'm not talking shit about any of 322 00:20:06,996 --> 00:20:09,996 Speaker 3: the bands, but it's just I don't. It's it's not 323 00:20:10,036 --> 00:20:10,716 Speaker 3: turning me on. 324 00:20:10,996 --> 00:20:12,396 Speaker 2: Yeah yeah, yeah, no, I get that. 325 00:20:12,836 --> 00:20:16,876 Speaker 3: But uh, I've always had a My taste in music 326 00:20:16,916 --> 00:20:20,436 Speaker 3: has always been like this place, that place. It was 327 00:20:20,516 --> 00:20:24,156 Speaker 3: just always been all over the place, you know. When 328 00:20:24,156 --> 00:20:26,076 Speaker 3: I was a teenager, yeah I was more metal. But 329 00:20:26,116 --> 00:20:28,436 Speaker 3: as I got older. But when I say older eighteen 330 00:20:28,556 --> 00:20:35,076 Speaker 3: nineteen twenty twenty one, I started listening to Bowie, the Beatles, 331 00:20:35,196 --> 00:20:39,636 Speaker 3: Grateful Dead, stuff, that wasn't stuff that people turned me 332 00:20:39,716 --> 00:20:42,676 Speaker 3: on to yet at that point in my life, or 333 00:20:42,756 --> 00:20:46,716 Speaker 3: I didn't get turned onto yet. Yeah. And the thing 334 00:20:46,756 --> 00:20:49,836 Speaker 3: about me is I just I go through I mean 335 00:20:49,996 --> 00:20:54,116 Speaker 3: so many different kinds of music every other week, Like 336 00:20:55,116 --> 00:20:59,316 Speaker 3: this week I'm into like or this five months or 337 00:20:59,396 --> 00:21:06,076 Speaker 3: six months dub reggae, oh cool, Yeah, like kick Uppy 338 00:21:06,356 --> 00:21:10,996 Speaker 3: and these cats and the like. I go through phases 339 00:21:11,076 --> 00:21:16,076 Speaker 3: of like Miles Davis and uh, you know, I sese 340 00:21:16,116 --> 00:21:20,076 Speaker 3: phases that I've always gone through in my life, you know, 341 00:21:20,236 --> 00:21:24,076 Speaker 3: my twenties, like the goth bands that I was listening 342 00:21:24,116 --> 00:21:27,996 Speaker 3: to the early eighties, goth cool. When I was writing 343 00:21:28,036 --> 00:21:31,156 Speaker 3: mesmeriz and Hypnotized. Back in the day, I was really 344 00:21:31,196 --> 00:21:36,316 Speaker 3: into a black metal Norwegian. And I have to say, 345 00:21:36,356 --> 00:21:41,316 Speaker 3: if I listen to heavy music or metal music, if 346 00:21:41,356 --> 00:21:43,716 Speaker 3: you want to, you know, it's usually my go to 347 00:21:43,876 --> 00:21:48,436 Speaker 3: is black metal. I there's melody in the music, it's 348 00:21:48,556 --> 00:21:52,836 Speaker 3: it's there's just something that I really love about black 349 00:21:52,876 --> 00:21:55,756 Speaker 3: metal music. When it comes to what I listened to. 350 00:21:57,156 --> 00:21:59,676 Speaker 3: If I was to you know, I'm gonna turn on 351 00:21:59,836 --> 00:22:04,836 Speaker 3: something heavy, you know it would be dark Throwneh, satiric, 352 00:22:04,956 --> 00:22:07,316 Speaker 3: con immortal, those. 353 00:22:07,636 --> 00:22:09,956 Speaker 2: Cool have you ever met any those guys, Like have 354 00:22:10,076 --> 00:22:12,476 Speaker 2: you been over to Norway and like played with any 355 00:22:12,516 --> 00:22:13,356 Speaker 2: of those guys. 356 00:22:13,556 --> 00:22:17,036 Speaker 3: I'm very close friends with Satyr from Satyra Khan. I 357 00:22:17,076 --> 00:22:21,756 Speaker 3: have been for probably twenty five years now. He's still 358 00:22:21,836 --> 00:22:26,796 Speaker 3: keep in touch. He's I don't really have that many 359 00:22:26,836 --> 00:22:30,116 Speaker 3: friends that are in bands. I have acquaintances, but nobody 360 00:22:30,156 --> 00:22:35,316 Speaker 3: that I really regularly keep in touch with. Joey from 361 00:22:35,356 --> 00:22:39,596 Speaker 3: Slipknot was a friend of mine, and you know, it 362 00:22:39,716 --> 00:22:44,516 Speaker 3: was tough to lose him every so often. I'd been 363 00:22:44,636 --> 00:22:48,996 Speaker 3: from Dillinger Escape Plan and I kind of talk. But 364 00:22:49,196 --> 00:22:52,836 Speaker 3: Satyre from satirra Khan is somebody that I really keep 365 00:22:52,876 --> 00:22:55,756 Speaker 3: in touch with or you know, our friendship is a 366 00:22:55,796 --> 00:22:59,516 Speaker 3: little closer and more personal. And I really respect his band. 367 00:22:59,516 --> 00:23:01,196 Speaker 3: I love his band. I'm a fan of his band. 368 00:23:01,876 --> 00:23:06,876 Speaker 3: And that whole scene to me is one of the 369 00:23:06,996 --> 00:23:12,556 Speaker 3: last great metal if not the last great metal music 370 00:23:12,636 --> 00:23:15,396 Speaker 3: scene that I can recall. 371 00:23:15,836 --> 00:23:20,876 Speaker 2: And when were they active, like around what years. 372 00:23:19,796 --> 00:23:23,996 Speaker 3: Uh nineties up until now? A lot of those bands, 373 00:23:24,076 --> 00:23:28,196 Speaker 3: yeah still but early nineties. Because there's two waves of 374 00:23:28,236 --> 00:23:33,476 Speaker 3: black metal. There is the first wave with the bath Ory, Venom, 375 00:23:33,636 --> 00:23:37,236 Speaker 3: Celtic Frost that was in the early eighties kind of. 376 00:23:37,276 --> 00:23:39,596 Speaker 3: And then there was the second wave of black metal, 377 00:23:39,596 --> 00:23:45,556 Speaker 3: which came in the early nineties with Mayhem, Dark Throne, 378 00:23:45,996 --> 00:23:48,796 Speaker 3: Satiric Kron was part of that. But a lot of 379 00:23:48,916 --> 00:23:51,916 Speaker 3: black great bands. You know, a lot of people kind 380 00:23:51,916 --> 00:23:53,996 Speaker 3: of you know, they see the imagery and they see 381 00:23:54,036 --> 00:23:56,356 Speaker 3: all that stuff. But the music you listen to the music, 382 00:23:56,396 --> 00:24:02,596 Speaker 3: it's really melodic and it's kind of like classical music cool. 383 00:24:03,676 --> 00:24:07,876 Speaker 3: There was a mood. There was a scene same with 384 00:24:07,916 --> 00:24:11,156 Speaker 3: the like I mean, I know a lot of people 385 00:24:11,276 --> 00:24:13,676 Speaker 3: like to you know, lup Us in with new metal, 386 00:24:15,316 --> 00:24:18,396 Speaker 3: but that is the scene that we came up in. 387 00:24:18,756 --> 00:24:25,556 Speaker 3: And even in Los Angeles, you know that kind of 388 00:24:25,716 --> 00:24:32,076 Speaker 3: music Corn Deftones. When we first heard it and we 389 00:24:32,956 --> 00:24:36,476 Speaker 3: were part of it, we were being honest, we were 390 00:24:36,516 --> 00:24:40,636 Speaker 3: being original. We were you know, it was something. It 391 00:24:40,676 --> 00:24:42,716 Speaker 3: was a scene that I guess wasn't even meant to 392 00:24:42,756 --> 00:24:46,876 Speaker 3: be a scene, right. It just accidentally happens that all 393 00:24:46,916 --> 00:24:49,716 Speaker 3: these bands and they share these things in common, they 394 00:24:49,716 --> 00:24:55,076 Speaker 3: share a sound in common, and then what ends up 395 00:24:55,076 --> 00:24:58,836 Speaker 3: happening is it becomes popular. And when it becomes popular, 396 00:24:59,676 --> 00:25:02,916 Speaker 3: it starts becoming kind of cookie cutter, and it becomes 397 00:25:02,996 --> 00:25:05,676 Speaker 3: something at that time out labels these days I don't 398 00:25:05,676 --> 00:25:08,116 Speaker 3: even exist or they don't. But like at that time, 399 00:25:08,156 --> 00:25:10,876 Speaker 3: the label wanted to next System of a Down and 400 00:25:10,956 --> 00:25:13,236 Speaker 3: I was like, that's funny because none of you motherfuckers 401 00:25:13,276 --> 00:25:14,116 Speaker 3: wanted to sign us. 402 00:25:15,116 --> 00:25:16,196 Speaker 2: Yeah right, you know. 403 00:25:16,316 --> 00:25:19,676 Speaker 3: But now that we're thing, you know, being Armenian is 404 00:25:19,716 --> 00:25:22,996 Speaker 3: really cool now, isn't it. Like when we were coming 405 00:25:23,076 --> 00:25:25,396 Speaker 3: up there like, well, you guys are Armenian. I don't 406 00:25:25,436 --> 00:25:28,756 Speaker 3: know if anyone's gonna get what's an Armenian? You know? 407 00:25:28,876 --> 00:25:32,356 Speaker 3: And now that we were signed there was funny because 408 00:25:32,916 --> 00:25:35,316 Speaker 3: at that time not anymore, but like people were looking 409 00:25:35,396 --> 00:25:39,876 Speaker 3: for is there an Armenian member in that band? Like really, yeah, 410 00:25:40,156 --> 00:25:44,316 Speaker 3: it kind of funny, man. But all of these bands 411 00:25:44,356 --> 00:25:48,956 Speaker 3: I just mentioned the original ones, the ones that were 412 00:25:49,316 --> 00:25:53,876 Speaker 3: the first. We're not cheesy, We're not We're doing something unique. 413 00:25:53,996 --> 00:25:56,276 Speaker 3: I remember when I first heard the first Corn album, 414 00:25:56,356 --> 00:26:01,476 Speaker 3: I was like, dude, this is fucking different. It's heavy. Yeah, 415 00:26:01,676 --> 00:26:03,956 Speaker 3: the way that it sounds is even different. The way 416 00:26:03,956 --> 00:26:07,356 Speaker 3: that it's produced is different. It was like something I'd 417 00:26:07,396 --> 00:26:12,396 Speaker 3: never heard before. But then ten thousand bands came out 418 00:26:12,476 --> 00:26:17,916 Speaker 3: copying Corn and that's what turns it into oh, and 419 00:26:17,956 --> 00:26:22,756 Speaker 3: then it gets labeled as a genre. Yep, you metal, 420 00:26:23,196 --> 00:26:26,796 Speaker 3: Like we never called it that. And I hate genres. 