On July 9, Daron Malakian, the talented guitarist and vocalist of System of a Down, made an appearance on Loudwire Nights to discuss his latest musical venture with Scars on Broadway, the album titled Addicted to the Violence. This engaging dialogue covered various aspects of his artistic process and the evolution of this new project.

Be sure to catch the complete conversation in the audio player located at the end of this article.

“The journey of recording this album began during the challenging times of the pandemic in 2020,” Malakian shared with host Chuck Armstrong, reflecting on the unique circumstances that shaped his creative process.

“Throughout this period, I recorded various elements at home, including guitars, vocals, and bass. It was an intimate experience where I really connected with the music, living with it for over two years, perhaps even longer,” he elaborated, highlighting the deep personal investment he placed into this project.

However, Malakian expressed his dissatisfaction with the initial sound of the album, leading to a decision to re-record the drums, guitar, and bass while retaining his original vocal tracks. “We had to revisit the mixing and mastering processes to ensure everything met our standards,” he explained.

He admitted, “I found myself second-guessing my choices more than ever before in my career. When I worked on Dictator, it was completed in just a week and a half—I walked into the studio and recorded everything quickly. But with this album, the path to satisfaction felt much more prolonged,” reflecting on the intense scrutiny he applied to his work.

As Malakian prepares for the album’s release on July 18, he admits he still struggles to comprehend why this project demanded so much time to reach his satisfaction level. “Some creations simply require more time to develop, and it’s essential to release them when they feel right,” he concluded thoughtfully.

Discover the System of a Down Song Daron Malakian Created for Scars on Broadway

During his enlightening conversation with Chuck, Malakian discussed his approach to songwriting, emphasizing that he rarely writes with either System of a Down or Scars on Broadway specifically in mind. “Even after completing Addicted to the Violence, themes related to System would occasionally surface,” he noted.

He revealed that the song “Protect the Land” was initially conceived for the Scars record during the pandemic. “When conversations arose about the situation in Armenia and Artsakh, I realized I already had a fitting song. So, when System expressed a need for a new track, I confidently presented it,” Malakian shared.

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Malakian emphasized that this blending of songwriting styles isn’t unusual for him. “I believe my songwriting resonates with both bands, which makes it seamless to adapt a song from Scars,” he explained.

“My musical style is inherent to my identity, and it’s evident in both bands. Had we not recorded Mesmerize and Hypnotize back in the day, many of those tracks could have transitioned into Scars songs easily,” he reflected.

Insights from Daron Malakian’s Appearance on Loudwire Nights

• His perspective on not deliberately addressing heavy topics in his music: “I don’t aim to tackle issues directly … I prefer my songs to resonate without taking sides. This has been true for both System and Scars. While Serj is more vocal about political matters, I prefer to let the music speak for itself. The words I write stem from my experiences and observations in the world, sometimes influenced by personal feelings. Even lines that seem edgy or provocative, like ‘My cock is much bigger than yours, my cock can walk right through the door, with a feeling so pure it’s got you screaming back for more,’ aren’t intended as political statements—they’re simply my creative expression,” he elaborated.
• His thoughts on the future of System of a Down: “I have a plethora of songs written over the years that haven’t been recorded, and I’m open to sharing them with the band if needed. However, I’ve also been channeling some of these songs into Scars on Broadway. We’ve maintained a good relationship and I want to keep it that way. We’ve produced five excellent albums, and although we haven’t released anything new in a while, fans still attend our concerts,” he stated.
• His exhilarating experience witnessing fan-created pyro at a recent South American show: “The intensity of the flares and fire from the crowd was remarkable; I even encouraged it at one point! System of a Down has never used pyro during performances since it’s not part of our style, and honestly, I could hurt myself on stage, so it’s usually just not on our agenda. However, our fans brought an incredible energy, especially during the São Paulo show, where they truly outdid themselves!”

Enjoy the Complete Interview in the Podcast Player Below

Daron Malakian appeared on Loudwire Nights on July 9; the show replays online here, and you can catch it live every weeknight at 7 PM ET or via the Loudwire app. Additionally, check if the show is available on your local radio station and listen to past interviews on-demand.