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Jared LetoComposer, 30 Seconds To Mars

By Morgan Hallows Music 1010 Professor Craig Ferrin1Jared Leto: Composer, 30 Seconds to MarsBiographyBorn on December 26, 1971 in Bossier City, LouisianaRaised by his mother, Constance

Jared Leto was born on December 26, 1971 in Bossier City, Louisiana.2Growing up he lived all over the country Colorado, Virginia, Wyoming, and even Haiti!

3He was raised by his mother who moved around quite often. Spending much of his childhood in various parts of the country, Leto lived in Colorado, Virginia, and Wyoming. When he was 12 years old his mother decided to go to Haiti to assist with medical needs in a couple clinics and they stayed there for about a year before moving back to the states. EducationInitially desiring to be a painter, Jared enrolled in Philadelphias University of the Arts

After discovering acting he transferred to the School of Visual Arts in New York City4Initially having a desire to be a painter, Jared enrolled in Philadelphia's University of the Arts but soon discovered acting and transferred to the School of Visual Arts inNew York City. Pursuing the dream! In his early 20s he moved to LA and scored a role in the TV show My So Called Life

Further pursuing his dream, at age 21 he moved to Los Angeles to search out a career in acting. A couple years later he scored a role in the TV show My So Called Life.5Named one of People Magazines 50 Most Beautiful People.. TWICE!

While it wasnt a huge hit right away, he got some publicity from the show and soon had the worlds attention when he was named one of People Magazines 50 Most Beautiful People on two separate occasions in 1995 and 1997.6Bigger RolesAs Jared gained popularity he started getting bigger roles in films such asHow to Make an American Quilt

Fight Club

American Psycho

The Thin Red Line

Requiem for a Dream

Growing a name for himself he started getting roles in bigger films such as How to Make an American Quilt, Fight Club, American Psycho, The Thin Red Line, and Requiem for a Dream.7A Band is Born In 1998 with Jared on guitar and his brother Shannon on drums, they formed 30 Seconds to Mars

In 1998 while still acting, with Jared on the guitar and his brother Shannon on the drums, they started a band called 30 Seconds to Mars. Spending most of their time playing small shows in and around Los Angeles, they slowly gained recognition.8Influences

They released their debut album in 2002 and things have only gone up from there. With influences such as Pink Floyd, The Cure, Biork, Rush, The Who, and Depeche Mode, they have a unique sound that draws quite the crowd.9Composition History30 Seconds to Mars - 2002

A Beautiful Lie - 2005

This is War - 2009

10Was it a DreamAlbum A Beautiful Lie

Released 2005

Written about a past relationship that is only remembered with a photograph.Was it a Dream From the album A Beautiful LieThis song was released on the album A Beautiful Lie in 2005. It was produced by Josh Abraham and the band 30 Seconds to Mars. It was released under Virgin Records label. Members of the band were: Jared Leto on lead vocals, and rhythm guitar, Shannon Leto on percussion, and Tomo Milicevic on the lead guitar, violin, keyboards, synthesizer, and programming, and Matt Wachter on the bass guitar, keyboards, and synthesizer. While Jared Leto continued his acting career, the band followed him around to 5 different countries to record this album. It took over 3 years of hard work and dedication obviously because of the added stress of traveling around the world to record. With influences such as Pink Floyd, The Cure, Biork, Rush, The Who, and Depeche Mode, their music is sure to bring inspiration, wonder, and feelings of hope to those who listen.