421 00:26:27,156 --> 00:26:28,756 Speaker 3: To me, all music is the same. 422 00:26:29,796 --> 00:26:32,596 Speaker 2: I know the thing about the genres though, Like I 423 00:26:32,676 --> 00:26:34,956 Speaker 2: understand that because I hate genres too, and I know 424 00:26:35,196 --> 00:26:38,236 Speaker 2: musicians hate genres. But if you're like a journalist or 425 00:26:38,236 --> 00:26:40,236 Speaker 2: you're trying to write about this stuff, it's like it's 426 00:26:40,276 --> 00:26:42,676 Speaker 2: helpful just in those terms. 427 00:26:43,316 --> 00:26:47,076 Speaker 3: Look, the notes on a piano where I'm a guitar 428 00:26:47,116 --> 00:26:52,116 Speaker 3: are all the same. It's like a cow and a 429 00:26:52,196 --> 00:26:55,636 Speaker 3: cow has like beef, and I give beef to the 430 00:26:55,676 --> 00:26:58,116 Speaker 3: guy who makes Mexican food and he's gonna make Mexican 431 00:26:58,116 --> 00:27:00,356 Speaker 3: food with the beef. And give beef to the guy 432 00:27:00,396 --> 00:27:03,036 Speaker 3: who makes Armenian food. He's gonna make Armenian food with 433 00:27:03,076 --> 00:27:06,396 Speaker 3: the beef. And you know, and so it's how it's 434 00:27:06,436 --> 00:27:09,796 Speaker 3: the music is presented. Yeah, and as you know, it 435 00:27:09,916 --> 00:27:12,676 Speaker 3: turns in I don't know, it's kind of weird. Music 436 00:27:12,756 --> 00:27:14,916 Speaker 3: turns into like how you know, Mexican food or a 437 00:27:14,956 --> 00:27:20,996 Speaker 3: Median food. I mean, but for me, I don't know, man, 438 00:27:21,516 --> 00:27:24,796 Speaker 3: the kind of music I write, whether once again system 439 00:27:24,796 --> 00:27:29,916 Speaker 3: of announced Scars on Broadway, I feel weird. I like 440 00:27:30,036 --> 00:27:33,836 Speaker 3: being put into like a genre because yeah, there's heavy 441 00:27:33,836 --> 00:27:37,436 Speaker 3: stuff that's going on, but once there are songs on 442 00:27:37,476 --> 00:27:40,796 Speaker 3: the same album that don't even fit the genre likely 443 00:27:41,356 --> 00:27:43,676 Speaker 3: and shame game. I don't feel like I all my 444 00:27:43,796 --> 00:27:46,956 Speaker 3: songs fit into the same place. Yeah, and so when 445 00:27:46,956 --> 00:27:50,716 Speaker 3: you put me in a genre, I'm like, Okay, maybe 446 00:27:50,716 --> 00:27:52,396 Speaker 3: you could put that one in that genre, but how 447 00:27:52,396 --> 00:27:55,956 Speaker 3: about that one? Like So that's why genre bother me 448 00:27:55,996 --> 00:27:58,196 Speaker 3: because I don't feel like I always fit into them. 449 00:27:58,236 --> 00:28:00,716 Speaker 3: I don't feel like all my songs fit into the 450 00:28:00,756 --> 00:28:02,436 Speaker 3: same ones totally. 451 00:28:03,556 --> 00:28:06,356 Speaker 2: I wonder, like, how has it been for you since 452 00:28:06,356 --> 00:28:10,596 Speaker 2: you've had the experience of releasing albums that have been 453 00:28:10,596 --> 00:28:16,796 Speaker 2: super successful through traditional record companies and also releasing albums 454 00:28:16,836 --> 00:28:20,636 Speaker 2: through independent because you released it on your own label, right. 455 00:28:20,956 --> 00:28:24,476 Speaker 3: Yeah, well it's not really label just do you do 456 00:28:24,556 --> 00:28:25,716 Speaker 3: it yourself kind of thing. 457 00:28:25,956 --> 00:28:29,636 Speaker 2: But yeah, which do you prefer, Like, are there advantages 458 00:28:30,236 --> 00:28:34,916 Speaker 2: to the major label system that you see now or 459 00:28:34,956 --> 00:28:36,196 Speaker 2: do you prefer just DIY? 460 00:28:36,756 --> 00:28:41,836 Speaker 3: They were both fine because nobody ever told me what 461 00:28:42,036 --> 00:28:49,956 Speaker 3: to write ever. Rick never did, the Columbia Never Records 462 00:28:49,996 --> 00:28:54,916 Speaker 3: never did. We kind of did our own thing, and 463 00:28:54,996 --> 00:28:57,276 Speaker 3: I wrote the songs that the kind of songs that 464 00:28:57,356 --> 00:29:02,316 Speaker 3: I wrote, and nobody ever like said, well, you got 465 00:29:02,356 --> 00:29:06,036 Speaker 3: to be more like lymp Biscuit. And because lymp Biscuit 466 00:29:06,156 --> 00:29:08,756 Speaker 3: was so big when we were coming out, you know, 467 00:29:08,876 --> 00:29:12,636 Speaker 3: and so we were kind of coming out and just 468 00:29:13,516 --> 00:29:17,036 Speaker 3: doing our thing and gaining and gaining and gaining and gaining. 469 00:29:17,716 --> 00:29:21,716 Speaker 3: And uh Rick told me a story where he when 470 00:29:21,716 --> 00:29:24,636 Speaker 3: he went to the head of K Rock once and 471 00:29:24,676 --> 00:29:26,796 Speaker 3: I don't know, I think he played them Chop Suey 472 00:29:27,556 --> 00:29:30,556 Speaker 3: and and he the person that was ahead of K 473 00:29:30,716 --> 00:29:33,236 Speaker 3: Rock at that time. I don't know if he still 474 00:29:33,316 --> 00:29:36,196 Speaker 3: is or she still is or isn't. He told Rick 475 00:29:36,716 --> 00:29:42,476 Speaker 3: that this song will never be played on this station 476 00:29:43,476 --> 00:29:46,516 Speaker 3: and this band will never be played because they just 477 00:29:46,636 --> 00:29:49,436 Speaker 3: it does not they're not what we do, you know, 478 00:29:49,596 --> 00:29:53,676 Speaker 3: type of And I guess soon after that, Chop Suey 479 00:29:53,676 --> 00:29:56,836 Speaker 3: became like the biggest song in the freaking you know, 480 00:29:57,076 --> 00:30:01,716 Speaker 3: on K rock or on their station, and we didn't 481 00:30:01,796 --> 00:30:04,996 Speaker 3: do anything to conform to Oh, you know what, then 482 00:30:05,036 --> 00:30:08,796 Speaker 3: I should write a song that you're gonna like feel 483 00:30:08,796 --> 00:30:09,796 Speaker 3: like fits in. 484 00:30:10,596 --> 00:30:11,556 Speaker 2: Nothing like that song. 485 00:30:11,676 --> 00:30:16,916 Speaker 3: Still, yeah, thank you, But we never had to deal 486 00:30:16,916 --> 00:30:19,236 Speaker 3: with so when it comes to like major labels or 487 00:30:19,356 --> 00:30:24,476 Speaker 3: radio stations or anything like that. So the difference is 488 00:30:24,596 --> 00:30:30,676 Speaker 3: that there is like a machine that's pushing your shit. Yeah, 489 00:30:30,836 --> 00:30:34,276 Speaker 3: that world at that time. You know, I haven't really 490 00:30:34,316 --> 00:30:36,556 Speaker 3: dealt with the label for quite some time, so I 491 00:30:36,596 --> 00:30:39,916 Speaker 3: don't real I don't know what kind of power, what 492 00:30:40,036 --> 00:30:41,836 Speaker 3: kind of thing they have now, But at that time 493 00:30:41,876 --> 00:30:45,716 Speaker 3: they had power. Yeah, and they push your stuff. And 494 00:30:45,876 --> 00:30:48,596 Speaker 3: next thing, you know, their MTV at that time was 495 00:30:48,636 --> 00:30:53,156 Speaker 3: still playing videos, and they played Chop Suey and you know, 496 00:30:53,236 --> 00:30:53,716 Speaker 3: you get. 497 00:30:53,676 --> 00:30:56,156 Speaker 2: Like crazy that video was always on. 498 00:30:56,716 --> 00:30:59,836 Speaker 3: And so the machine was doing its thing. When I'm 499 00:30:59,876 --> 00:31:04,476 Speaker 3: doing it myself, there is no machine. I hire a publicist, 500 00:31:05,356 --> 00:31:08,156 Speaker 3: let's put some money into this, you know, and and 501 00:31:09,396 --> 00:31:13,796 Speaker 3: the fans or the streams or people buying vinyls pretty 502 00:31:13,876 --> 00:31:18,836 Speaker 3: much bring back and pay for the stuff that needs 503 00:31:18,876 --> 00:31:24,556 Speaker 3: to be paid for a video. You know, all these 504 00:31:24,596 --> 00:31:29,116 Speaker 3: things cost money. Sometimes going on the road, you know, 505 00:31:29,756 --> 00:31:33,596 Speaker 3: it costs money because SCARS doesn't get the same guarantees 506 00:31:33,636 --> 00:31:37,156 Speaker 3: as system does. So we still need buses, we still 507 00:31:37,156 --> 00:31:41,996 Speaker 3: need all this stuff. So this what I do with SCARS, 508 00:31:42,556 --> 00:31:46,396 Speaker 3: it's kind of yeah, I run it, but it's funded 509 00:31:46,476 --> 00:31:49,956 Speaker 3: by the fans. Yeah. Yeah. 510 00:31:49,996 --> 00:31:53,396 Speaker 2: And also I mean, you have the benefit of when 511 00:31:53,436 --> 00:31:55,596 Speaker 2: you go out with System that can help fund it too. 512 00:31:56,716 --> 00:32:01,676 Speaker 3: Sure, I have a separate thing that when Scars, any 513 00:32:01,796 --> 00:32:04,636 Speaker 3: money comes in from Scars, I put it into that 514 00:32:04,676 --> 00:32:08,956 Speaker 3: and I'm like, this is the Scars you know, Piggybank. 515 00:32:09,276 --> 00:32:12,116 Speaker 2: Okay, that's cool. So you can actually see what's being generated. 516 00:32:12,756 --> 00:32:15,196 Speaker 3: Yeah, and what I put back into the band and 517 00:32:15,236 --> 00:32:17,076 Speaker 3: what I. 518 00:32:16,236 --> 00:32:18,116 Speaker 2: I guess tell me the story of Scars, Like when 519 00:32:18,156 --> 00:32:20,356 Speaker 2: you started the band. I know the first album came 520 00:32:20,396 --> 00:32:21,716 Speaker 2: out in two thousand and eight. 