Shavo Odadjian, renowned bass player of the multi-platinum rock band System of a Down, has introduced a new project named Seven Hours After Violet. This venture includes Taylor Barber (Left To Suffer), Morgoth (platinum-selling producer and guitarist of Winds of Plague), Alejandro Aranda (Scarypoolparty, American Idol), and Josh Johnson (Winds of Plague). Alongside this release, Odadjian has announced the establishment of a new joint label, 1336 Records, in partnership with Sumerian Music Group.
Reflecting on the launch of Seven Hours After Violet and their debut single Paradise, Odadjian stated: “The song opens the album and showcases the various dynamics we explore throughout which makes it the perfect introduction to Seven Hours After Violet. I’ve been making music for over 30 years, I wanted to do something super heavy, but melodic and come back to my roots. Until this band, every side project I’ve done has been outside of the walls of heavy music. I steered away from anything heavy because System of a Down is heavy. Once I got started with Seven Hours After Violet, I had to let go of that. I said, ‘let me go with my gut and do what I’m best at’. For the first time ever in my career, I just said, ‘as long as I love it, I don’t give a fuck what anybody else thinks’ and that was extremely liberating. Seven Hours After Violet is the result. It’s my favourite thing I’ve done since System and I can’t wait for the world to hear it.”
The music video for Paradise showcases creative collaboration, directed by Shavo and Adam Mason, with editing by Arben and Kuj Durollari of BOND. Odadjian described the video’s production: “The video for ‘Paradise’ is a little trippy, it’s a little psychedelic, it’s a little dark and beautiful all at once. We shot it with only two takes per band member, but despite those restrictions, I think we made a really cool video.”
The formation of 1336 Records holds substantial significance for Odadjian. He commented: “I didn’t just want to sign the band to a label, which is why we signed the deal with Ash Avildsen and Sumerian. I now have my new imprint called 1336 Records. It gives me a lot of creative control and also the ability to bring other acts that I find interesting on board later in the future, so I’m really excited about that.”
Ash Avildsen, founder and CEO of Sumerian Music Group, shared his enthusiasm for the partnership: “System of a Down is one of the most important and influential bands of my generation, as well as one of my all-time favourites. When I first heard Shavo was putting together a group of young cutting-edge musicians around him to form a new band, I immediately got excited just as a fan to hear what it was. After a first listen of Seven Hours After Violet and seeing who the metal group of Avengers he assembled around him to play in it, I knew it had to be on Sumerian. So I pursued it hard and after one epic lunch together at the Sunset Marquis, Shavo and I were creative business partners ready to unleash the next great thing in heavy music together. I am humbled and honoured he has chosen to team up with Sumerian to launch Seven Hours After Violet and 1336.”
Seven Hours After Violet are scheduled to perform their first live show at this year’s Mayhem Fest, taking place at the Glen Helen Amphitheatre in San Bernardino, California, on October 12th. For tickets and additional information, visit mayhemfest.com.
