Photo by Travis Shinn

Accomplished artisan, activist and best-selling author Serj Tankian has announced his lastest passion project, confirming the October 24th release of Covers, Collaborations & Collages - a genre-spanning collection of tracks that frames the artistic ambition of the System of A Down frontman. 

Due out via Serjical Strike Records/Create Music Group, the introduction of the album, commences with the first of a ten week succession of single releases en route to full length arrival. Up first,  “Electric Dreams” showcases Serj's unmistakable sound - emphasized by a haunting acoustic performance that needs no added spectacle to assert its command. 

Speaking about the scope of the album, Tankian explained how his latest effort pools previous projects and refreshes them in a way that aligns with his vision for the music and his the collaborators that helped make it come to fruition. “Similar to Foundations, these are pre-existing archival recordings, some of them from way back,” says Tankian. “I wanted to put out a record of collaborations I haven’t released before, along with covers, which I haven’t done. The rest, the collages, are parts that fit the puzzle in the same tone, the same vibe.”

Among the important takeaways from Covers, Collaborations & Collages, features a concise, diverse roster of creative cohorts - emphasizing Tankian's creative range. Among the names featured on the album include songs with championed producer Deadmau5, beloved singer/songwriter Bic Runga and revered composer Lucas Vidal. 

Additionally, Covers, Collaborations & Collages, features a pair of broad-ranging cover songs spanning a wide swath that is specific to Serj. With a reimagined rendition of Chris de Burgh’s “I’m Counting On You,” paired with a take on Armenian songwriter Ruben Hakhverdyan’s “When Death Arrives," the compilation effort offers a healthy indication of tankian's dpeth as a creative and yet still only scratches the surface.