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Brendan Angelides and Serj Tankian Team Up on Cover of David Bowie’s “I’m Afraid of Americans”: Stream
Composer and electronic musician Brendan Angelides, formerly known as Eskmo, has teamed up with System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian on a cover of David Bowie's "I'm Afraid of Americans." The track features on Angelides' forthcoming album Can You Feel the End Begin?, due out on 14th August, and reworks Bowie's original into an experimental electronic arrangement.
The song is accompanied by a music video using motion capture to animate childhood photographs of both Angelides and Tankian as they perform the vocals. Angelides described the collaboration as a reflection on "the manic American psyche torn in every direction," noting the song's continued relevance three decades after Bowie and Brian Eno wrote it. The 12-track album, whose credits also include a feature from Lisel, joins a résumé that includes Angelides' scoring work on Billions, 13 Reasons Why and the video game Assassin's Creed Mirage.
In short
- Brendan Angelides and Serj Tankian cover Bowie's "I'm Afraid of Americans"
- Track features on Angelides' album Can You Feel the End Begin?, out 14 August
- Video uses motion capture on childhood photos of both artists
Explained simply
David Bowie was one of the most significant popular musicians of the modern era, known for frequently changing his musical style and pioneering electronic and experimental sounds. His 1997 song 'I'm Afraid of Americans', created with producer Brian Eno, explored concerns about American cultural power and influence—ideas that remain relevant today. Serj Tankian is the lead singer of System of a Down, a well-known rock band recognised for their heavy sound and distinctive approach, whilst Brendan Angelides is an electronic musician and composer who creates music for television programmes and video games.
Musicians who decide to cover an existing song, particularly one by a legendary artist, typically aim to make it their own rather than simply recreate it. A cover version can reveal how different artists interpret a song's themes through their own musical style and perspective. The fact that artists from quite different musical worlds—rock and electronic composition—both engage with this particular Bowie song suggests the piece has something to say that resonates across musical genres and generations.