521 00:32:22,356 --> 00:32:23,036 Speaker 3: Where were you. 522 00:32:23,036 --> 00:32:25,636 Speaker 2: At professionally, Like, why did you decide that was the 523 00:32:25,676 --> 00:32:26,676 Speaker 2: time to start the band? 524 00:32:27,836 --> 00:32:31,236 Speaker 3: Well, I knew System was not going to be making records. 525 00:32:31,556 --> 00:32:35,356 Speaker 3: I didn't know that we were never going to make records, 526 00:32:35,476 --> 00:32:37,916 Speaker 3: but at the time we were like, okay, we're taking 527 00:32:37,916 --> 00:32:44,076 Speaker 3: a hiatus, and for me, I was like okay. I 528 00:32:44,116 --> 00:32:46,316 Speaker 3: at that time, I mean, I was used to like 529 00:32:46,396 --> 00:32:48,836 Speaker 3: I have an outlet for my songs, and my outlet 530 00:32:48,876 --> 00:32:54,316 Speaker 3: for my songs was System. So Scars kind of started 531 00:32:54,356 --> 00:32:56,676 Speaker 3: even before I knew there was going to be a hiatus. 532 00:32:56,716 --> 00:33:00,356 Speaker 3: I was like, here, I want to do this second 533 00:33:00,436 --> 00:33:03,556 Speaker 3: band kind of thing. I tried out a lot of 534 00:33:03,596 --> 00:33:08,476 Speaker 3: different renditions and different musicians and different things before I 535 00:33:08,556 --> 00:33:11,276 Speaker 3: got to work. I got on the first Scars record, 536 00:33:11,956 --> 00:33:19,196 Speaker 3: but when System kind of took the hiatus, I was like, well, 537 00:33:19,556 --> 00:33:22,196 Speaker 3: I gotta do something here. I can just sit here 538 00:33:22,516 --> 00:33:26,236 Speaker 3: on my hands. I have songs, and so it just 539 00:33:26,316 --> 00:33:28,716 Speaker 3: seemed like the natural thing to do is like, Okay, 540 00:33:28,756 --> 00:33:33,036 Speaker 3: let's take this band that I was kind of working 541 00:33:33,076 --> 00:33:38,836 Speaker 3: on already and put a little more focus into it. 542 00:33:40,356 --> 00:33:42,236 Speaker 1: Well, last break and we're back with the rest of 543 00:33:42,316 --> 00:33:43,196 Speaker 1: Darren Malachean. 544 00:33:47,276 --> 00:33:49,556 Speaker 2: Do you think that the fact that your parents are 545 00:33:49,556 --> 00:33:54,996 Speaker 2: both artists, how does that influence the way that you 546 00:33:55,116 --> 00:33:57,556 Speaker 2: make your art? Do you think there's any connection to 547 00:33:57,596 --> 00:34:00,956 Speaker 2: the way you approach your work as a songwriter, as 548 00:34:00,956 --> 00:34:05,316 Speaker 2: a singer, as a producer. Did you inherit any approach 549 00:34:05,356 --> 00:34:07,316 Speaker 2: from your parents? Is there any commonality? 550 00:34:09,196 --> 00:34:14,476 Speaker 3: I watched my dad paint paintings my whole life, and 551 00:34:14,596 --> 00:34:17,476 Speaker 3: my dad has never done an art exhibition. He has 552 00:34:17,516 --> 00:34:21,396 Speaker 3: a house full of hundreds of paintings that he paints, 553 00:34:21,476 --> 00:34:25,316 Speaker 3: but he paints them for his He's always trying to 554 00:34:25,356 --> 00:34:29,276 Speaker 3: like find something new, but it's not about showing anybody else. 555 00:34:29,316 --> 00:34:32,036 Speaker 3: And I think that's where I get my thing from. 556 00:34:32,156 --> 00:34:35,036 Speaker 3: Is where I would do it regardless, because I've seen 557 00:34:35,116 --> 00:34:38,356 Speaker 3: him do it regardless. Yeah, I mean the only thing 558 00:34:38,436 --> 00:34:40,436 Speaker 3: that I like, I'm the one that like put his 559 00:34:40,556 --> 00:34:44,876 Speaker 3: stuff on my album covers or system album covers, Like, well, 560 00:34:44,956 --> 00:34:47,236 Speaker 3: Mesmeriz hypnotizes my dad's stuff. 561 00:34:47,596 --> 00:34:48,836 Speaker 2: Oh wow, I didn't know that all. 562 00:34:48,756 --> 00:34:53,196 Speaker 3: The star stuff is my dad's stuff. Oh cool. But 563 00:34:53,516 --> 00:34:56,676 Speaker 3: his stuff on his own is very different than that stuff. 564 00:34:56,716 --> 00:34:59,756 Speaker 3: That's me pushing him in a direction because I'm like, 565 00:34:59,796 --> 00:35:05,796 Speaker 3: it's an album because this stuff's very abstract. So his 566 00:35:05,956 --> 00:35:11,436 Speaker 3: approach is I approach. I mean, that's just kind of 567 00:35:12,676 --> 00:35:15,636 Speaker 3: watching the way he does it. And it wasn't like, 568 00:35:15,716 --> 00:35:17,996 Speaker 3: well I'm gonna watch him and take that. It's just 569 00:35:18,796 --> 00:35:21,516 Speaker 3: in the house. This is ye, this was how we 570 00:35:21,556 --> 00:35:25,596 Speaker 3: did things. This is how it was. My mom when 571 00:35:25,636 --> 00:35:29,396 Speaker 3: she was in Iraq was a sculptor and and she 572 00:35:29,516 --> 00:35:31,876 Speaker 3: does she did, but when she came to the States, 573 00:35:31,996 --> 00:35:35,276 Speaker 3: my mom is the responsible one, yeah, in the things. 574 00:35:35,276 --> 00:35:39,396 Speaker 3: So she was kind of like saving the money and 575 00:35:39,596 --> 00:35:42,996 Speaker 3: working and my dad worked too. But like you know, 576 00:35:44,316 --> 00:35:46,356 Speaker 3: if it wasn't for my mom, like we would have 577 00:35:46,436 --> 00:35:52,876 Speaker 3: just been like homeless problem bohemian art. Yeah. So luckily 578 00:35:52,956 --> 00:35:55,756 Speaker 3: she has a side to her that was very responsible 579 00:35:55,956 --> 00:36:01,276 Speaker 3: and organized, so she kind of had to leave her 580 00:36:01,436 --> 00:36:05,796 Speaker 3: art to the side. And but you know, she's one 581 00:36:05,876 --> 00:36:07,676 Speaker 3: of those people that will sit there and then like 582 00:36:07,756 --> 00:36:09,076 Speaker 3: ten minutes can draw your face. 583 00:36:09,716 --> 00:36:10,036 Speaker 1: Wow. 584 00:36:10,996 --> 00:36:14,636 Speaker 3: Very she went to school for art. That's another thing 585 00:36:14,676 --> 00:36:16,996 Speaker 3: where it's a little different with my dad and my mom. 586 00:36:17,036 --> 00:36:19,636 Speaker 3: My dad never went to school for I never went 587 00:36:19,676 --> 00:36:24,356 Speaker 3: to school. But my mom is more training as an 588 00:36:24,436 --> 00:36:30,996 Speaker 3: artist in that way, but through the ears, like she 589 00:36:30,996 --> 00:36:33,156 Speaker 3: she is an artist, but had to kind of put 590 00:36:33,236 --> 00:36:37,436 Speaker 3: her art to the sode for Yeah, got understand. He 591 00:36:37,956 --> 00:36:42,756 Speaker 3: came from Iraq with nothing. Yeah, like nothing and uh 592 00:36:43,076 --> 00:36:47,676 Speaker 3: coming from bag Dad to Hollywood, yeah, you know, and 593 00:36:47,836 --> 00:36:51,956 Speaker 3: uh so you know they they had to make some 594 00:36:52,036 --> 00:36:56,596 Speaker 3: sacrifices and it's it's I know, this is a crazy 595 00:36:56,716 --> 00:37:00,796 Speaker 3: fucking thing to say, and and but it's true that 596 00:37:00,996 --> 00:37:03,556 Speaker 3: since I was a kid, this is what I do 597 00:37:03,716 --> 00:37:06,476 Speaker 3: now is what i've I always was like, since I 598 00:37:06,516 --> 00:37:09,316 Speaker 3: saw all the early bands that I was in to, 599 00:37:10,756 --> 00:37:12,796 Speaker 3: it was an obsession and it was something that I 600 00:37:12,916 --> 00:37:16,676 Speaker 3: was interested in, and it was always like music was 601 00:37:16,676 --> 00:37:18,956 Speaker 3: always a big deal in my life. And even as 602 00:37:18,996 --> 00:37:23,356 Speaker 3: a kid, in my head, I was like and I 603 00:37:23,356 --> 00:37:25,436 Speaker 3: I guess I had the maturity as a kid to 604 00:37:25,516 --> 00:37:29,316 Speaker 3: think this way. But it was like I knew what 605 00:37:29,396 --> 00:37:34,236 Speaker 3: kind of sacrifice my parents had made. I knew that 606 00:37:34,396 --> 00:37:39,836 Speaker 3: my parents were both artists, and it felt like this 607 00:37:40,156 --> 00:37:46,636 Speaker 3: like was your like it's my destiny, like to to 608 00:37:46,836 --> 00:37:51,996 Speaker 3: become one of these, like this musician or whatever it is. 609 00:37:52,716 --> 00:37:56,756 Speaker 3: And then as I got older, you know, eight, nine, ten, 610 00:37:56,876 --> 00:38:00,276 Speaker 3: eleven years old, I would start telling people like I'm 611 00:38:00,276 --> 00:38:02,476 Speaker 3: going to be in a band one day. I'm going 612 00:38:02,556 --> 00:38:05,196 Speaker 3: to do this. Like I mean, as a really young child, 613 00:38:05,436 --> 00:38:08,836 Speaker 3: it's crazy. Anybody, anybody who knew me at that time 614 00:38:08,876 --> 00:38:12,716 Speaker 3: will tell you he's not fucking like he said that, 615 00:38:13,636 --> 00:38:15,836 Speaker 3: and he kept saying it. And as I got older, 616 00:38:15,916 --> 00:38:18,196 Speaker 3: people would say like, well, you know, one of the 617 00:38:18,316 --> 00:38:21,836 Speaker 3: chances that that's gonna happen, and I go in my head, 618 00:38:22,116 --> 00:38:27,196 Speaker 3: I was like, this is why my parents moved here. Wow, 619 00:38:27,996 --> 00:38:30,156 Speaker 3: that's how That's how my head was saying, this is 620 00:38:30,556 --> 00:38:34,236 Speaker 3: why this was like this is all supposed to fucking 621 00:38:34,276 --> 00:38:39,236 Speaker 3: happen and and yeah, then then when they would tell me, oh, 622 00:38:39,516 --> 00:38:42,116 Speaker 3: you know that's a long shot or your Armenian and 623 00:38:42,196 --> 00:38:44,476 Speaker 3: no Armenians ever made it in that kind of thing, 624 00:38:44,956 --> 00:38:48,396 Speaker 3: and I was like, just watch, I have this crazy confidence. 