No, you’re not dreaming: System of a Down vocalist Serj Tankian has just announced his next solo collection, titled Covers, Collaborations & Collages, and he’s done so while also unveiling a new single called “Electric Dreams.”
The track arrived on streamers today (August 22nd), a minimalist acoustic cut full of iridescent, and occasionally eerily arpeggios, above which Tankian lullaby-coos lower-range musings (“In the stars we shine at large”) and a few wilder, upper-range cries (“Electric dreams take me twice in a day”).
As for the rest of Covers, Collaborations & Collages, a press release describes it as a “deeply personal and eclectic body of…powerful reinterpretations and remarkable collaborations.” This includes reworked versions of Chris de Burgh’s “I’m Counting On You” and Armenian songwriter Ruben Hakhverdyan’s “When Death Arrives,” a collaboration with rodent-masked EDM veteran DeadMau5 (“A Seed”), work with New Zealand singer-songwriter (“Things Unspoken”) and more.
“Similar to Foundations, these are pre-existing archival recordings, some of them from way back,”Tankian added of the recordings.“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.”
The arrival of “Electric Dreams” has kicked off a ten-week campaign that will find Tankian dropping a new song each week until the collection releases in full October 24th, via Serjical Strike Records/Create Music Group.
You’ll find “Electric Dreams” in the player above, while you can hear Tankian describe his project some more via the video down below.
In related news, System of a Down are due to kick off a short series of North American two-night stands, which have them sharing the stages with Avenged Sevenfold, Deftones, Korn and more. You’ll find the date info here.
Covers, Collaborations & Collages tracklisting:
Electric Dreams
A Seed (feat. Deadmau5)
I’m Counting on You
I’m In Heaven
Things Unspoken (feat. Bic Runga)
I Found You
Kneeling Away from The Sun
Apocalyptical Dance (feat. Lucas Vidal)
Sonic Expulsions
When Death Arrives