Jared Leto

The Thirty Seconds to Mars singer on their new LP, the Spinal Tap perils of touring, and why he’s down on Bitcoin and guitars

- Brian Hiatt

The new thirty seconds to Mars album, their fifth, has what frontman Jared Leto calls a “rather, um, loaded title,” and he’s not kidding: It’s America. It’s also the most electronics- heavy album for the band since its self-titled 2002 debut, and its most pop-friendly LP ever, complete with guest appearances by Halsey and A$AP Rocky and production on one track by Zedd. “It’s not necessarily big, bombastic guitar anthems,” says Leto, fresh from landing in Italy for an arena date with the band. “For a long time, I wanted to make an album about the American dream and America as a concept – and as I was halfway through, I thought, ‘I guess I’m making that album now.’ ”

On the single “Walk on Water,” you sing, “Making love with the devil hurts.” Could you expand on that sentiment?

It’s the old story about the rabbit that wanted to ride on the back of the crocodile. And at the end he eats the rabbit and says, “I’m a goddamn crocodile. What did you expect?” So if you make a deal with the devil, there are certain things you can expect. “Walk on Water” is a song very much about the times we’re living in.

Is the devil perhaps in the Oval Office?

You could take that as one example. I played it in Paris to 15,000 people, and I was stunned how loud they sang that song. You can write a song about America, but these are global concerns.