“The emergence of singer - songwriter Gor Mkhitarian reflects the best of the underground music scene
now evolving in Armenia”

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Usanogh.com

Armenian Underground Music is “Over” at LA

By Ashot Tadevosian

Contributed by ashot on Tuesday December 30, 2003 04:34PM from the dept. The bar drenched in alcohol and the smell of cigarette smoke suddenly grew impatient, as chants of “We Want Gor” grew louder. And Gor is what they got. A whole hour and a half's worth of him. The newest bright addition to the music of the Armenian underground that is: Gor Mkhitarian.

Gor took on the stage and started the performance alone, promising that his friend and fellow musician, John Perfitt, will join shortly. After about 5-6 songs, he kept his promise, as John stepped up on the stage, and the concert “took off for good,” to never look back again. The acoustics of guitar and mandolin created an emotional mix of folk, alternative and a little bit of rock and roll; something previously unheard of in the Armenian music industry. And that is what Gor Mkhitarian brings to the table: music previously unheard to the Armenian ear.
Gor is the latest talented singer/songwriter to hit the scene of Armenian music. Some of his most famous predecessors include Artur Meschian, Ruben Hakhverdian, and Armen Movsisian. Taking little from those who came before him, and more from the likes of The Dave Matthews band, Bob Dylan, and Led Zeppelin, and mixing it up with Armenian folk, he has come up with a unique sound of his own, which is an establishment in its own right. Top that off with the fact that his lyrics give out a comfortable feeling to the listener, and create an impression of chatting with a friend, and you have the makings of something very special.

Actually, Gor's story began in 1990, when he started playing the guitar, and then added “writing songs” to his resume in 1993. Soon after that, he started playing music with others and singing as a secondary vocalist. He started out performing for a band named “Snack,” which later on was renamed to “Lav Eli.” He also had a project of his own called “Force Major” in 2000.

However, Gor's story as an independent musician and performer started in 2000. In 2001, Pomegranate Music released Gor's first “individual” album, entitled “Yeraz” (Dream), which was a nominee for “Best Alternative Folk Album,” and “Best Newcomer,” and won the “Best Album Cover” award at the 2002 Armenian Music Awards. The same album was also a nominee for “Best Ethnic World Album,” and “Yeraz,” the song, was a nominee for “Best Ethnic World Song,” at the 2002 Just Plain Folk Music Awards, where it won third place. A year later, in November of 2003, Pomegranate Music released his second album, called “Godfather Tom,” which expanded on the musical horizon previously experimented on, with an even more melodic and developed sound than the first one.

Currently Gor is learning the trade of show-business, and establishing contacts in the States, meanwhile already working on his third album. He's been residing in the States for the past eight months. At a relatively young age of 30, Gor has performed in several places around the world and in the United States, establishing that much-needed web of contacts that is so important in the volatile career of a musician. We caught up with Gor, and asked him some questions that we thought might interest some of our readers. Here they are.

Usanogh: -What have you dreamed about?
Gor Mkhitarian: -Many things. But I can say that I've accomplished most everything that I've ever dreamed of, which is a rare occurrence. There are not too many people that have accomplished even half of all their dreams. I've accomplished about 80% of all my dreams thus far. I have other dreams now…

U: -Can you share with us, what those are?
GM: -Well, as any other singer, as any other musician, I'd like to share my music with as many people as possible, and be able to support myself doing that, instead of doing something else, which is very important. I want to be doing what I like, and nothing else; that means doing that, which you like, and being financially supported by it. I don't do it (write songs) to make money. I do what I like, and then I try to sell the product, not to be thinking about doing anything else for money, and being miserable while doing it. For example, why sell potatoes, when I can sell my music?

U: -What is your biggest wish?
GM: -I wouldn't say I have a “biggest wish.” I have many wishes. One of the important ones is to create a center for the development and support of underground music in Armenia. That would be a non-profit center, supporting any musicians with an alternative preference. It's part of our history. Twenty years later nobody's going to remember that these bands existed, because they didn't have money to record and release their music.