11Closer to the EdgeAlbum This is War

Released 2009

Jared Leto leaves the interpretation up to the listener. Its a very powerful emotional song.Closer to the Edge From the album This is WarThis song was released on the album This is War in 2009. It was produced by Flood, Steve Lillywhite, and the band 30 Seconds to Mars under Virgin/EMI records. Members of the band are: Jared Leto on lead vocals, rhythm guitar, and keyboards, Shannon Leto on percussion, and Tomo Milicevic on the lead guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, and programming. Written over an intense two year period of time Jared Leto was quoted saying, it felt like the whole world was falling apart and massive changes were going on. I think you can hear that in the sound of this album. Its very conceptual, about many spiritual thing, and it really is simply who we are, who weve become.(Harris) This song is different for everyone who listens to it. In fact, Jared says Id rather let people take their own understanding and meaning from the song. I think that is one of the exciting things about music, the interpretation, from individual to individual and how it can change so much.(Redmon)12Search and DestroyAlbum This is War

Released 2009

Amazing song with the voices of thousands of their fans mixed throughout.Search and Destroy From the album This is WarThis song was released on the album This is War in 2009. It was also produced by Flood, Steve Lillywhite, and the band 30 Seconds to Mars under Virgin/EMI records. Members of the band are: Jared Leto on lead vocals, rhythm guitar, and keyboards, Shannon Leto on percussion, and Tomo Milicevic on the lead guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, and programming. The cool thing about this song, as with several others on the album, is that the band used the voices of thousands of their fans. They call this following the Echelon, comprised of hundreds of thousands of their fans across the world. This unique use of sound is amazing as the feeling of love for the music is felt through the many voices of loyal followers. (Echelon)13Listening Guide30 Seconds to MarsWas it a Dream0:01 Introduction begins with the sound of rain and thunder giving the listener a feeling of a lonely rainy day.0:08 Synthesizer slowly brings in a mysterious humming that almost feels dreamlike.0:16 Bass and snare drums start with a moderate beat still with the rain and thunder.0:25 Lead guitar begins a melody slightly echoed with special effects. 0:57 Vocals come in with the first verse being a soft spoken story telling the past of a broken hearted soul.1:31 Chorus, the voice of the singer becoming more intense almost crying the feelings from his heart.1:48 An almost ghostly echo in the background adds more mystery to the story.2:00 Second verse back to the soft spoken story. Maintaining the moderate beat throughout the verse.2:18 Echoes repeat the last words of the verse forever is for good intensifying the emotional feeling of the song.2:20 Chorus, gradually getting more loud. All of the elements of the song, guitars(bass and lead), drums, synthesizer, and keyboard intensifying the emotion. 2:30 All instruments fade starting with a cymbal to note the change, vocals fade with an echo and after a few more beats of the drum the guitar kicks in a few harmonic notes to lead into a melodic guitar solo.2:48 Gradually the sound of a heart beating with the soft harmony of mystical chants fades into a repeating chorus.3:47 After the chorus repeats a few times there is a climax of all the instruments as the singer gives his final thoughts on the relationship with the words in love. The song fades with a couple guitar riffs and rain and thunder finalizing with a few heart beats.

Listening Guide30 Seconds to MarsWas it a Dream0:01 Introduction begins with the sound of rain and thunder giving the listener a feeling of a lonely rainy day.0:08 Synthesizer slowly brings in a mysterious humming that almost feels dreamlike.0:16 Bass and snare drums start with a moderate beat still with the rain and thunder.0:25 Lead guitar begins a melody slightly echoed with special effects. 0:57 Vocals come in with the first verse being a soft spoken story telling the past of a broken hearted soul.1:31 Chorus, the voice of the singer becoming more intense almost crying the feelings from his heart.1:48 An almost ghostly echo in the background adds more mystery to the story.2:00 Second verse back to the soft spoken story. Maintaining the moderate beat throughout the verse.2:18 Echoes repeat the last words of the verse forever is for good intensifying the emotional feeling of the song.2:20 Chorus, gradually getting more loud. All of the elements of the song, guitars(bass and lead), drums, synthesizer, and keyboard intensifying the emotion. 2:30 All instruments fade starting with a cymbal to note the change, vocals fade with an echo and after a few more beats of the drum the guitar kicks in a few harmonic notes to lead into a melodic guitar solo.2:48 Gradually the sound of a heart beating with the soft harmony of mystical chants fades into a repeating chorus.3:47 After the chorus repeats a few times there is a climax of all the instruments as the singer gives his final thoughts on the relationship with the words in love. The song fades with a couple guitar riffs and rain and thunder finalizing with a few heart beats.

