Mike Madriaga Skate from p 32 play music than with an indica.” Earlier in the year, System of a Down performed at the Footprint Center in Phoenix. That night, “I used my new, stained- glass, custom Warwick Streamer that I designed,” Odadjian continued. “I mostly stick to the same bass throughout a show, but I will switch if I need to tune.” A 90-minute video of the Phoenix concert was posted on YouTube. Of the nearly 90,000 views, many commented that Odadjian had the most energy in the group playing that January evening. When asked if consuming cannabis makes him more creative, he responded, “I’ve always been a creative person, even without the smoking or dabbing. But what it does is it lets you focus. So if I’m ever not focused and I’m blocked, and I smoke, let’s say that Shred 22, here, it opens up little things in your brain that let you focus. So it helps in creativity because you can focus on what you’re doing at the moment. So it’s not like some guy that’s non-creative can become creative; it makes the creative become more creative. And yeah, so hence I endorse sativa. I love it to the point where it’s become religious.” The Shred 22 concentrate is a 9/10 sativa dominant hybrid badder. “So that relates to some of your video stuff?” he was asked. “All of it,” Odadjian responded. “Yeah, I think a lot when I do it, and it makes you think, and it makes you come up with some crazy shit. Like from ‘Toxicity’ to ‘Aerials’ to ‘Question!’ They were all things that I came up with [for the music videos] under the influence of some type of cannabis.” Besides playing bass and backup vocals 34 for System, Odadjian is credited for directing the band’s cinematic and enthralling music videos. According to the Internet Music Video Database, he co-directed the three aforementioned music videos, and solely directed “Hypnotize.” He added, “Daron Malakian wrote Shortly after Shavo Odadjian skated inside The Churchill, he grabbed the skateboard. “So until today, I’m 48, I still see a curb, and I got that skater’s eye. I’m like, ‘Dude; I could do that.”’ ‘Aerials’ the song. But the video, that’s me in the video. I’ve never told [of ] this in an interview; I’m giving you something: so that little [alien] kid is me. No one knows that. I’ve always felt alienated. So I made him like a little alien kid. “Bro, back then, it took me weeks and a lot of CGI [computer-generated imagery] money to come up with that face … nowa- days, it’s a filter. Right? On Snapchat. Everybody’s like, ‘Who’s that little alien?’ I’m like, ‘I’m not going to tell you.’ But now, it’s like, so many years, 20 years later, I’m telling you [New Times readers].” There’s no word when System of a Down will return to Phoenix, or if they’ll drop some new “wax,” but Odadjian will be skating back into town. The four 22Red concentrates that went out to metro Phoenix dispensaries earlier in June were the first four of 30 different concentrates the company will be launching. “I thought it was a good introduction to our brand of concentrates, instead of drop- ping 20 and having you pick — I chose for you,” he said. “An LP’s got 12 songs, and EPs got four songs; people bond with usually one to four songs, usually off of an LP. So I’d rather not waste anything and drop four, have you guys taste it, and let me know what you’re attracted to and what appeals more to the public. I use my music mentality towards this brand because I’ve branded System of a Down from day one. I was the one that started everything [when] I’ve managed System. ... I came up with the first logo; I came up with the ‘Toxicity’ cover. “It’s worked once; it’s working again.” The red-colored “22” logo can be seen in “98 percent” of the dispensaries in Arizona, touts the 22Red company. With its flowers ranked No. 3 throughout the Grand Canyon State, Curaleaf, and Harvest are 22Red’s largest customers. JULY 7TH–JULY 13TH, 2022 PHOENIX NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | FEATURE | NEWS | OPINION | FEEDBACK | CONTENTS | phoenixnewtimes.com