625 00:38:49,276 --> 00:38:52,596 Speaker 3: Like even in high school. They sent me to a 626 00:38:52,636 --> 00:38:53,036 Speaker 3: thing and. 627 00:38:52,996 --> 00:38:54,276 Speaker 2: I was like a prophecy. 628 00:38:54,916 --> 00:38:58,676 Speaker 3: It's it's weird. You know, it happened. And when it happened, 629 00:38:58,676 --> 00:39:02,436 Speaker 3: I got like panic attacks because I was like, Jesus, 630 00:39:02,516 --> 00:39:06,476 Speaker 3: this fucking happened until this day, till this day. I 631 00:39:06,556 --> 00:39:10,156 Speaker 3: get on stage and we just went played South America. 632 00:39:10,236 --> 00:39:12,916 Speaker 3: It was like sixty people, and I was still. 633 00:39:12,916 --> 00:39:14,956 Speaker 2: Saying those crowds in South America. 634 00:39:15,276 --> 00:39:20,076 Speaker 3: Yeah, but till this day, I'm like, dude, this fucking happened. 635 00:39:20,156 --> 00:39:23,396 Speaker 2: Man, who does that happen for? I mean, do you 636 00:39:23,396 --> 00:39:24,756 Speaker 2: know how many people have that dream? 637 00:39:24,956 --> 00:39:25,756 Speaker 3: Yeah? You know what? 638 00:39:26,076 --> 00:39:29,556 Speaker 2: But that's crazy? Like how what was your parents' reaction 639 00:39:29,676 --> 00:39:30,396 Speaker 2: to your success? 640 00:39:31,756 --> 00:39:34,076 Speaker 3: They'll tell you the same thing. They'll say, he was 641 00:39:34,116 --> 00:39:36,796 Speaker 3: always into this, he was always saying he's gonna do it, 642 00:39:37,356 --> 00:39:41,356 Speaker 3: and and they're obviously when you're like fourteen years old 643 00:39:41,356 --> 00:39:44,196 Speaker 3: and you're telling and you're dropping out of high school 644 00:39:44,236 --> 00:39:47,356 Speaker 3: and you're failing all your classes, and you know, you 645 00:39:47,436 --> 00:39:50,316 Speaker 3: run with a crowd that's like you know, fighting and 646 00:39:50,356 --> 00:39:53,556 Speaker 3: all this shit your parents and you're telling your mom, 647 00:39:53,716 --> 00:39:56,636 Speaker 3: I'm going to be a musician. And these are two 648 00:39:56,836 --> 00:40:00,236 Speaker 3: artists that are have been struggling artists their whole lives, 649 00:40:00,236 --> 00:40:03,396 Speaker 3: so they know what the artist life is, right. Yeah, 650 00:40:03,476 --> 00:40:07,316 Speaker 3: Oh they were worried. And it's funny because me and 651 00:40:07,356 --> 00:40:09,596 Speaker 3: my mom talked about this just two or three days ago. 652 00:40:09,716 --> 00:40:14,396 Speaker 3: She's like, at some point, she told me, I realized 653 00:40:14,756 --> 00:40:19,116 Speaker 3: that this is what you want, this is what this 654 00:40:19,196 --> 00:40:25,236 Speaker 3: is what you are. And she said I would be 655 00:40:25,236 --> 00:40:28,356 Speaker 3: be like she's you know, she's religious in some ways. 656 00:40:28,716 --> 00:40:30,796 Speaker 3: She said, like I felt like I would be like 657 00:40:30,996 --> 00:40:35,836 Speaker 3: sinning if if I stood in your way. Yeah, what 658 00:40:36,716 --> 00:40:40,956 Speaker 3: you felt like this was your calling in life, you know. 659 00:40:41,756 --> 00:40:45,036 Speaker 3: And so she's like, at some point I just let 660 00:40:45,076 --> 00:40:47,956 Speaker 3: it go and I and I supported, and she did. 661 00:40:47,956 --> 00:40:50,036 Speaker 3: I wouldn't be here today without my mom's support. 662 00:40:50,596 --> 00:40:51,396 Speaker 2: She's a good mom. 663 00:40:51,676 --> 00:40:55,956 Speaker 3: Oh, she's she's amazing. I owe her everything, like she 664 00:40:56,036 --> 00:41:01,276 Speaker 3: would give me. I didn't have a job, i'd have shit. 665 00:41:01,756 --> 00:41:06,356 Speaker 3: And when I was sixteen, I started playing in bands 666 00:41:06,356 --> 00:41:10,196 Speaker 3: that we needed rehearsal studios, you know, and I would 667 00:41:10,236 --> 00:41:13,516 Speaker 3: have to ask her and we weren't rich, but she 668 00:41:13,556 --> 00:41:18,836 Speaker 3: would give me rehearsal studio rent every month so I 669 00:41:18,876 --> 00:41:23,116 Speaker 3: can do what I do She knew that I loved music, 670 00:41:23,196 --> 00:41:25,956 Speaker 3: so she would let me take her credit card and 671 00:41:26,116 --> 00:41:29,876 Speaker 3: go to the record store and buy me records because 672 00:41:29,916 --> 00:41:31,476 Speaker 3: she knows that all I did was sit in my 673 00:41:31,556 --> 00:41:35,156 Speaker 3: room and listen to record yeah yeah, And she supported 674 00:41:35,196 --> 00:41:40,076 Speaker 3: that man and so so watching my dad as an 675 00:41:40,196 --> 00:41:43,956 Speaker 3: artist shape me in one way. But my mother's support 676 00:41:44,836 --> 00:41:52,196 Speaker 3: is like priceless, especially their Armenian Armenians, you know. And 677 00:41:52,236 --> 00:41:54,836 Speaker 3: then at some point I started painting my hair fucking 678 00:41:54,916 --> 00:41:57,916 Speaker 3: pink and when nail and all this fucking shit. These 679 00:41:57,916 --> 00:42:01,436 Speaker 3: people are from Iraq, you know, like that. 680 00:42:01,356 --> 00:42:06,036 Speaker 2: Takes guts on your part. Though I was, you know. 681 00:42:06,076 --> 00:42:09,076 Speaker 3: As an Armenian guy. There was and even my friends 682 00:42:09,156 --> 00:42:11,836 Speaker 3: they didn't look like that. They did interest yeah that 683 00:42:11,996 --> 00:42:15,556 Speaker 3: so yeah, I mean I just it felt natural to me. 684 00:42:15,636 --> 00:42:18,596 Speaker 3: It felt right, you know. The music I was listening 685 00:42:18,636 --> 00:42:22,516 Speaker 3: to at the time was like, you know, in my 686 00:42:22,676 --> 00:42:26,036 Speaker 3: eighteen nineteen twenty twenty, I was like loving a lot 687 00:42:26,036 --> 00:42:30,156 Speaker 3: of god like alien sex been and you know, when 688 00:42:30,156 --> 00:42:32,076 Speaker 3: you're young, you're kind of looking at people, you know, 689 00:42:32,316 --> 00:42:34,916 Speaker 3: I like that style. I like that. So that style 690 00:42:34,956 --> 00:42:36,916 Speaker 3: and that style and that style kind of together and 691 00:42:36,956 --> 00:42:39,716 Speaker 3: make my own little style. Do the same with the 692 00:42:39,756 --> 00:42:41,836 Speaker 3: songs I write, you know, I take you know, I 693 00:42:41,956 --> 00:42:42,156 Speaker 3: like that. 694 00:42:42,676 --> 00:42:46,276 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, it's like a pastiche. 695 00:42:46,436 --> 00:42:52,236 Speaker 3: I think the bands that do something unique do that. 696 00:42:52,996 --> 00:42:53,276 Speaker 2: Yeah. 697 00:42:53,556 --> 00:42:58,196 Speaker 3: Oh, even if you listen to like Van Halen, for example, 698 00:42:59,276 --> 00:43:01,956 Speaker 3: you know, you're yeah, it's rock, it's shredding, but like 699 00:43:02,076 --> 00:43:08,796 Speaker 3: David Lee Roth's vocals are not your typical fucking rocky 700 00:43:09,556 --> 00:43:11,596 Speaker 3: you know. He brought in a lot of different kinds 701 00:43:11,636 --> 00:43:13,836 Speaker 3: of things in that style, and. 702 00:43:13,756 --> 00:43:15,716 Speaker 2: That's part of the reason they're so good. 703 00:43:15,996 --> 00:43:18,836 Speaker 3: Yeah. They So you messed this, meshed, that messed it, 704 00:43:18,836 --> 00:43:21,876 Speaker 3: and you make this new thing because everything is inspired 705 00:43:21,916 --> 00:43:22,596 Speaker 3: by something. 706 00:43:22,836 --> 00:43:22,996 Speaker 2: Yea. 707 00:43:23,356 --> 00:43:27,636 Speaker 3: It's the bands that copy that are kind of like, okay, 708 00:43:27,676 --> 00:43:31,596 Speaker 3: I could tell you listen to Tool because sound like Tool, 709 00:43:32,116 --> 00:43:35,476 Speaker 3: you know. Yeah. But the bands that kind of bring 710 00:43:36,516 --> 00:43:41,596 Speaker 3: their influences in worlds together and create this new thing 711 00:43:42,076 --> 00:43:46,596 Speaker 3: and you're like, well that sounds familiar, but that mixed 712 00:43:46,636 --> 00:43:49,116 Speaker 3: with that, I never heard that before, and so you 713 00:43:49,196 --> 00:43:51,196 Speaker 3: make some new thing with that. 714 00:43:51,196 --> 00:43:54,396 Speaker 2: That's exactly what System was. It was so new and 715 00:43:54,476 --> 00:43:55,116 Speaker 2: so different. 716 00:43:56,156 --> 00:43:59,876 Speaker 3: Yeah, and we all are very different people in System, 717 00:43:59,956 --> 00:44:02,996 Speaker 3: and I think that also kind of comes out, yeah, 718 00:44:03,436 --> 00:44:07,396 Speaker 3: in in this in the dynamic, in the band, Like, 719 00:44:08,076 --> 00:44:13,356 Speaker 3: it's the personality and our band are completely not Each 720 00:44:13,436 --> 00:44:15,276 Speaker 3: one of us is nothing like the other. 721 00:44:15,716 --> 00:44:18,956 Speaker 2: That first, I'm glad you guys are able to still 722 00:44:18,996 --> 00:44:21,516 Speaker 2: tour and still do what you're doing. And I know 723 00:44:21,596 --> 00:44:24,556 Speaker 2: fans are so appreciative of it. And you can see 724 00:44:24,556 --> 00:44:28,676 Speaker 2: that in those massive crowds in South America. That was 725 00:44:29,076 --> 00:44:31,476 Speaker 2: what was that experience for you, Like being on stage 726 00:44:31,476 --> 00:44:32,196 Speaker 2: with those crowds. 727 00:44:32,796 --> 00:44:38,236 Speaker 3: The response was going to South America. You're always like, dude, 728 00:44:38,276 --> 00:44:40,916 Speaker 3: those are probably the best fans in the world. I 729 00:44:40,916 --> 00:44:45,956 Speaker 3: mean the way they are so passionate. Yeah, So before 730 00:44:45,996 --> 00:44:49,036 Speaker 3: I went there, I would always tell everyone, like, dude, 731 00:44:49,436 --> 00:44:52,276 Speaker 3: I'm going from this quiet life to like that. And 732 00:44:52,516 --> 00:44:55,036 Speaker 3: and when it comes to like there is like two 733 00:44:55,156 --> 00:44:59,116 Speaker 3: hundred and three hundred people outside the hotel room. Really 734 00:44:59,196 --> 00:45:01,036 Speaker 3: like it was the second you stick your head out 735 00:45:01,036 --> 00:45:06,676 Speaker 3: of the window, it's like, you know, yeah, it's it's. 736 00:45:05,596 --> 00:45:07,356 Speaker 2: That's like the stuff you see from like Madonna and 737 00:45:07,356 --> 00:45:08,476 Speaker 2: Michael Jackson back in the. 738 00:45:08,516 --> 00:45:12,516 Speaker 3: Day, like that. It is it's like that. And uh, 739 00:45:13,156 --> 00:45:17,156 Speaker 3: but this time around, because we'd been there before, Yeah, 740 00:45:17,396 --> 00:45:20,036 Speaker 3: this time around the crowd so they would bring these 741 00:45:20,076 --> 00:45:22,916 Speaker 3: flares and it was a lot of them, so I 742 00:45:22,996 --> 00:45:26,116 Speaker 3: posted that and I posted, oh, check out the Pyro. 743 00:45:26,276 --> 00:45:29,276 Speaker 3: I wrote something like the Pyromaniacs in Peru or something 744 00:45:29,356 --> 00:45:32,556 Speaker 3: like that. But what in every show we did after that, 745 00:45:32,956 --> 00:45:37,036 Speaker 3: it was like the crowds started one upping each other 746 00:45:37,116 --> 00:45:40,076 Speaker 3: with the players and the fires, and then they started 747 00:45:40,076 --> 00:45:45,196 Speaker 3: they started seeing footage of people breathing fire into the thing. 748 00:45:45,516 --> 00:45:47,596 Speaker 3: So then I made it a thing where I was like, 749 00:45:47,956 --> 00:45:51,316 Speaker 3: because we never have Pyro on stage, So I turned 750 00:45:51,316 --> 00:45:53,996 Speaker 3: and said, if you notice that we don't have any 751 00:45:53,996 --> 00:45:57,476 Speaker 3: Pyron stage, but our fans they break the fire, you know. 752 00:46:00,116 --> 00:46:04,076 Speaker 3: And so by the time we got to that last 753 00:46:04,156 --> 00:46:08,116 Speaker 3: show in sal Paulo, it was it was a scene 754 00:46:08,116 --> 00:46:11,036 Speaker 3: that I never see that with my band or I 755 00:46:11,156 --> 00:46:13,436 Speaker 3: never seen that anyone else's band. 756 00:46:13,836 --> 00:46:15,356 Speaker 2: I've never seen a crowd that big. 757 00:46:16,236 --> 00:46:18,556 Speaker 3: I mean I've seen crowds that big. I just never 758 00:46:18,596 --> 00:46:19,796 Speaker 3: seen that much fire. 759 00:46:20,116 --> 00:46:23,996 Speaker 2: Yeah, the fire and then it's smoky too, so it 760 00:46:24,076 --> 00:46:28,036 Speaker 2: creates this like really spooky ambiance, like it's like you're 761 00:46:28,076 --> 00:46:28,476 Speaker 2: in hell. 762 00:46:29,196 --> 00:46:33,356 Speaker 4: But it's like, yeah, so I don't know, man, I mean, 763 00:46:34,596 --> 00:46:37,876 Speaker 4: you know, we haven't put out an album with the 764 00:46:38,036 --> 00:46:40,196 Speaker 4: System in so many years and for. 765 00:46:41,716 --> 00:46:44,676 Speaker 3: And it feels like it's in when I go outside 766 00:46:44,716 --> 00:46:48,556 Speaker 3: and I meet the fans, I'm not meeting people that 767 00:46:48,636 --> 00:46:51,756 Speaker 3: are my age. I'm meeting people that are eighteen wow 768 00:46:52,476 --> 00:46:59,116 Speaker 3: for thirty around that age where some of these people 769 00:46:59,116 --> 00:47:04,796 Speaker 3: were not even born when our last album came out. Crazy. 770 00:47:05,756 --> 00:47:11,156 Speaker 3: So the fact that the music has still you know, 771 00:47:11,276 --> 00:47:13,836 Speaker 3: it's it's still lived with people, and some people are 772 00:47:14,876 --> 00:47:19,196 Speaker 3: either rediscovering or just or just discovering it, you know, 773 00:47:19,556 --> 00:47:22,436 Speaker 3: I means it means a lot to me. Man. Obviously, 774 00:47:22,476 --> 00:47:25,556 Speaker 3: as someone like I told you before, like dreamt from 775 00:47:25,596 --> 00:47:28,956 Speaker 3: a really age to that you know, was this is 776 00:47:29,076 --> 00:47:31,316 Speaker 3: my life, this is what I'm going to do, and 777 00:47:31,316 --> 00:47:35,436 Speaker 3: and it's still happening. And I'm this many years in 778 00:47:35,716 --> 00:47:40,076 Speaker 3: and I have you know, I got two bands that 779 00:47:41,516 --> 00:47:45,276 Speaker 3: seem like you know, when when we get I get 780 00:47:45,316 --> 00:47:47,756 Speaker 3: I get a response, and we get a response with 781 00:47:47,836 --> 00:47:51,476 Speaker 3: these bands, and uh, it's still something that you know, 782 00:47:51,636 --> 00:47:53,796 Speaker 3: sometimes people who do it as long as I've been 783 00:47:53,836 --> 00:47:57,196 Speaker 3: doing it kind of be like, oh, yeah, that is 784 00:47:57,236 --> 00:47:59,476 Speaker 3: what it is. But it's not like that for me, man. 785 00:47:59,756 --> 00:48:04,276 Speaker 3: For me, I'm like, I still can't believe this is happening. Cool. 786 00:48:05,596 --> 00:48:07,796 Speaker 2: So when you do run into people and you have 787 00:48:08,276 --> 00:48:10,796 Speaker 2: more time to talk to them beyond like, hey, can 788 00:48:10,836 --> 00:48:15,076 Speaker 2: I get a picture? What are people asking you about System? 789 00:48:15,116 --> 00:48:16,876 Speaker 2: Like what's the most common thing people ask? 790 00:48:17,596 --> 00:48:19,516 Speaker 3: Well, when I meet them face to face like that, 791 00:48:19,596 --> 00:48:23,316 Speaker 3: they don't really ask me anything. There I mean South America, 792 00:48:23,356 --> 00:48:26,916 Speaker 3: they were shaking and crying wow. And so I'm like, 793 00:48:27,596 --> 00:48:29,676 Speaker 3: I always have to be kind of like, you know, 794 00:48:30,076 --> 00:48:34,436 Speaker 3: I try to ask like what's your name? Personal, make 795 00:48:34,476 --> 00:48:38,756 Speaker 3: them realize that I'm a human being. Likes I'm like, 796 00:48:38,876 --> 00:48:42,236 Speaker 3: this feels like I'm some cartoon character you know that 797 00:48:42,396 --> 00:48:45,276 Speaker 3: came in front of their eyes, just you know, try 798 00:48:45,316 --> 00:48:48,156 Speaker 3: to put them at ease, show them I appreciate them. 799 00:48:49,156 --> 00:48:52,396 Speaker 3: But obviously the question that comes the most when it 800 00:48:52,476 --> 00:48:56,756 Speaker 3: comes to System is like, well, you guys going to 801 00:48:56,796 --> 00:48:59,756 Speaker 3: make another album and you know all that stuff, And 802 00:49:00,036 --> 00:49:05,716 Speaker 3: for now, I'm happy we got those albums. Like I said, 803 00:49:05,756 --> 00:49:09,836 Speaker 3: people have just discovered it. People rediscovered it, or people 804 00:49:09,916 --> 00:49:11,996 Speaker 3: have lived with it and it's become the fabric of 805 00:49:12,036 --> 00:49:17,956 Speaker 3: some of their lives and that's cool, man. And so 806 00:49:18,076 --> 00:49:22,396 Speaker 3: I don't really entertain the whole Like if you've talked 807 00:49:22,396 --> 00:49:24,316 Speaker 3: to me maybe like ten years ago, I might have 808 00:49:24,676 --> 00:49:27,156 Speaker 3: like a little bit more like, oh, I wish wish 809 00:49:27,196 --> 00:49:30,356 Speaker 3: it maybe, Yeah, how much time has passed. I'm kind 810 00:49:30,356 --> 00:49:34,676 Speaker 3: of like, I don't know. I mean, if it happens, 811 00:49:34,716 --> 00:49:38,676 Speaker 3: it happens. I'm not really pushing for it so much. Yeah. 812 00:49:38,876 --> 00:49:44,036 Speaker 3: The thing is, we really get along as as friends, 813 00:49:44,596 --> 00:49:50,276 Speaker 3: and we always have as friends. But then when banned 814 00:49:50,356 --> 00:49:55,716 Speaker 3: politics comes into the thing, that's when the resentments come 815 00:49:55,756 --> 00:49:58,916 Speaker 3: in and all this shit comes in, and we're kind 816 00:49:58,916 --> 00:50:03,116 Speaker 3: of like hanging out again as a band, which we 817 00:50:03,196 --> 00:50:06,356 Speaker 3: hadn't done. You know, Sarah and I hadn't really hung 818 00:50:06,396 --> 00:50:11,356 Speaker 3: out that much in the last quite some time. But 819 00:50:11,756 --> 00:50:14,756 Speaker 3: the se and I text each other and I see 820 00:50:14,796 --> 00:50:19,076 Speaker 3: each other serge and I feel friendly and friends and 821 00:50:19,756 --> 00:50:22,476 Speaker 3: have kind of reconnected that And I don't know, I 822 00:50:22,476 --> 00:50:25,596 Speaker 3: don't want something. I'm enjoying that. 823 00:50:25,996 --> 00:50:27,876 Speaker 2: So that must feel so good. 824 00:50:28,116 --> 00:50:30,996 Speaker 3: It does because I never hated any one of my 825 00:50:31,116 --> 00:50:34,796 Speaker 3: band members. You know, we each had certain issues with 826 00:50:34,876 --> 00:50:38,436 Speaker 3: each other within the band, but take the fan out 827 00:50:38,436 --> 00:50:41,516 Speaker 3: of the situation, I think we all really like each 828 00:50:41,516 --> 00:50:44,796 Speaker 3: other as people and as friends. Yeah, that's why it's 829 00:50:44,796 --> 00:50:48,596 Speaker 3: like it call some bands stay together and make records together, 830 00:50:48,676 --> 00:50:51,596 Speaker 3: but they can't stand each other through all the years. 