System of a Down guitarist Daron Malakian recently opened up about how waiting for the band’s reunion has impacted his solo career. He shared his thoughts in an interview with Spin.
The musician reflected on the tension between his loyalty to the band and his individual artistic ambitions.
“System of A Down has been such a blessing to me in my life and has given me everything I wanted in my life, but then there’s a side of me that’s an artist and a songwriter, that sometimes I feel like waiting for System has held me back,” Malakian said. “It’s partly why I haven’t put out so many records through the years by myself.”
Malakian also addressed his current stance on a potential System of a Down studio reunion.
“If you asked me [about a possible SOAD studio reunion] 10 years ago, I would probably still be like, well, okay, maybe,” he continued. “But I’m at a place now where I feel more free and a little bit more comfortable, and I’m not even sure I want to do another System of a Down record. I think those records that we have stand up. I will always be proud of those records.”
These candid remarks come at a time when Malakian has been actively pursuing his solo career. He continues to maintain his relationship with System of a Down bandmates.
Despite past creative disagreements, Malakian’s relationship with vocalist Serj Tankian has improved significantly. The Los Angeles Times reported that the two musicians are currently getting along well and enjoy performing together live. This suggests that continuing concerts without recording new material might be the best path forward.
“Serj and I love each other and we enjoy being onstage together,” Malakian said. He emphasized their renewed mutual respect and the positive dynamic they share during live performances.
Malakian’s artistic liberation is evident in his recent work with Scars on Broadway. Spin noted that his third album with the band, Addicted to the Violence, was released in July 2025. This marks a significant step in his individual artistic journey after years of creative hesitation.
The guitarist previously struggled with deciding whether his new songs belonged to System of a Down or his solo projects. The Los Angeles Times revealed that Malakian once held back releasing new music because he was conflicted about the proper home for his compositions. His recent album represents his newfound artistic freedom after years of uncertainty.