14Closer to the Edge0:01 Intro brings in an organ slowly getting louder the timber of the organ raising the anticipation of the listener.0:19 Drums begin a fast beat with guitar repeating a simple riff in a few different octaves.0:32 The first verse begins at almost a whisper giving the feeling of someone living a secret.0:59 The chorus is intense with the guitars and drums both getting louder while the vocals become almost like yelling.1:29 As the chorus ends the bridge begins with echoing nos by fans of the band. Then the melody is carried through the bridge with soft drums and repetitive guitar riffs and a calming keyboard tune.1:39 The second verse is brought in by quiet repeated whisper then as the drums start back in the vocals are back to the soft spoken secretive voice as in the first verse.1:55 In the middle of the second verse the vocals are modified to sound like a playback of a previous recording echoed as if it were a flash back to a better time.2:07 Back to the chorus, this time yelled even louder so the message is clear. Drums get even louder and faster along with the bass and lead guitars.2:36 The drums cut in and out with guitar riffs alternating with echoes and yells intermittently. 2:52 The sounds of a crowd singing along with the lead singer. The feeling of everyone singing in unison is chilling.3:48 With the chorus being repeated and the crowd in the background, the song slowly fades out as the drums quit and the synthesizer finalizes the song.Search and Destroy0:01 Introduction begins with a synthesized almost piano like echo in a catchy techno beat.0:12 As the vocals begin with an almost moaning whisper, the drums and bass guitar start with an aggressive sinister beat.0:29 A teaser to the chorus, this yelling echo stops the music and emphasizes the name of the song.0:34 Back to the verse, the lead guitar and drums start back in louder and more upbeat.1:03 The chorus stars as the guitar cuts out and in the background there is a mild piano riff that helps mellow the chorus.1:19 The guitar starts back in with the angst of the drums beefing up the second half of the chorus1:30 Back up vocals chant and add texture while the chorus gets stronger and more dynamic.1:47 Back up vocals bring in the second verse with vigor.2:15 The piano comes back in with the mild tune to lighten the mood then build it back up for the strong chorus.2:29 Chorus is loud and upbeat climaxing the song at about halfway.2:55 The bass drum stops and allows for a calm euphoric feel as you hear the synthesizer start back up.3:37 The bass drum starts back up and creates a strong beat for a confident touch.3:47 Background vocals with chants and whispers with the piano give a feeling of comfort.4:20 Chants from fans of the band add a unique timber to the final minute of the song, unifying one with the song.5:00 All instruments cease except the piano which finishes the song with a mild couple notes.Works Cited

"Echelon."30 Seconds To Mars. Web. 6 Feb. 2011. .Harris, Chris. "30 Seconds To Mars Sing About Survival on This Is War."Rolling StoneDec. 2009. Web. 05 Feb. 2011."Jared Leto."Biggest Stars. 2008. Web. 6 Feb. 2011. ."Jared Leto: Living In A Commune Was Strange - Musicrooms.net."Music Rooms. 20 July 2010. Web. 05 Feb. 2011. .Malkin, Marc. "Jared Leto Remembers Life in Haiti: "It Was Magical" - E! Online."E! Online. 19 Jan. 2010. Web. 05 Feb. 2011. ."Most Beautiful, Jared Leto."People.com. 12 May 1997. Web. 6 Feb. 2011. .Redmon, Jess. "30 Seconds To Mars: Welcome To Their Universe."Shoutweb.com. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. .Wadowski, Heather. "The Making of "Requiem for a Dream""Suite101.com. 15 Dec. 2000. Web. 6 Feb. 2011. .Weiner, Jonah. "The Redemption of Jared Leto."Details. Dec. 2010. Web. 6 Feb. 2011.