Following from launching their new song ‘Up In The Air’, quite literally, by sending the lead single for their new studio album into space via a rocket, 30 Seconds To Mars have been teasing Australian fans with the promise of a tour down under.
Frontman and Hollywood actor Jared Leto is currently in Australia to promote 30 Seconds To Mars’ fourth and latest album, Love Lust Faith + Dreams, the follow-up from 2009’s This Is War, and has been JaredLeto tweeting hints of an Australian visit with the full lineup in the near future.
In a forthcoming interview with Tone Deaf, Leto let slip that the band will indeed be touring Australia in August 2013. Opening the interview, Leto said “we made a big announcement last night that we’re touring Australia this year, which we’re incredibly excited about, and it’s nice to be back.”
In actual fact, the announcement was over at Frontier Touring’s page, where the ‘Mars Is Coming’ campaign is offering registration for updates on any upcoming Australian tour, though Leto couldn’t offer any specific dates or venues, he confirmed that the trio would be returning in August for a series of headline shows. “We had wanted to get back sooner… we felt it best to get a new album and then come back and that’s exactly what we’re doing” – Jared Leto
“We had wanted to get back sooner, but decided it was better to write an album, because I know generally when I’m writing an album it takes me a bit of time so, we felt it best to get a new album and then come back and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” said Leto.
An August visit from the band would mark 30 Seconds To Mars’ first Australian shows since appearing on the Soundwave 2011 lineup. “Soundwave was great, we still talk about that tour to this day,” Leto enthused when asked about his previous experiences on our shores. “We had a blast. I feel like we connected, and something incredible happened.”
Leto is, of course, looking forward more to their headline tour. “Festivals are fun, but there’s nothing like playing your own show. The intimacy, the connection, is unparalleled.”
“Playing festivals is exciting because you get to introduce yourself to other people, fans, fans of other bands, and people who may not have heard you before. And you get to see other bands so there’s some sort of camaraderie there. But there’s nothing like playing your own show,” elaborated the singer.
As for what Australian fans expect from the band’s return. “There’s always going to be something different, but really the most special thing that can happen isn’t about lasers, or fireworks, it’s really the connection that you make with the audience, night after night. That’s the thing that’s the most important.”
Leto notes that the spacebound single, ‘Up In The Air’ is “indicative… of the album as a whole,” featuring the band’s trademark widescreen character, but leaning more heavily on the electronic side of their sound.
The new single was co-produced by Leto alongside legendary producer Steve Lillywhite, who also worked on three other tracks on the new album with Leto and the band, namely ‘City Of Angels’, ‘The Race’, and ‘Conquistador’, a “70s rock” track in the frontman’s words.
Love Lust Faith + Dreams is out May 17th through Universal, and you can listen to ‘Up In The Air’ below:
