'System of a Down’ frontman Serj Tankian is embracing the next era of technology by using augmented reality (AR) to release the songs off his next EP ‘Perplex Cities’.
The first song off the five-track EP, titled ‘Pop Imperialism’ is available to experience in AR using the ‘Arloopa’ app.
Tankian shared a video on his YouTube channel explaining how the technology works, and it seems like a pretty bloody fun way to roll out an EP.
All you gotta do is download the app, click the link in the YouTube video's description, hold your phone's camera up, wave your phone around then BOOM, Serj Tankian is in your room talking to you about his new song before it starts playing.
I tried it out myself and it works kind of well. The app crashed the first time but it was all guns blazing the second time.
After Serj intros the song, he just kind of stands there awkwardly bobbing his head and tapping his feet as the song plays, but hey, that’s Serj god damn Tankian right in front of me.
In the AR experience, he tells you about how the new EP will also mean a new sound for the 55-year-old.
“This whole collection of songs within Perplex Cities is a completely different sound than what I’ve done before,” he says.
“More electronic, subtle and deeper in terms of its layers of presentation musically. Perplex Cities gives off an aura that is unique and unlike my previous releases”.
As to why he chose to roll out the new EP this way, he said in a statement that he’s always looking for innovative ways fans can experience his music.
“I’m always trying to create new and interesting ways to connect with people via my music," he said.
"We made some amazing videos for the last EP Elasticity, so I wanted to try something different for Perplex Cities. I love the idea of appearing in the room with someone listening to my music. It’s intimate, fun, and different.”
‘Perplex Cities’ will be available on streaming services on October 21st.
