“I mean every word that I say, every lyric that I sing, every noise that I make”: Meet the real Serj Tankian
Who is Serj Tankian? The outspoken frontman of System Of A Down has been a permanent fixture of the rock world for almost three decades, but he still remains something of an enigma. We go on a mission to find out…
Words: Luke Morton
Photos: Andrew Lipovsky
Foam soundproofing covers the walls. Shelves are filled with various wires and open tech boxes. A framed gold-certification plaque for the Scream 3 soundtrack hangs on the wall. This is Serj Tankian’s Los Angeles studio, where we join the political polymath on a wintry Wednesday morning. He’s all smiles, sporting the regiment lockdown uniform of a T-shirt/hoodie combo and his freshly groomed trademark beard.