Serj Tankian unveiled the spiritual roots of System of a Down's 'Toxicity' on Rainn Wilson's podcast

Serj Tankian, the frontman of System of a Down, recently delved into the meaning behind the phrase "sacred silence and sleep" from the band's iconic 2001 album Toxicity — also known for hits like "Chop Suey!" and "Aerials." This exploration occurred during an appearance on Rainn Wilson's podcast Soul Boom, which covers spiritual themes and life’s deeper meanings. Tankian was promoting his new memoir, Down With the System, when Wilson, best known for his role on The Office, inquired about the lyrics in the chorus of the song Toxicity:

“You, what do you own the world? / How do you own disorder? Disorder / Now somewhere between the sacred silence / Sacred silence and sleep / Somewhere, between the sacred silence and sleep / Disorder, disorder, disorder.”

Tankian elaborated that "sacred silence" is a concept inspired by Native American spirituality, representing a state achieved through meditation, where one experiences a profound sense of both loss and discovery (perhaps similar to the concept of "Samadhi" in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism). He contrasted this with sleep, a state everyone is familiar with, and explained that the phrase "somewhere between the sacred silence and sleep" refers to a unique moment during REM sleep.

Tankian suggested that this moment, where meditation and subconscious rest intertwine, is an often overlooked yet significant state of being. When Wilson humorously asked how Tankian finds this balance in his own life, the singer and intellectual wittily responded, "With kids?! Get out of here!"

Serj Tankian under the influence...of meditation and philosophy

Serj also mentioned the influence of author Tom Brown Jr., whose writings about his "grandfather," a Native American sage, have shaped his understanding of these concepts. It's a topic that may bring to mind other subjects, like Hypnagogia, sometimes called the "waking dream." And who would deny that the term "ponto-geniculo-occipital waves" (or PGO waves) absolutely sounds like it could be in a System of a Down song?

Interestingly, this was not the first time Serj had been interviewed by Rainn Wilson, either. Here is a fun discussion between the two from years ago:

Broader Serj news: Tankian's memoir, activism, and social media spats

Tankian’s memoir, which is now available, offers a deep dive into his life, music, activism, and family heritage. In a recent interview with NME, Tankian expressed surprise at the positive reception of his writing, noting, "I hope it sparks something in young creators or would-be creators. That would be awesome."

Beyond his literary pursuits, Tankian has remained outspoken on social and political issues. He has said "rock music is the perfect form" to "push back against injustice." That being said, it sometimes leads to public disputes.

He recently criticized the band Imagine Dragons for performing in Azerbaijan, a decision that sparked controversy due to the country’s disturbing political climate. Originally, he stated on Instagram that their lead singer must be "unaware that Azerbaijan’s petro-oligarchic dictatorial regime was starving 120k people in Nagorno-Karabagh which is now being called a genocide by the former prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno Ocampo."

When Imagine Dragons decided to go on with the performance, Tankian didn’t hold back, stating bluntly, "I don’t respect them as human beings."

One perhaps understands the heated passions, but one may also wonder if artists could ever perform in many different countries with destructive/questionable policies — surely, Azerbaijan is far from the only country with some ongoing violent policies. (Also, this should be said: One's stance here should exist independently of how one feels about Imagine Dragons' music, or System ofa Down and Serj Tankian's, for that matter).

Who (or what) is System of a Down?

System of a Down (sometimes called S.O.A.D or "Soad"), formed in 1994 in Glendale, California, became one of the defining bands of the early 2000s with their blend of heavy metal, alternative rock, and Armenian folk music. Toxicity, the album that features the track in question, is widely regarded as one of the greatest metal albums of all time. Released on September 4, 2001, the album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and was certified sextuple platinum in the U.S. in 2022.

The band's unique sound, coupled with Tankian and Daron Malakian's powerful lyrics, has earned them a dedicated fan base and critical acclaim. In terms of vocal ability, Serj was ranked No. 26 on the Hit Parader list of "Top 100 Heavy Metal Vocalists" in 2006.

In addition to his music career, Tankian is also known for advocating for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and various human rights issues. His work has extended beyond music, as he continuously uses his platform to bring attention to causes he is passionate about. Tankian’s latest memoir not only reflects on his storied career with System of a Down but also delves into the personal and cultural influences that have shaped his life growing up in SoCal's "Little Armenia."

Through his music, activism, and now writing, Tankian continues to inspire and provoke thought, both in his lyrics and his broader worldview.