Quick Facts
| Canonical Name | Shavo Odadjian |
| Born | April 22, 1974 |
| Birthplace | Yerevan, Armenia |
| Country | Soviet Union |
| Occupations | bassist, musician, guitarist, composer, disc jockey, human rights defender |
| Instruments | bass guitar |
| Gender | male |
| Genres | rock music, heavy metal music, alternative metal, hip-hop |
| Associated Acts | System of a Down, Achozen |
| Active Years | Active since 1992 |
Identity and Aliases
Biography
Shavo Odadjian is an Armenian-American musician whose name is closely tied to System of a Down. As a bassist, guitarist, composer, and disc jockey, he has moved across genres while staying rooted in the heavier edge of rock and metal, with hip-hop also part of his musical profile.
Born in Yerevan, Armenia, on April 22, 1974, Odadjian began his working life in music in 1992. Alongside his best-known role with System of a Down, he has also been linked with Achozen and other band projects including Polaris, North Kingsley, and Seven Hours After Violet.
His work has extended beyond performance into creative and advocacy-minded roles, including human rights defense. Catalogued recordings associated with Odadjian include titles such as "A Work of Art," "Dead Birds," "I'm With Stupid," "If I Had A Gun," and "Rebellion."
Career Timeline
Musical Roles
Shavo Odadjian is a bassist, musician, guitarist, composer, and disc jockey. His primary instrument is bass guitar, and his work spans rock music, heavy metal music, alternative metal, and hip-hop.
Bands and Projects
Releases and Appearances
MusicBrainz lists several release entries connected to Shavo Odadjian. These entries may include solo releases, guest appearances, live recordings, and catalogued metadata records.
MusicBrainz-listed Releases and Appearances
Recorded Performances & Appearances
MusicBrainz-listed recording entries connected to Shavo Odadjian include:
Musical Style and Instruments
Odadjian’s musical style sits at the intersection of rock, heavy metal, alternative metal, and hip-hop. His background suggests an artist comfortable moving between aggressive guitar-driven music and rhythm-focused, genre-crossing projects.
Genres
Instruments
External Identifiers & Authority Control
Shavo Odadjian has identifiers across several music and authority platforms, including MusicBrainz, Discogs, IMDb, VIAF, and ISNI.
Semantic Graph Data (Knowledge Graph)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is Shavo Odadjian best known for playing with?
A: He is best known as the bassist for System of a Down. He has also been associated with Achozen.
Q: What instrument does Shavo Odadjian play?
A: His primary instrument is bass guitar. He is also listed as a guitarist.
Q: When was Shavo Odadjian born?
A: He was born on April 22, 1974.
Q: Where was Shavo Odadjian born?
A: He was born in Yerevan, Armenia.
Q: What genres is Shavo Odadjian associated with?
A: He is associated with rock music, heavy metal music, alternative metal, and hip-hop.
Q: What other roles has Shavo Odadjian taken on?
A: In addition to performing, he is listed as a composer, disc jockey, and human rights defender.
Q: What other acts has Shavo Odadjian been linked with?
A: He has been linked with Polaris, AcHoZeN, North Kingsley, and Seven Hours After Violet.
Q: What is one release associated with Shavo Odadjian?
A: One listed release associated with him is the 2024 single "A Work of Art."