With the release of his EP ‘C.O.I. Dance to the Apocalypse’ last year Ardz Simonian has been bringing his brand of apocalyptic rock to the world. Backseat Mafia caught up with Ardz to find out is inspirations and what we can expect from him in the future.
Give us a potted history of yourself
Been playing/writing music since my teens as a way to unleash the beast. Did a music degree, played in various bands/projects. Tired of relying on a band set up to create music so now writing and recording songs myself, always trying to tame and refine the beast.
Who inspired you to start making music
Always loved music, my parents had fine tastes and exposed me to a lot. I had a great guitar teacher – James Creed – who showed me a ton of music and inspired me to study music after school. Legend!
And the one or maybe two records that inspired you artistically
Jane’s Addiction/Ritual de La Habitual, System of a Down/Toxicity, Pink Floyd/The Wall – three defining records of my youth that not only rock balls but are also poetic, almost spiritual works of art.
If you’re trying to explain whom you sound like to someone that’s never heard you, what do you say
Apocalyptic rock ‘n’ roll baby! A rocking, grooving, lyrically brooding soundtrack for/about the end times we’re in. I’ve been told it’s Velvet Revolver riffs/music with Sisters of Mercy/System of a Down style singing.
Tell us about your new single
Dancing in the Rain is my new single/video, about our faaackin hot world, and the need to overcome our collective ego to solve it. It was released through indie label Sea Munch Music. I wrote, played, sung, and recorded it at home in ‘Spare Room Studios’. The video was created by the very talented Stanislava Museva. The track was mixed and mastered by Matt Parisi aka Studio Chimp – we actually did this remotely during the pandemic! Technology eh!
Where can we get hold of it
Dancing in the Rain is available on all good streaming/music download platforms near you – https://linktr.ee/ArdzWorld – all social and stream links can be found here.
Tell us how you write
Usually I’ll have an idea for a lyrical theme, come up with a title that’s the seed the lyrics grow from, then jam music to pair it to. Recently, I’ve been writing a lot more through recording, so I’ll often write the first part of a song (music and lyrics), then divine inspiration hits and I’ll start recording/torturing myself to develop it into a full song.
Tell us about your live show and how much have you been missing it recently
What can we expect from you in the near future? (In terms of releases / album / dates – stay tuned, new EP ‘C.O.I. Eye Inside’ is coming soon! The second of the C.O.I. EP series, currently working on the third.
Tell us your favourite records that are rocking your headphones/tour bus/stereo
Currently, Bring Me The Horizon Sempiternal/That’s The Spirit, Black Sabbath ‘Vol. 4’, Smashing Pumpkins ‘Siamese Dream’, Junkhouse ‘Strays’, early Peter Gabriel, later Bob Dylan. All banging!
Check out Ards track ‘To Glory’, below:
Find out more via Ardz Facebook
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