Red Lines

Very few sub-genres of electronica music offer much in the way of a tangible difference, but with Armenian Trance, Serouj “CRouge” Baghdassarian might be onto something.

The 22 year-old from Lebanon has just released a second album, Eternity, that is laced with traditional Armenian melodies and underpinned by crisp synthesisers and anologue beats for a style all his own.

NOX: Your father was a musician, so was it natural you’d follow his footsteps?
Serouj Baghdassarian: I come from a family of composers and performers, so I believe I was born with it... I always listened to my dad record music in his home studio. I went from DJ-ing school parties to developing my own music production skills on computer software. People liked some of my remixes and that encouraged me to continue. My debut album genoTrancide was released in 2007 and was nominated in the Armenian Music Awards for the Best Trance & House Album.

NOX: You call it Armenian Trance, but how would you actually describe the music?
SB: I used the acronym RED: rebellious, energetic, dynamic. It carries the energetic electronic vibes and sweet melodies. But most of the music I produce has a background and history and even though the field of electronica is very wide, I might be lucky and help create a unique type of music: Armenian Trance.

NOX: So what would you say is particularly “Armenian” about it?
SB: It’s melancholic, but uplifting at the same time. It has heart-touching melodies, but I think they offer a feeling of hope. The purely Armenian melody, whether sacred or secular, is a simple one, yet amazingly vivid, vibrant and graceful. I might say it has a sublime charm, a majestic, soul-stirring presence.

NOX: Well, us non-Armenians are also feeling it. What’s been the reaction in Beirut?
SB: I’m very proud and satisfied when strangers – especially non-Armenians – are interested in it, and I hope they discover some history and culture in the music. That is definitely one of my purposes, and I will push harder so that it can reach a genuinely international level.

NOX: Tell us about your latest projects.
SB: My latest single release was “Dle Yaman”, which featured my mother’s sweet and mysterious voice. It was a great success and received a lot of very positive feedback. My second album Eternity was released in October, which is mainly trance, but also has a variety of other electronic music types. I’m then looking forward to working with local artists here in Beirut, incorporating more live instruments and vocals in it – particularly live. I would also love the chance to tour the US and Europe.