831 00:50:51,716 --> 00:50:55,836 Speaker 3: We don't have that like, we've never been the guys 832 00:50:55,876 --> 00:50:57,316 Speaker 3: that were like, well, I can't be in the same 833 00:50:57,396 --> 00:51:00,276 Speaker 3: room with that guy. Yeah, it's never been that way 834 00:51:00,316 --> 00:51:03,636 Speaker 3: with System, And I think fans need to hear that, 835 00:51:03,716 --> 00:51:08,436 Speaker 3: because fans think that Sarage and I hate each other 836 00:51:09,276 --> 00:51:12,316 Speaker 3: and they pick sides. They're like, I'm on team Sarage 837 00:51:12,356 --> 00:51:15,156 Speaker 3: and I'm on team Darren, and it's like, you guys 838 00:51:15,196 --> 00:51:20,076 Speaker 3: don't realize that we love each other, Like we we 839 00:51:20,116 --> 00:51:22,556 Speaker 3: don't hate each other. You guys don't need to get 840 00:51:22,596 --> 00:51:25,156 Speaker 3: on teams. You guys like us both. 841 00:51:25,796 --> 00:51:29,716 Speaker 2: Yeah, they love conflict and it. 842 00:51:29,596 --> 00:51:33,156 Speaker 3: Becomes the That's the sad thing for me is because 843 00:51:33,756 --> 00:51:38,516 Speaker 3: it becomes clickbait and it becomes all this crap and 844 00:51:38,556 --> 00:51:42,596 Speaker 3: I'm like, it's not really showing an accurate picture of 845 00:51:43,676 --> 00:51:46,596 Speaker 3: what we're really like and how we really feel about 846 00:51:46,596 --> 00:51:47,036 Speaker 3: each other. 847 00:51:47,236 --> 00:51:49,676 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, I'm happy to hear that. I'm happy there's 848 00:51:49,796 --> 00:51:53,956 Speaker 2: love there and that you're reconnecting. And I don't know 849 00:51:54,076 --> 00:51:56,276 Speaker 2: that sounds like a step in the right direction. Maybe 850 00:51:56,276 --> 00:51:59,036 Speaker 2: something will happen. If it doesn't, it doesn't, I mean, 851 00:51:59,076 --> 00:52:02,556 Speaker 2: you have your you haven't a whole nother outlet, and 852 00:52:03,076 --> 00:52:04,076 Speaker 2: you know you've made do. 853 00:52:05,516 --> 00:52:08,996 Speaker 3: Yeah. And another thing is when there's so much of 854 00:52:09,276 --> 00:52:14,076 Speaker 3: a gap between that last record and then something if 855 00:52:14,076 --> 00:52:17,876 Speaker 3: we it just for me, I like to see evolution, 856 00:52:18,196 --> 00:52:24,476 Speaker 3: and when we stopped, Scars became my new evolution with 857 00:52:24,676 --> 00:52:29,076 Speaker 3: my writing, and those albums will be those albums, and 858 00:52:29,116 --> 00:52:32,916 Speaker 3: they've lived with people for such a long time that 859 00:52:34,156 --> 00:52:36,356 Speaker 3: anything we do it feels like it might even be 860 00:52:36,636 --> 00:52:39,836 Speaker 3: criticized and be like, well it's not as good. Well, 861 00:52:40,436 --> 00:52:41,516 Speaker 3: different times. 862 00:52:41,196 --> 00:52:43,396 Speaker 2: It's going to be compared, for sure, Like. 863 00:52:43,716 --> 00:52:49,236 Speaker 3: There's something nostalgic about the old stuff, and you can't 864 00:52:49,236 --> 00:52:50,996 Speaker 3: fuck with nostalgia at the time. 865 00:52:51,756 --> 00:52:54,476 Speaker 2: No, I know, it means so much to so many people. 866 00:52:55,316 --> 00:52:58,876 Speaker 3: Years have gone by and years of people living with that, 867 00:52:58,996 --> 00:53:04,996 Speaker 3: and so you can't just make up years that that's 868 00:53:05,036 --> 00:53:09,436 Speaker 3: something that is just organic and the natural way that 869 00:53:09,556 --> 00:53:10,676 Speaker 3: things moved, you know. 870 00:53:11,316 --> 00:53:13,756 Speaker 2: Yeah, but you guys have always been so authentic, Like 871 00:53:13,916 --> 00:53:16,276 Speaker 2: whatever comes out will be authentic. 872 00:53:16,636 --> 00:53:20,156 Speaker 3: I'm not saying it would suck. Yeah, really fucking good, 873 00:53:20,356 --> 00:53:23,316 Speaker 3: it might be. I have so many songs that if 874 00:53:23,556 --> 00:53:26,996 Speaker 3: the band wants to do that, yeah, I have music 875 00:53:27,036 --> 00:53:30,396 Speaker 3: that I already know would be on that that's not 876 00:53:30,516 --> 00:53:32,716 Speaker 3: going to happen. I will take that music and put 877 00:53:32,756 --> 00:53:37,796 Speaker 3: it onto a Scars record, and the two songs that 878 00:53:37,876 --> 00:53:42,436 Speaker 3: we did a few years ago, protect the Land, well, 879 00:53:42,436 --> 00:53:44,916 Speaker 3: Protect the Land was supposed to be on Addicted to 880 00:53:44,956 --> 00:53:50,716 Speaker 3: the Violence, but because there was the war in arts off, yeah, 881 00:53:50,756 --> 00:53:52,836 Speaker 3: and we wanted to say something because we had a 882 00:53:52,876 --> 00:53:55,716 Speaker 3: platform and nobody was talking about it. So we all 883 00:53:55,756 --> 00:53:57,716 Speaker 3: out on the phone and we're like, well, maybe we 884 00:53:57,716 --> 00:54:00,236 Speaker 3: should release two songs. And I was like, I have 885 00:54:00,276 --> 00:54:04,316 Speaker 3: a song that's about that, like and I didn't even 886 00:54:04,596 --> 00:54:07,196 Speaker 3: and I wrote that song before the conflict happened. It's 887 00:54:07,236 --> 00:54:13,596 Speaker 3: just weird. Yeah, that is weird and so uh out. 888 00:54:13,796 --> 00:54:16,196 Speaker 3: And so I was kind of like willing, like, okay, 889 00:54:16,196 --> 00:54:19,716 Speaker 3: I'll take that song off the Scars record, And well, 890 00:54:19,836 --> 00:54:23,276 Speaker 3: we had it recorded. I had all my vocals on 891 00:54:23,436 --> 00:54:28,356 Speaker 3: that song are from my Scars recording. We just had 892 00:54:28,516 --> 00:54:31,676 Speaker 3: John play the drums and Shallo play the bass and 893 00:54:31,756 --> 00:54:35,396 Speaker 3: Sarah's kind of sang with me. But my vocals from 894 00:54:35,436 --> 00:54:39,716 Speaker 3: that track are all from my Scars session. So the 895 00:54:39,836 --> 00:54:44,476 Speaker 3: song was pretty pretty much the same, yeah, except we 896 00:54:44,676 --> 00:54:50,276 Speaker 3: brought in different people to perform it. Yeah, you know, 897 00:54:50,436 --> 00:54:52,396 Speaker 3: I'm proud of that. It's cool that we did that. 898 00:54:52,596 --> 00:54:55,436 Speaker 3: But if I didn't take that to System. It would 899 00:54:55,436 --> 00:54:58,836 Speaker 3: have been a SCAR song. If Mesmerized and Hypnotize never 900 00:54:58,996 --> 00:55:04,276 Speaker 3: became System Records Lost in Hollywood Lonely Day maybe, I 901 00:55:04,356 --> 00:55:06,956 Speaker 3: mean by all of that shit would have been Scar stuff. 902 00:55:07,836 --> 00:55:10,676 Speaker 2: I wanted to ask you, speaking of of those albums, 903 00:55:10,716 --> 00:55:15,596 Speaker 2: I want to ask you about Soldier Side Yep. Was 904 00:55:15,596 --> 00:55:17,956 Speaker 2: there a read that's such a beautiful song? Was there 905 00:55:17,956 --> 00:55:20,996 Speaker 2: a reason you put that just thinking about the track list? 906 00:55:20,996 --> 00:55:22,876 Speaker 2: Was there a reason you put that as the last song? 907 00:55:24,356 --> 00:55:27,156 Speaker 3: Well, the intro of Soldier Side comes in in the 908 00:55:27,196 --> 00:55:31,156 Speaker 3: beginning of Mesmeriz and then the rest of the song 909 00:55:31,356 --> 00:55:34,956 Speaker 3: is the last song. We didn't know that it was 910 00:55:35,036 --> 00:55:37,236 Speaker 3: gonna be a double album when we were in there 911 00:55:38,436 --> 00:55:41,436 Speaker 3: recording the songs. Neither, and I didn't know that when 912 00:55:41,476 --> 00:55:43,876 Speaker 3: I was writing the songs. The thing with me is 913 00:55:43,996 --> 00:55:50,596 Speaker 3: I always brought in a lot of songs. Yeah, Toxicity 914 00:55:51,836 --> 00:55:54,356 Speaker 3: had Toxicity, but then we had steal this album. But 915 00:55:54,396 --> 00:55:57,356 Speaker 3: all the steal this album stuff was from Toxicity sessions. 