Seven Hours After Violet – the new project from System Of A Down bassist Shavo Odadjian featuring Taylor Barber (Left To Suffer), Morgoth (Winds of Plague), Alejandro Aranda (Scarypoolparty) and Josh Johnson (Winds of Plague) – is now streaming their debut single "Paradise". The single also serves to launch of Shavo's new joint label venture, 1336 Records, in partnership with Sumerian Music Group.
"The song opens the album and showcases the various dynamics we explore throughout which makes it the perfect introduction to Seven Hours After Violet," said Odadjian.
"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 I 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" is a collaborative effort with creative direction by Odadjian and Adam Mason, who also shot the video. Editing was handled by Arben and Kuj Durollari of BOND, who are also working with the band to design their creative assets.
"The video for ‘Paradise' is a little trippy, it's a little psychedelic, it's a little dark and beautiful all at once," said Odadjian. "We shot it with only two takes per band member, but despite those restrictions, I think we made a really cool video."
On the label, Odadjian added: "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."
Sumerian Music Group founder and CEO, Ash Avildsen added: "System Of A Down is one of the most important and influential bands of my generation, as well as one of my all time favorites. 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 honored he has chosen to team up with Sumerian to launch Seven Hours After Violet and 1336."
