VISHAPAKAHR

By: Christine Kojayan
Bruingirl0021@ucla.edu

“We like dirty music; something you wouldn’t touch without gloves. Rusty,” said lead-guitarist Vahe Yaymayan of Vishapakahr. Vishapakahr was born during the summer of 2006 when two friends, Arin Zakarian and Andre Avanessian, both felt the need to experiment musically - to fuse black metal characteristics with the traditional melodious music of Armenia.

Vishapakahr is derived from the Armenian word vishap meaning “serpent/dragon,” and kahr meaning “stone.” These ancient stones dated back to nearly 20,000 B.C. and are scattered throughout the historic Armenian landscape, mostly near bodies of water. They are about ten to twenty feet high. People do not know where these rocks are from and how they ended up in Armenia. This sense of mystery is what the band Vishapakahr tries to capture.

Zakarian further explains why the band’s name was chosen to be Vishapakahr, stating, “Even something we know of today can be forgotten tomorrow. That is the atmosphere that we are trying to achieve both lyrically and musically. We’re striving to create an enigmatic object.”

Vishapakahr now consists of four band members: Arin Zakarian - vocals/guitar, Vahe Yaymayan - lead guitar, Zareh Ter-Stepanian - bass/vocals, and Michael Semerdjian - drums. By meeting each other through mutual friends, the band was able to create music by incorporating their own unique and creative share into their music.

When inquired about which track is their all-time favorite, they responded, “The unreleased stuff is much more exciting because it is an evolution. The newer stuff is always going to be more interesting. We have no regrets when it comes to our music and our creations.”

Vishapakahr practices once a week, The Knitting Factory being their favorite place to perform. But their most inspirational moment wasn’t while performing; it was actually when they were able to record a demo in a “big studio” called the Sound Factory in Hollywood.

Going into the Sound Factory without a certain direction and coming out with a finished product was highly rewarding for them because they were able to produce something they loved: music. Their bonds as friends and as musicians progressed and developed throughout the recording sessions.

The members of Vishapakahr believe that their music is not only about their vision and creativity, but also about their fans. As a matter of fact, people who attend their concerts will be guaranteed a free copy of their CD!

The bandmembers of Vishapakahr are inspired through various non-Armenian bands and music as well. Lead-guitarist Vahe Yaymayan finds solace and motivation whilst listening to Valfar from the band called Windir. Windir was formed in 1994 in Sogndal, Norway. This band combines black metal with Norwegian folk music and mythology. This artist’s unique style and creativity assists Yaymayan in producing music.

When asked about their music genre and style, Vishapakahr views their music as “raw, unorthodox, genuine, and black metal.” Vishapakahr tries to capture all four aspects and incorporate it all into their music.

In ten years, Vishapakahr see themselves as “alive.” After stating that everyone has different goals, the band-members arrived to the conclusion that they want to continue being passionate about their musical creations, anticipating what they could come up with next. Zakarian states, “Aim and fortune die out, but doing this, creating music and doing what we love ten years from now would be fantastic.”