916 00:55:57,596 --> 00:55:59,596 Speaker 3: And that's just because I would just bring in so 917 00:55:59,756 --> 00:56:04,276 Speaker 3: many songs, because for me, I was like just writing 918 00:56:04,396 --> 00:56:10,836 Speaker 3: like crazy focused and here guys, and and uh, let's 919 00:56:10,876 --> 00:56:15,596 Speaker 3: pick the best ones. You know. Yeah, And so same 920 00:56:15,636 --> 00:56:19,356 Speaker 3: with Mesmerise Hypnotize. I came into like thirty songs or more. 921 00:56:20,116 --> 00:56:22,236 Speaker 3: We still have stuff that we hadn't even haven't even 922 00:56:22,276 --> 00:56:25,676 Speaker 3: released off Mesmeriz and Hypnotized, and nobody's heard that. We 923 00:56:25,756 --> 00:56:27,676 Speaker 3: listen back to and were like, shit, we forgot we 924 00:56:27,716 --> 00:56:33,516 Speaker 3: had this. Uh, well there you go. 925 00:56:33,636 --> 00:56:36,236 Speaker 2: You got a little at least an EP. Maybe put 926 00:56:36,236 --> 00:56:37,716 Speaker 2: that out. 927 00:56:38,596 --> 00:56:43,676 Speaker 3: That's peak System, We'll see it's some of it. I 928 00:56:43,836 --> 00:56:48,396 Speaker 3: felt like just wasn't good enough to be on the record, 929 00:56:48,676 --> 00:56:51,636 Speaker 3: you know, yeah, you know. What we did with Steal 930 00:56:51,676 --> 00:56:56,676 Speaker 3: this album was those songs we felt like weren't as 931 00:56:56,756 --> 00:57:01,276 Speaker 3: good as maybe the ones on Toxicity, but then somebody 932 00:57:01,396 --> 00:57:04,316 Speaker 3: leaked them and they were leaked in a way that 933 00:57:04,356 --> 00:57:06,076 Speaker 3: we're like, well, we didn't want them that So what 934 00:57:06,116 --> 00:57:08,836 Speaker 3: we did was go back in the studio and make 935 00:57:08,916 --> 00:57:12,276 Speaker 3: them as good as what should have been on Toxicity. 936 00:57:12,316 --> 00:57:15,516 Speaker 3: So we rearranged. We did that, so if we ever 937 00:57:15,636 --> 00:57:18,716 Speaker 3: did that with the Mesmerize, and that's something we would 938 00:57:18,716 --> 00:57:21,316 Speaker 3: have to do with those songs as well, because there's 939 00:57:21,356 --> 00:57:24,836 Speaker 3: something I don't know. I look at him and I'm like, ah, 940 00:57:24,876 --> 00:57:27,116 Speaker 3: this could be better. That could be better. So they 941 00:57:27,196 --> 00:57:31,236 Speaker 3: need to be redone that's ever gonna happen. But going 942 00:57:31,316 --> 00:57:35,636 Speaker 3: back to the Soldier Side thing, so we had the 943 00:57:36,156 --> 00:57:40,316 Speaker 3: thought of it making a double album came up along 944 00:57:40,356 --> 00:57:45,076 Speaker 3: the way, and so in my head, I was like, 945 00:57:46,676 --> 00:57:52,996 Speaker 3: why don't we use the intro portion of Soldier Side 946 00:57:53,036 --> 00:57:56,876 Speaker 3: as the intro for Mesmerized and then end the album 947 00:57:56,916 --> 00:58:01,916 Speaker 3: with the song and it yeah, yeah, yeah, So if 948 00:58:01,996 --> 00:58:06,356 Speaker 3: you've heard both records and then you hypnotize and that 949 00:58:06,476 --> 00:58:09,396 Speaker 3: comes back at the end the way it starts already 950 00:58:09,436 --> 00:58:14,276 Speaker 3: in the beginning, it just book ended both of the 951 00:58:14,356 --> 00:58:17,876 Speaker 3: records and a kind of creative in a very If 952 00:58:17,956 --> 00:58:20,836 Speaker 3: I was a listener, I would be like, wow, that 953 00:58:22,316 --> 00:58:25,236 Speaker 3: just came back from that, like you know, And and 954 00:58:25,276 --> 00:58:29,516 Speaker 3: the records were also not released together. There was months 955 00:58:29,596 --> 00:58:32,876 Speaker 3: or I don't remember how Yeah, they were apart. So 956 00:58:34,076 --> 00:58:37,436 Speaker 3: I just thought it was just this cool emotional thing 957 00:58:37,516 --> 00:58:41,596 Speaker 3: that would happen to the listener. Yes, if they if 958 00:58:41,636 --> 00:58:44,276 Speaker 3: it all comes back at the way end of the 959 00:58:44,316 --> 00:58:45,396 Speaker 3: second one. You know. 960 00:58:45,516 --> 00:58:48,436 Speaker 2: I love when artists are thoughtful like that, you know, 961 00:58:48,516 --> 00:58:51,956 Speaker 2: because there are a lot of listeners who appreciate that, well. 962 00:58:51,956 --> 00:58:54,676 Speaker 3: You're creating a painting at the end of the day, 963 00:58:54,716 --> 00:58:57,836 Speaker 3: and once again going back to my dad, and now 964 00:58:58,356 --> 00:59:02,236 Speaker 3: I see records and how I see albums. You're creating 965 00:59:02,276 --> 00:59:07,236 Speaker 3: this work. It's not just okay, individual songs, but it's this. 966 00:59:08,156 --> 00:59:11,036 Speaker 3: It's an album. And I know people nowadays don't have 967 00:59:11,076 --> 00:59:14,316 Speaker 3: attention spans on, but I still make albums like I 968 00:59:14,436 --> 00:59:18,196 Speaker 3: want the album to flow song into song into song, 969 00:59:18,276 --> 00:59:20,636 Speaker 3: and there's a reason why I ended it that way. 970 00:59:20,716 --> 00:59:23,916 Speaker 3: Like Addicted to the Violence is the last song, the 971 00:59:23,996 --> 00:59:26,996 Speaker 3: final track, but it's the last song on the record, 972 00:59:27,396 --> 00:59:29,996 Speaker 3: and it's this really kind of for me. The song 973 00:59:30,196 --> 00:59:35,076 Speaker 3: has this epic the keyboards and the mood, but the 974 00:59:35,156 --> 00:59:40,796 Speaker 3: way the song ends and it just goes bone and 975 00:59:40,836 --> 00:59:42,596 Speaker 3: it reminds me of like the day in the Life 976 00:59:42,636 --> 00:59:45,516 Speaker 3: of the Beatles, where it just kind of ends and 977 00:59:45,876 --> 00:59:50,556 Speaker 3: it feels like an ending, like duh yeah, And I 978 00:59:50,596 --> 00:59:54,476 Speaker 3: wanted the album to end with that vibe it felt. 979 00:59:55,596 --> 00:59:57,796 Speaker 3: I don't know that that's just the picture I wanted 980 00:59:57,796 --> 00:59:58,516 Speaker 3: to paint, you know. 981 00:59:58,716 --> 01:00:02,276 Speaker 2: Yeah, No, that's cool. Who We've been thinking about this 982 01:00:02,476 --> 01:00:05,436 Speaker 2: just at Broken Record, talking to other people I work with, 983 01:00:05,876 --> 01:00:08,476 Speaker 2: And this is a random question, but curious where you'll 984 01:00:08,476 --> 01:00:13,156 Speaker 2: go with it. Who do you think are the best 985 01:00:13,556 --> 01:00:17,356 Speaker 2: Like the five best American bands. 986 01:00:17,516 --> 01:00:25,076 Speaker 3: Jesus van Halen. For me, I I love van Halen 987 01:00:25,876 --> 01:00:29,236 Speaker 3: and it ain't because like, it ain't because my favorite 988 01:00:29,236 --> 01:00:31,796 Speaker 3: part of van Halen is Alex and Dave to me, 989 01:00:32,356 --> 01:00:35,636 Speaker 3: and that's weird coming from a guitar player. Yeah, I 990 01:00:35,676 --> 01:00:38,756 Speaker 3: love Alex van Halen like I'm a huge fan of 991 01:00:38,796 --> 01:00:42,796 Speaker 3: his drumming, uh and David Lee Roth as a vocalist. 992 01:00:42,916 --> 01:00:46,916 Speaker 3: And it's just to me, it's such a complete It's 993 01:00:46,956 --> 01:00:50,796 Speaker 3: what like a great rock band should be. Is that 994 01:00:51,116 --> 01:00:53,876 Speaker 3: energy of the first all the David Lee Roth stuff, 995 01:00:53,916 --> 01:00:59,276 Speaker 3: you know, pick but then you know Grateful Dead. I 996 01:00:59,316 --> 01:01:03,956 Speaker 3: love the Grateful Dead. Uh shit. And even people ask 997 01:01:04,036 --> 01:01:06,956 Speaker 3: me questions like this, I always walk away and I'm like, shit, 998 01:01:07,036 --> 01:01:08,276 Speaker 3: I should have mentioned that guy. 999 01:01:08,356 --> 01:01:09,956 Speaker 2: Yeah, I know. It's it's hard to be put on 1000 01:01:09,996 --> 01:01:13,676 Speaker 2: the spot. But it's also kind of like, yeah, it's 1001 01:01:13,716 --> 01:01:15,676 Speaker 2: an interesting thing because a lot of you go to 1002 01:01:15,756 --> 01:01:18,836 Speaker 2: like British bands usually, but American is a whole different thing. 1003 01:01:20,236 --> 01:01:25,356 Speaker 3: Yeah. Fuck man, I didn't expect the questions. 1004 01:01:24,876 --> 01:01:27,516 Speaker 2: So I no, no. And then you could think, like, 1005 01:01:27,756 --> 01:01:30,156 Speaker 2: you know, do the Beach Boys count? 1006 01:01:30,476 --> 01:01:34,276 Speaker 3: Oh? Yes, thank you, I don't know do they they do? Yes? 1007 01:01:34,316 --> 01:01:34,716 Speaker 3: They do. 1008 01:01:34,796 --> 01:01:39,076 Speaker 2: Okay, so the Beach Boys, and then what about newer bands? 1009 01:01:40,316 --> 01:01:43,956 Speaker 2: Does Nirvana? Is Nirvana one of the best guns and roses? 1010 01:01:45,396 --> 01:01:47,476 Speaker 2: You know, there's so many places you can go with it, 1011 01:01:47,756 --> 01:01:51,596 Speaker 2: Sly in the family Stone, Yeah, Earth Wind and Fire 1012 01:01:51,756 --> 01:01:52,516 Speaker 2: do they count? 1013 01:01:54,036 --> 01:01:57,596 Speaker 3: Yeah? All count? Yeah? I mentioned there is good stuff. 1014 01:01:57,676 --> 01:02:01,156 Speaker 3: It's great. But you know, everyone has their taste on 1015 01:02:01,396 --> 01:02:03,676 Speaker 3: you know, who they think is the best. Like, you know, 1016 01:02:03,756 --> 01:02:07,916 Speaker 3: Nirvana was a great band, but yeah, impact me as 1017 01:02:07,996 --> 01:02:10,996 Speaker 3: much as you know some other people. Man, you know, 1018 01:02:11,156 --> 01:02:14,116 Speaker 3: I don't know. Did you love great you know? 1019 01:02:14,236 --> 01:02:16,716 Speaker 2: But yeah, do you go to dead shows? Did you 1020 01:02:16,796 --> 01:02:18,116 Speaker 2: used to go to dead shows? 1021 01:02:18,596 --> 01:02:21,036 Speaker 3: Not a lot. I wasn't like following them, but I would. 