U: -Are there many bands like that?
GM: -I wouldn't say there's many, but there are several ones, and it would be a pity if they didn't survive. There's a few with good potential. For example, there's a band from Gyumri, called Bambir. This is the second generation of the old “Bambir”: “Bambir 2.” There are many bands from Vanadzor, like “Strangers,” “Push,” and “Gizak.” Read about them here. These are bands that sing in Armenian, but play an alternative (different) style. These are the bands that are going to create something new, because Armenian music of today is in a dead end, and there needs to be something new. Back in the days, when “The Apostles” came about, it was the same thing. Eventually, alternative music is what creates that change.

U: -Are you married?
GM: -No, not yet. I'm still 30 years old. Actually there's two ways to look at that. In Armenia, they would say “you're already 30 years old.” Here, they say “you're only 30 years old.”

U: -Why aren't you married?
GM: -I probably haven't met the right person yet.

U: -Describe your ideal mate.
GM: -There are two different realities. One is the woman you imagine in your mind, and you want her to have these certain characteristics. And then there's the real one. Let's not mistake imagination with reality. However, if you find a good mix of both the ideal and the real, that's the best scenario. How do I imagine my ideal mate? The most important thing for me is for her to be my friend. I would want her to be a woman, literally, but also be like a friend to me. They say the most successful marriages occur between best friends. But I can't mention any specific physical characteristics that I want my mate to have. Of course, I want her to be understanding, kind, forgiving, intelligent… I don't think anyone dreams of any better than that. Also, being loved by her, that's very important.

U: -Do you have any plans to take over the world?
GM: -During a radio interview in 1995, when we were eight years younger, we said “what is the point of living, if you have no plans of taking over at least half of the world…” But I think that even if you're thirty years old, it's worth fighting for. What's the purpose of living and battling, if that desire does not push you along the way? Well, maybe not half of the world… but you have to have a big appetite, to conquer the small obstacles of life easily. You have to think big. Of course we're going to take over the world… Why not?

U: -When was the last time you ate good “khash”?
GM: -I've eaten ok “khash” here about 7 months ago. But the last good “khash” I ate was in Armenia, last year.

U: -Do you notice a change in the mood of the opposite sex, after becoming a singer?
GM: -I would say yes. Any girl and any woman is more sensitive and reacts more hastily to music. After all, any musician, any singer, and even any person who plays a musical instrument has a magnetic effect on girls, because of this.

U: -Have you encountered girls who approach you not because of your music, but because of your image?
GM: -Of course, that happens too. Not all females think alike, want alike, and expect alike. But I think it's pleasant for most women to be with a man who has established himself in a specific domain or walk of life. And music is one of those domains. Of course it's important for her to appreciate you first as a person, but appreciating you as a musician is not a bad thing either.

U: -What is the craziest idea you have ever come up with?
GM: -I have come up with a very crazy idea, the craziest idea of my life… and I've put it into action, but I'll talk about it maybe one or two years later.

U: -What will save the world?
GM: -God.

U: -So you're religious.
GM: -I believe that God exists, that he's among us. Yes, I believe that God will save the world… definitely not man.

U: -In one of your songs (Gladiator) from the previous album, you ask “the senators” how much they would pay for you, so that when they look back, they don't feel bad about it. So how much did they buy you for?
GM: -Very little.

U: -What's your favorite color?
GM: -I've always liked ambiguous colors, like gray, brown… nothing that belongs to a specific category. I like mixed colors.

U: -What would you wish to students (usanogh's) out there?
GM: -To Usanogh and students out there… I've always thought that students are a progressive group of people. I wish that they don't numb down, and I don't think they will. And if they're not going to conquer new grounds, at least not give up what they've already accomplished. After all, students are the ones that bring in new ideas. All big changes, even revolutions, have been started by students, and I hope they continue that trend. I wish you all the best.

U: -Thank you