Presiding over a career spanning more than two decades and an eclectic host of genres, Armenian American rock star Serj Tankian has continued to push political and artistic boundaries, undeterred by his critics or naysayers.

I had a chance to speak with the System of a Down frontman in an exclusive interview for the Washington Examiner about culture and politics: the two sides of Tankian’s artistic persona. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.