Interview: 30 Seconds to Mars on the Black Rabbit Festival

by ljohnson | Posted on Sep 14 2011 | Shanghai Nightlife 0 Comments | 0 Bookmarked

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Ahead of their performance at the Black Rabbit Music Festival, we sit down with Tomo Milicevic of 30 Seconds to Mars to find out what their plans are for the China tour, and why so many women toss their panties on stage during their performances.

You’re from LA but you have a sizable fan base in Europe. Why is it that so many American artists ignore the outside world?
We have always considered ourselves to be an international band. America is a big place, but the world as a whole is much, much bigger. We feel really lucky and grateful that we had the courage to think globally instead of just trying to stay in familiar, safe territory. Now we have the opportunity to come to so many wonderful and exciting places.

Is this your first time in China? What do you expect from this tour?
The first time we came to China was to shoot a music video for a song off of A Beautiful Lie called “From Yesterday.” To our knowledge, we were the first American rock band to shoot a video in its entirety in China. This is something that always made us proud. We are all lovers of Asian culture and we have always been very thankful and grateful that we were given the opportunity to shoot the video there in China. These will be the first shows we play in China and are very excited to finally come back and play shows for the Chinese audience. We expect people to let go and have the greatest night of their lives!

30 Seconds to Mars has the talent, looks and drama of a classic rock band. Ladies across China are eagerly awaiting your arrival. Is there anything you’d like to say to your adoring female fans?
We love you all!

It seems anyone with a computer is starting to mix their own music. How do you see the music world today and where do you see it going now that everyone with a laptop considers themselves a musician?
It’s really very exciting actually. We are on the verge of a new musical revolution. Because of the fact that anyone with the will and a desire to learn the craft of engineering sound can do so now for relatively little money, those doorways which were previously reserved for artists that have access to large and expensive studios are now open to a vast number of people who have talent and a voice to share with the world. In the coming years I expect we will see some exciting innovations in the way we listen to and experience music.

Have you ever thought of mixing Chinese elements into your music? The Chinese zither is quite nice and can be eerie and dark at times.
We are always looking for new ways to expand our sound so please point me in the direction of the nearest traditional Chinese musical instrument store!