1022 01:02:21,116 --> 01:02:25,036 Speaker 3: I saw them at the La Sports Arena when Jerry 1023 01:02:25,076 --> 01:02:28,836 Speaker 3: Garcia was still alive and I was on mushrooms, so 1024 01:02:28,916 --> 01:02:29,716 Speaker 3: it was really good. 1025 01:02:31,316 --> 01:02:33,916 Speaker 2: They're so good. They're just like a good band to 1026 01:02:33,916 --> 01:02:36,916 Speaker 2: have just playing in the house like throughout the day. 1027 01:02:37,436 --> 01:02:41,196 Speaker 3: American Beauty is one of the just one of my 1028 01:02:41,276 --> 01:02:46,596 Speaker 3: favorite albums, man. Yeah, from up to Bottom is I 1029 01:02:46,636 --> 01:02:49,236 Speaker 3: know they're known as a jam band, but yeah, these 1030 01:02:49,476 --> 01:02:54,636 Speaker 3: songs on those records ripple yeah, Oxa. 1031 01:02:54,356 --> 01:02:57,956 Speaker 2: Ray Yeah, Oh I love that you love that. That's 1032 01:02:57,956 --> 01:02:59,636 Speaker 2: so nice. I wouldn't have expected that. 1033 01:03:00,596 --> 01:03:04,476 Speaker 3: Great, great songs, some of my favorite songs. But you 1034 01:03:04,516 --> 01:03:08,836 Speaker 3: said the Beach Boys, you know, early Beach Boys. I 1035 01:03:08,876 --> 01:03:12,596 Speaker 3: love of the twenty twenty album is such a good 1036 01:03:12,636 --> 01:03:18,076 Speaker 3: fucking album. I love it. I know Pet Sounds is 1037 01:03:18,196 --> 01:03:21,476 Speaker 3: the one that everyone talks about, But there's more to 1038 01:03:21,516 --> 01:03:26,356 Speaker 3: the Beach Boys than just Pet Sounds. Man. Yeah, local harmonies, Uh, 1039 01:03:27,436 --> 01:03:30,876 Speaker 3: I don't know. Great bands. I don't know the Everly 1040 01:03:30,996 --> 01:03:34,876 Speaker 3: Brothers considered as a band, I don't know. They inspired 1041 01:03:35,276 --> 01:03:40,356 Speaker 3: so many people like those, you know, Aside from bands, 1042 01:03:40,396 --> 01:03:44,196 Speaker 3: you have just a lot of individuals in American rock 1043 01:03:44,356 --> 01:03:48,236 Speaker 3: that you know. Obviously Elvis, Neil Neil Young. 1044 01:03:48,276 --> 01:03:49,476 Speaker 2: He's Canadian though. 1045 01:03:49,716 --> 01:03:51,916 Speaker 3: Oh okay, But when people ask me about some of 1046 01:03:51,956 --> 01:03:55,716 Speaker 3: my favorite guitar players, I always bring up Neil Young. Yeah, 1047 01:03:56,196 --> 01:03:59,396 Speaker 3: he's not a shredder, you know, he does his thing, 1048 01:03:59,556 --> 01:04:02,956 Speaker 3: but I love that thing. Oh, let's not forget the 1049 01:04:03,076 --> 01:04:04,156 Speaker 3: Ramones should be. 1050 01:04:04,196 --> 01:04:06,076 Speaker 2: Yeah, the Ramones are so awesome. 1051 01:04:06,716 --> 01:04:08,956 Speaker 3: Ramos definitely should be mentioned in. 1052 01:04:08,876 --> 01:04:11,116 Speaker 2: That They're so awesome. I love them. 1053 01:04:11,236 --> 01:04:15,636 Speaker 3: A lot of great punk bands, the Dead Boys, the Misfits, 1054 01:04:15,756 --> 01:04:20,116 Speaker 3: all American bands, Bad Brains, Yeah. 1055 01:04:20,356 --> 01:04:23,196 Speaker 2: Were you into like hardcore like New York City hardcore 1056 01:04:23,396 --> 01:04:25,396 Speaker 2: or the bands coming out of DC. Were you into 1057 01:04:25,436 --> 01:04:29,676 Speaker 2: that too, sure? Like Minor Threat, Yeah, like Fugazi and 1058 01:04:29,716 --> 01:04:35,036 Speaker 2: all that. Oh cool? Was there anything else you wanted 1059 01:04:35,076 --> 01:04:38,276 Speaker 2: to say or talk about with a new album that 1060 01:04:38,316 --> 01:04:38,916 Speaker 2: we didn't cover? 1061 01:04:40,276 --> 01:04:46,676 Speaker 3: You know, it's just I don't put out albums a lot, 1062 01:04:46,836 --> 01:04:50,676 Speaker 3: but when I do, it's something I really believe in. Like, 1063 01:04:50,796 --> 01:04:55,556 Speaker 3: for example, if ten years down the line people ask me, well, 1064 01:04:55,556 --> 01:04:57,756 Speaker 3: what are some of the most proudest moments you had 1065 01:04:57,756 --> 01:05:01,756 Speaker 3: as a songwriter, the song Addicted to the Violence will 1066 01:05:01,796 --> 01:05:06,196 Speaker 3: come up, just like Aerials or just like anything I've 1067 01:05:06,196 --> 01:05:09,036 Speaker 3: done with System, just like Babylon is one of the 1068 01:05:09,196 --> 01:05:15,236 Speaker 3: those songs. There's a song called Till the End on 1069 01:05:15,316 --> 01:05:19,676 Speaker 3: the second Scars record. These songs that I've had, these 1070 01:05:19,796 --> 01:05:24,556 Speaker 3: moments where I'm very kind of you know, you have 1071 01:05:24,596 --> 01:05:27,516 Speaker 3: a lot of children, but some of your children kind 1072 01:05:27,516 --> 01:05:31,276 Speaker 3: of you have this pride. I don't have any children, 1073 01:05:31,276 --> 01:05:35,916 Speaker 3: but I'm saying what I'm saying. People who have a 1074 01:05:35,916 --> 01:05:38,596 Speaker 3: lot of children, you know, you have some that you 1075 01:05:38,716 --> 01:05:42,436 Speaker 3: might be a little bit more proud of than So 1076 01:05:42,516 --> 01:05:47,276 Speaker 3: there's stuff on this record like Shame game or addicted 1077 01:05:47,316 --> 01:05:51,156 Speaker 3: to the violence, or it's just if you ask me 1078 01:05:51,756 --> 01:05:53,996 Speaker 3: ten years from now, I guarantee I will tell you 1079 01:05:54,036 --> 01:05:58,316 Speaker 3: that those songs will fall into the group of songs 1080 01:05:58,596 --> 01:06:05,196 Speaker 3: that I'm very very proud of in my history or 1081 01:06:05,236 --> 01:06:07,276 Speaker 3: in my you know, discography, or. 1082 01:06:09,236 --> 01:06:11,396 Speaker 2: That's awesome, it's awesome you can still do it, and 1083 01:06:11,436 --> 01:06:14,396 Speaker 2: that you still have this band and that you have 1084 01:06:15,476 --> 01:06:17,596 Speaker 2: you have so much pride in the new music that 1085 01:06:17,636 --> 01:06:18,156 Speaker 2: you're making. 1086 01:06:18,876 --> 01:06:20,676 Speaker 3: I wouldn't put it out if I didn't have that. 1087 01:06:20,916 --> 01:06:29,196 Speaker 3: I second guess myself constantly, and I'm very picky about 1088 01:06:29,236 --> 01:06:31,476 Speaker 3: what I put out there. Dude. I have a roll 1089 01:06:31,556 --> 01:06:39,116 Speaker 3: index of songs. I have albums worth of songs that 1090 01:06:39,196 --> 01:06:45,436 Speaker 3: I'm still tinkering with. Yeah, playing with people are like, well, 1091 01:06:45,476 --> 01:06:47,836 Speaker 3: it takes forever for you to take put out albums, 1092 01:06:47,836 --> 01:06:49,756 Speaker 3: and I'm like, well, when I put out an album, 1093 01:06:49,996 --> 01:06:51,356 Speaker 3: that album is forever. 1094 01:06:51,756 --> 01:06:52,836 Speaker 2: Yeah, No, that's real. 1095 01:06:53,436 --> 01:06:59,516 Speaker 3: So I will take forever to make sure that that 1096 01:06:59,796 --> 01:07:06,396 Speaker 3: song is finished. Or you know, if you're cooking food 1097 01:07:06,516 --> 01:07:10,476 Speaker 3: is ready to eat, Yeah, you know, it's it's not 1098 01:07:10,636 --> 01:07:15,596 Speaker 3: half baked, it's ready to god, it's ready to be absorbed. 1099 01:07:15,716 --> 01:07:20,076 Speaker 3: Taking it and and I make that decision. Yeah, I 1100 01:07:20,156 --> 01:07:23,036 Speaker 3: see it, and I see well, it's finished and it's 1101 01:07:23,076 --> 01:07:25,996 Speaker 3: ready to record, and if it takes me forever to 1102 01:07:26,076 --> 01:07:29,276 Speaker 3: do it, I will take forever to do it. To 1103 01:07:29,276 --> 01:07:31,676 Speaker 3: put out something that's going to be forever out there. 1104 01:07:32,556 --> 01:07:35,116 Speaker 2: Makes sense. Yeah, that makes sense. 1105 01:07:35,996 --> 01:07:36,276 Speaker 3: Cool. 1106 01:07:36,396 --> 01:07:38,916 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for your time. I appreciate you talking. 1107 01:07:39,596 --> 01:07:42,116 Speaker 3: It's yeah good. 1108 01:07:42,236 --> 01:07:47,316 Speaker 1: This an episode description, you'll find a link to a 1109 01:07:47,356 --> 01:07:49,876 Speaker 1: playlist of our favorite Scars on Broadway and System of 1110 01:07:49,876 --> 01:07:52,596 Speaker 1: a Down tracks, and also some of Darren's favorite black 1111 01:07:52,636 --> 01:07:55,476 Speaker 1: metal cuts. Be sure to check out YouTube dot com 1112 01:07:55,516 --> 01:07:58,676 Speaker 1: slash Broken Record podcast to see all our video interviews, 1113 01:07:58,996 --> 01:08:01,036 Speaker 1: and be sure to follow us on Instagram at the 1114 01:08:01,076 --> 01:08:04,156 Speaker 1: Broken Record Pod. You can follow us on Twitter at 1115 01:08:04,276 --> 01:08:08,316 Speaker 1: broken Record. Broken Record is produced and edited by Leah Rose, 1116 01:08:08,356 --> 01:08:11,476 Speaker 1: with marketing health from Eric Sandler and Jordan McMillan. Our 1117 01:08:11,556 --> 01:08:15,276 Speaker 1: engineer is Ben Tollinday. Broken Record is the production of 1118 01:08:15,396 --> 01:08:19,236 Speaker 1: Pushkin Industries. If you love this show and others from Pushkin, 1119 01:08:19,396 --> 01:08:23,676 Speaker 1: consider subscribing to Pushkin Plus. Pushkin Plus is a podcast 1120 01:08:23,676 --> 01:08:26,716 Speaker 1: subscription that offers bonus content and ad free listening for 1121 01:08:26,836 --> 01:08:30,116 Speaker 1: four ninety nine a month. Look for Pushkin Plus on 1122 01:08:30,156 --> 01:08:34,076 Speaker 1: Apple Podcast subscriptions, and if you like this show, please 1123 01:08:34,116 --> 01:08:36,796 Speaker 1: remember to share, rate, and review us on your podcast 1124 01:08:36,836 --> 01:08:40,556 Speaker 1: app Our theme music's by Kenny Beats. I'm justin Richmond.