Above: Cover artwork for SERJ TANKIAN’s new single “Justice Will Shine On,” out now on Gibson Records.
TODAY ON GIBSON RECORDS, LISTEN HERE
The new song follows the release of the recent single “A.F. Day.” Like that track, TANKIAN composed “Justice Will Shine On” in the early days of System Of A Down. But the message and medium are just as hard-hitting and vital today.
Watch/share the brand-new official video for SERJ TANKIAN’s “Justice Will Shine On” out today: HERE.
Along with “A.F. Day,” “Justice Will Shine On” will appear on TANKIAN’s forthcoming new EP titled FOUNDATIONS, due out September 27 on Gibson Records. Over potent riffs and pummeling rhythms, TANKIAN grapples with the atrocities of the Armenian Genocide, experienced by his grandparents firsthand. He addresses their suffering in jarringly personal and direct terms, singing, “Can you tell me dear grandfather of your childhood so far away/You can see the death of laughter in his teared eyes disarray/Can you tell me dear grandmother of your childhood from hunger and pain /Of the orphans you called brothers in her teared eyes disarray.”
As the song launches into its soaring chorus, TANKIAN declares that the torment and anguish experienced by all victims of the Armenian Genocide will not be in vain. “We are the children of all the survivors/Justice will shine on!”
Pre Order SERJ TANKIAN’S forthcoming FOUNDATIONS EP via Gibson Records HERE.
TANKIAN has also unveiled the cover art for the FOUNDATIONS EP features one of his original artworks titled “Sunburst,” view HERE.
Above: the cover artwork for SERJ TANKIAN’s forthcoming EP titled FOUNDATIONS.
The new single and forthcoming EP continue a massive year for SERJ TANKIAN, who released his exhilarating debut memoir, DOWN WITH THE SYSTEM, on Hachette Books in May. An immigrant’s tale, an activist’s awakening, and a spiritual journey from darkness toward light, DOWN WITH THE SYSTEM was an instant New York Times bestseller. On August 17, TANKIAN will perform with System Of A Down for a headlining, sold-out show at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, CA. TANKIAN recently celebrated the opening of his Kavat Café / Eye For Sound Art Gallery in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, located at 1638 Colorado Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041.
Read SERJ TANKIAN’s best-selling new memoir DOWN WITH THE SYSTEM, available in all formats worldwide HERE.
Above: the cover for SERJ TANKIAN’s new memoir DOWN WITH THE SYSTEM.
Following are the lyrics for SERJ TANKIAN’s new single “Justice Will Shine On”:
“Justice Will Shine On”
Can you tell me dear grandfather of your childhood so far away
You can see the death of laughter in his teared eyes disarray
Then he pours his heart thereafter
of soldiers, taking the men away,
Leaving women and their children in the desert you will pay
We are the children of all the survivors justice will shine on. We are the demons of all the deniers justice will shine on.
Can you tell me dear grandmother of your childhood from hunger and pain
Of the orphans you called brothers in her teared eyes disarray
Can you tell me my grandson she said why this country won’t recognize that day
Of the genocide of your fathers
Believe me, grandma they will pay
We are the children of all the survivors justice will shine on. We are the demons of all the deniers justice will shine on
We are the children of all the survivors justice will shine on. We are the demons of all the deniers justice will shine on
We’ll never let you forget the past of the children that cannot grow
You will pay with a million and a half regrets of the atrocities that you sow
Their only crime was life
Their only guilt was being
During a time of strife
Of massacre and bleeding
Their only crime was life
Their only guilt was being
During a time of strife
Of massacre and bleeding
But we must never stop to strive
For our rights we must stop bleeding
We’ll never let you forget the past
Of the children that cannot grow
We’ll never let you forget the past
Of the Genocide that you sow
Can you tell me dear grandfather of your childhood so far away
Above: SERJ TANKIAN, credit: Travis Shinn
As the lead singer and songwriter for System Of A Down, SERJ TANKIAN has released five studio albums, winning a GRAMMY© Award in 2006 for “B.Y.O.B.” he’s performed for millions of fans and sold more than 42 million albums worldwide. Serj is also a solo artist, composer, activist, painter, poet, and filmmaker. TANKIAN was introduced to the melding of cultures, ideas, and ideals from a very young age. An Armenian born in Lebanon and raised in Los Angeles, the principles learned from this integration have led to his understanding of the oneness of all things and have since maneuvered and transfigured into the music and art that he lives to create. A proud Armenian American and a dedicated activist; along with Tom Morello, TANKIAN co-founded the non-profit organization Axis of Justice, which strived to bring together musicians, music fans, and grassroots political organizations to fight for social justice. He has composed scores for many films and television series, had his paintings exhibited in galleries in the U.S. and New Zealand, and released two books of his own poetry. He has also been an executive producer on multiple documentaries, including I Am Not Alone, which tells the story of Armenia’s 2018 revolution, and which won awards at the Toronto International Film Festival, DOC NYC, The American Film Institute Festival, and the Palm Springs International Film Festival, among others. TANKIAN lives with his wife and his son, splitting their time between Los Angeles and New Zealand.
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About Gibson Records:
For the past 130 years, Gibson–the iconic American instrument brand–has shaped sound across generations and genres of music, becoming one of the most relevant, played, and loved brands around the world. Iconic music that has inspired generations has been recorded on Gibson guitars since the inception of recorded music. Headquartered in Music City, Nashville, TN, Gibson Records partners with artists to produce, record, and promote their guitar-driven music to the forefront of culture under an artist-friendly partnership. The Gibson Band, a revolving collective of Gibson artists released the benefit single “Deconstruction”–co-written by Serj Tankian of System Of A Down and Cesar Gueikian, CEO of Gibson, and featuring Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath on guitar–of which all proceeds went to the Armenia Fund’s Artsakh Refugee Initiative to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Armenia. Also released last year, First Last Time the latest album from the blues-rock group Ghost Hounds, which followed the first official release from Gibson Records, Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators’ fourth full-length album titled 4 (Gibson Records) which received worldwide acclaim. Slash released his sixth solo album, a star-studded blues record titled Orgy of the Damned, also via Gibson Records (Firebird Music distribution). On Orgy of the Damned, Slash reteamed with storied producer Mike Clink and enlisted the album’s diverse guest vocalists Gary Clark Jr., Billy F. Gibbons, Chris Stapleton, Dorothy, Iggy Pop, Paul Rodgers, Demi Lovato, Brian Johnson, Tash Neal, Chris Robinson, and Beth Hart for a stunning collection of revitalized blues classics. Since Orgy of the Damned was released (May 17, 2024), it has now spent 8 weeks in the #1 spot on the Blues Albums chart. For more information on Gibson Records, visit: https://www.gibson.com/en-US/Gibson-Records.
