System of a Down’s Shavo Odadjian Is Working on a “Really Heavy” Solo Project

Of all the nü-metal and nu-adjacent bands that cropped up in the ’90s and 2000s, System of a Down were arguably one of the heaviest. Unfortunately, the band have struggled to record and put out much new music since the release of their last album, Hypnotize, in 2005, cranking out just a pair of singles in 17 years. Now, in a new interview, founding bassist Shavo Odadjian says he’s got a solo project in the works that brings the heaviness.

Shavo recently gave an interview to Music Connection while at the Hall of Flowers, a cannabis industry event, in which he told the publication that he is working on a new effort called The Shavo Project, which is, according to him, going to be heavy:

“System’s taking a little break, until next year, so I’ve been working on the North Kingsley record. It’s almost done. That’s my side project. We’ve got six songs done. You can check it out on Spotify. It’s a new project, so it’s continuously growing and evolving. And as I evolve, I drop what we just did and we move to the next style. It’s fun. It’s freedom of music. It’s really cool. And I also have some music I’m doing as a side project — just me alone solo. It’s called The Shavo Project and it’s really heavy. That’s all I can say right now.”

We’ll have to sit tight and wait for new music from The Shavo Project, but Odadjian has kept busy with North Kingsley, collaborating with hip-hop institution RZA as recently as last year.

System of a Down officially reunited in 2011, completing a number of tours since then. Though they released two new singles, “Genocidal Humanoidz” and “Protect the Land,” in 2020, the band’s reunion has been mired in interpersonal band beefs. Guitarist Daron Malakian accused singer Serj Tankian of not wanting to record new music in 2018, while Tankian accused Malakian of trying to control the band’s finances and interviews.

Meanwhile, drummer John Dolmayan added to the controversies when he publicly praised former president Donald Trump and perpetuated coronavirus conspiracy theories, and took aim at Black Lives Matter in 2020. For his part, Odadjian has kept it about the music, which shares similar messaging to System of a Down.

We’ll keep you posted on new music from The Shavo Project—and System of a Down, if that ever happens. For now, check out “False Idols” from North Kingsley’s Vol. 2 EP featuring RZA.