Covering Up Old Wounds: Scars On Broadway

Produced by Malakian himself and Rick Rubin, their self-titled debut album is a collection of 15 tracks that the frontman is gravely proud of. “It’s a pretty eclectic album with a lot of attitude.” I ask if it differs greatly from the sound of System to which he replies: “It links to it because you can hear my style in the songs, but at the same time it has evolved from it.”

The foundations of the band’s name is a somewhat artistic creation. Malakian takes his time to explain the story of how the words and the meaning differ in relevance, yet merge through a unifying of the music. He says: “I got the name from these light posts. Where I live - the light posts have swastikas engraved in the design. It’s something that if you lived in the city I live in when you went to high school you’d always hear kids talk about it. And they’re on Broadway. Their kind of scarred into the (posts), which is how I got the name.”

And the meaning?: “When it comes to relating what the songs are about, it’s almost like all the world is a stage and we are the scars on Broadway. The name sparked a different vision in my head for what it meant.”

The trepidation that Malakian’s musical reputation is on the line is not something even taken into consideration by the Scars On Broadway frontman. He submissively explains: “I don’t think about that too much to be honest with you. I mean reputation, I’m not sure what my rep is as it is. My goal is to continue to write songs that I’m proud of and hopefully in turn will touch somebody out there.”

By coming under the radar and being almost shadowed by the publicity and acclaim that Tankian received, Malakian and Dolmayan can make an impression more suited to their humble ways. A string of live shows already under their belts and a forthcoming headline tour in Europe should satisfy adequately. Malakian wants people to come to see the live shows to prove he and his band can step up to anyone’s anticipations. “We get up on stage and people see this is a for real band and something to be taken seriously on its own away from System.”

Pastures new have not led Malakian to forget the impact he made with his former band. He speaks fondly if not subtly about his role in people’s lives. “There is songs for me that are like the fabric of my life – like if those songs didn’t exist then I couldn’t imagine my life without them – they’re such a big part of my existence since I was a kid.

“So for my music to do that to people, it’s special to me. It’s cool to be apart of so many people’s lives even if I don’t know them. I feel like I’m contributing something positive to the world in my time that I’m here through my songs.”