Tomo Miličević - Thirty Seconds To Mars (24/03/2014)
When Tomo Miličević of Thirty Seconds To Mars' phoned The 59th Sound direct from New York, it was hard to get a word in; purely due to how excited the bands' lead guitarist was in telling us how eager he was to return to Australia.
After postponing the tour until March 2014, Thirty Seconds To Mars has gone from strength to strength. With their latest record Love Lust Faith + Dreams becoming their highest charting album to date, Miličević assures us that their fans attending their upcoming tour of Australia will be experiencing their biggest, and boldest show yet.
"We're really, really excited to come back to Australia. We're coming back with the new album Love Lust Faith and Dreams, we're playing a ton of old and new songs, it's gonna be the biggest tour we've played in Australia. We're also so thankful that everyone's been so cool about the postponing of the tour."
With four albums to their name, Thirty Seconds To Mars won't be strapped for material this year. With an acoustic performance during the set, Miličević says that the audience will be able to experience the songs of Thirty Seconds To Mars in an intimate environment, even though the band will actually be performing in areas, with the bands vocalist Jared Leto stripping back many of the bands signature rock ballads into acoustic affairs.
"The acoustic sets are a big part of our show. We really love it when Jared goes out and just strips some songs, it's a big part of the set. We're going to be playing tons of other songs as well, we'll be on stage minimum ninety minutes," he says with excitement in his voice."We've been having just the greatest time, especially with the new material, it's been going over so well. Audiences are really digging it, and we're having a blast!"
Touring with Thirty Seconds To Mars in Australia will be the UK's White Lies, who have just released their latest LP Big TV. No strangers to the stage with Thirty Seconds To Mars, Miličević says that they're excited to once again be touring with a band who shares a penchant for unique musical performances.
"We've taken White Lies several times around Europe, and we've played tons of festivals with them, they're really cool guys. White Lies is one hell of a show, it's very different, but in the same vein, that both groups are similar in showing creative expression and originality!"
Despite critical and fan acclaim over the years, it hasn't been a easy ride for Thirty Seconds To Mars. Their third LP This Is War was almost derailed by a $30 million dollar lawsuit by their label EMI, a lawsuit which was based on the bands' contract signed seven years earlier. The lawsuit was settled in 2009, the same year in which This Is War was released. With uncertainty now behind them, Thirty Seconds To Mars was able to tour and subsequently begin work on their fourth LP, Love Lust Faith + Dreams in an environment where they would feel comfortable to create an album which was not under financial or label pressure.
"This Is War was an album which was surrounded by uncertainty, and chaos with the lawsuit. With Love Lust Faith + Dreams, that wasn't there so it was really filled with positivity, and the thought that there was unlimited options of creativity. It was really exciting to record an album in that kind of environment. It was amazing, positive, and exciting. We were pushing the boundaries, and I honestly feel it is definitely the best album that we have ever made. There some really dark themes on the album, some great lyrics and melodies. I love it, the process was incredible."
In a different move, the band decided to document the lawsuit and its effect on the band in a film which was made by Leto called Artifact. With the band often organising screenings for fans in cities where tours are occuring, Artifact details Thirty Seconds To Mars side of the legal battle, as well as their time recording third LP, This Is War.
"It was so intense when that was happening, especially for Jared who took the weight of it on his shoulders as the leader of the band; it was really intense. I feel incredibly grateful that we documented everything and that it exists now in the movie Artifact that Jared made," Miličević says. "And Artifact, I have to say, if you are a music lover, or a musician, or just interested in the music industry, or even just a person who loves documentaries, I really would recommend that people see this film."
With Thirty Seconds To Mars set to take to Australian stages imminently, Miličević cannot help but reiterate his excitement to perform for the fans. "They can expect complete and total insanity!" he says, laughing. "It's gonna be an incredible night!"
Luke Sutton
After postponing the tour until March 2014, Thirty Seconds To Mars has gone from strength to strength. With their latest record Love Lust Faith + Dreams becoming their highest charting album to date, Miličević assures us that their fans attending their upcoming tour of Australia will be experiencing their biggest, and boldest show yet.
"We're really, really excited to come back to Australia. We're coming back with the new album Love Lust Faith and Dreams, we're playing a ton of old and new songs, it's gonna be the biggest tour we've played in Australia. We're also so thankful that everyone's been so cool about the postponing of the tour."
