An Interview with Alexander Aslizadyan, SARD
OK: System of a Down are quite political, especially in calling for Genocide recognition but they also recently issued a statement speaking out against corruption in Armenia. Deti Picasso has also taken part in festivals in support of environmental issues and HIV-AIDS while bands in Vanadzor perform at concerts in support of human rights. Is SARD concerned with issues like this or is just about the music?
AA: No, it's not just about the music. For example, as Armenians we also want to speak about the Genocide and in our song, "Haykakan," we're also speaking about politics in Armenia. They always lie, they always break their promises and all that but it's also patriotic. People always keep complaining about the situation here and we're saying, wake up and do something.
OK: Youth in Armenia are still pretty apathetic and cynical aren't they?
AA: I'm sure the biggest part of Armenian youth doesn't care about anything. They only care about themselves. Sometimes I think that Armenians living in the Diaspora are more Armenian than many of the people here. Because of the difficult situation in Armenia many good people have left. Of course, there are still some good and very talented people here but most of the intelligent ones have gone.
They're outside of Armenia because of the situation although when I meet them abroad, I understand that Armenia is still something very important for them and that it's still in their hearts. Yes, you can see some Armenians involved with crime outside of Armenia but that's not everybody. I especially like Armenian youth outside of Armenia. They're so open-minded, they're wonderful.
OK: Do you think that music can play a part in changing the attitude of youth here?
AA: Yes, and this is why I'm happy that many of our audience are thirteen, fourteen and fifteen year old kids. This is the time when they have the chance to define their own identity and individuality. After listening to our music they then go and listen to Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd and start to think differently. Of course, all ages listen to our music but these kids seem to be our biggest fans.
OK: Do you consider your band as being part of an underground music scene?
AA: No, not really because we're on TV. Bands like MDP, however, are really underground and they rarely give interviews because they don't care about things like that. They are really underground and not many people know about them. More people probably know about us than MDP which is strange because they're much bigger, more successful and they've done a lot more.
OK: Even though mainstream Armenian pop artists want to record with you and even though you're now on television, is it still difficult to make a living from rock music?
AA: Yes, because we don't really have anyone to distribute our music. We have to go to shops and ask them to sell our album.
OK: Because the internal music market in Armenia is very small do you ever think about a potential market in the Diaspora?
AA: Yes and actually, our Manager, Director and Producer, Artyom Ayvazyan, is thinking along these lines. He also works with Bambir II and they already have some experience of this market because their fathers have a band called Bambir and have sold their CDs in the Diaspora. Because our next album will be 100% Armenian I hope that the Diaspora will be interested in it.
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More information, including MP3 samples of some of the bands mentioned in this interview, can be found online at:
SARD
http://www.arminrock.am/sard/
MDP (Manic Depressive Psychosis)
http://www.mdp.am
Deti Picasso
http://www.detipicasso.ru/index_eng.php
ArminRock
http://www.arminrock.am
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