With four albums to their name, Thirty Seconds To Mars won't be strapped for material this year. With an acoustic performance during the set, Miličević says that the audience will be able to experience the songs of Thirty Seconds To Mars in an intimate environment, even though the band will actually be performing in areas, with the bands vocalist Jared Leto stripping back many of the bands signature rock ballads into acoustic affairs.
"The acoustic sets are a big part of our show. We really love it when Jared goes out and just strips some songs, it's a big part of the set. We're going to be playing tons of other songs as well, we'll be on stage minimum ninety minutes," he says with excitement in his voice."We've been having just the greatest time, especially with the new material, it's been going over so well. Audiences are really digging it, and we're having a blast!"
Touring with Thirty Seconds To Mars in Australia will be the UK's White Lies, who have just released their latest LP Big TV. No strangers to the stage with Thirty Seconds To Mars, Miličević says that they're excited to once again be touring with a band who shares a penchant for unique musical performances.
"We've taken White Lies several times around Europe, and we've played tons of festivals with them, they're really cool guys. White Lies is one hell of a show, it's very different, but in the same vein, that both groups are similar in showing creative expression and originality!"
Despite critical and fan acclaim over the years, it hasn't been a easy ride for Thirty Seconds To Mars. Their third LP This Is War was almost derailed by a $30 million dollar lawsuit by their label EMI, a lawsuit which was based on the bands' contract signed seven years earlier. The lawsuit was settled in 2009, the same year in which This Is War was released. With uncertainty now behind them, Thirty Seconds To Mars was able to tour and subsequently begin work on their fourth LP, Love Lust Faith + Dreams in an environment where they would feel comfortable to create an album which was not under financial or label pressure.
"This Is War was an album which was surrounded by uncertainty, and chaos with the lawsuit. With Love Lust Faith + Dreams, that wasn't there so it was really filled with positivity, and the thought that there was unlimited options of creativity. It was really exciting to record an album in that kind of environment. It was amazing, positive, and exciting. We were pushing the boundaries, and I honestly feel it is definitely the best album that we have ever made. There some really dark themes on the album, some great lyrics and melodies. I love it, the process was incredible."
In a different move, the band decided to document the lawsuit and its effect on the band in a film which was made by Leto called Artifact. With the band often organising screenings for fans in cities where tours are occuring, Artifact details Thirty Seconds To Mars side of the legal battle, as well as their time recording third LP, This Is War.
"It was so intense when that was happening, especially for Jared who took the weight of it on his shoulders as the leader of the band; it was really intense. I feel incredibly grateful that we documented everything and that it exists now in the movie Artifact that Jared made," Miličević says. "And Artifact, I have to say, if you are a music lover, or a musician, or just interested in the music industry, or even just a person who loves documentaries, I really would recommend that people see this film."
With Thirty Seconds To Mars set to take to Australian stages imminently, Miličević cannot help but reiterate his excitement to perform for the fans. "They can expect complete and total insanity!" he says, laughing. "It's gonna be an incredible night!"
Luke Sutton
THIRTY SECONDS TO MARS w/ White Lies
MARCH 2014
Tue 25 Mar Perth | Challenge Stadium (All Ages)
www.ticketmaster.com.au | Ph: 136 100
Fri 28 Mar Melbourne | Hiscence Arena (All Ages)
www.ticketek.com.au | Ph: 132 849
Sat 29 Mar Sydney | Entertainment Centre (All Ages)
www.ticketmaster.com.au | Ph: 136 100
Sun 30 Mar Brisbane | Riverstage (All Ages)
www.ticketmaster.com.au | Ph: 136 100
MARCH 2014
Tue 25 Mar Perth | Challenge Stadium (All Ages)
www.ticketmaster.com.au | Ph: 136 100
Fri 28 Mar Melbourne | Hiscence Arena (All Ages)
www.ticketek.com.au | Ph: 132 849
Sat 29 Mar Sydney | Entertainment Centre (All Ages)
www.ticketmaster.com.au | Ph: 136 100
Sun 30 Mar Brisbane | Riverstage (All Ages)
www.ticketmaster.com.au | Ph: 136 100