Sparks’ Mael Brothers on U.S. Tour, ‘Drowning in a Sea of Tears’ Single

Billboard Girls in Music 2025

North America might be “Mad!” in regards to the boys when Sparks embarks on a U.S. and Canada tour this summer time, which the duo is saying at this time on the heels of beforehand introduced abroad dates for 2025. Additionally new to world Sparks followers at this time is a contemporary single, “Drowning in a Sea of Tears,” the third tune to return out as a teaser for the group’s “Mad!” album, due Could 23.

Brothers Ron and Russell Mael, who’ve been collectively as musical companions in Sparks for greater than 50 years (and clearly “collectively” usually for a short time longer than that), jumped on separate Zoom calls with Selection to speak in regards to the tour, single and forthcoming album … plus present an replace on an intriguing film musical undertaking with director John Woo.

The North American reveals that had been simply unveiled start Sept. 5 at Atlanta’s Tabernacle and wrap up Sept. 30 on the Greek in Los Angeles. (Scroll right down to see the total checklist of home and worldwide dates.) After doing a first-time Hollywood Bowl present to conclude their earlier tour, the Maels are desperate to have this one climax with one other hometown present at a virtually equally iconic L.A. venue, this being one they haven’t performed in about 40 years.

“Truly, the final time we performed the Greek, the opening act was the Pink Sizzling Chili Peppers,” Ron Mael notes. “So, they owe us a favor to return again and assist us on this one.”

On the duo’s final tour, they busted out a cult favourite tune from the Seventies they’d by no means even carried out earlier than, and promise related surprises for the longtime devoted this time, together with a wholesome number of songs from the “Mad!” album. Making ready a tour setlist “will get more durable and more durable,” says Russell Mael. “Now there’s 28 albums out, and we determine a dwell set is someplace round 21 or 22 songs — that finally ends up being a fairly full present for us. So if you’re doing the mathematics, it doesn’t fairly add as much as all people getting even one tune from each album. So then it turns into a activity” to whittle down the choices, clearly. “However we’re gonna do a bunch of songs we’ve by no means finished apart from that 21 nights occasion that we did in London a number of years again,” when the group carried out each considered one of its albums again to again (a one-time-ever incidence, sadly).

Their new single is “Drowning Is a Sea of Tears,” a tune about love gone fallacious… and in the event you’re ready for the rug to be pulled out within the lyrics, you’ll be ready some time, as a result of unusually amongst Sparks songs, the lyrics are fully simple. On this case, love sucking is twist sufficient.

Says Ron, “We do attempt to have some degree of seriousness under the floor of even the tune which might be humorous, however” leaning into wit “is one thing I feel that units us aside from most different bands. So it’s nearly more durable to write down the lyrics for a tune like ‘that, ‘Drowning in a Sea of Tears,’ the place you’re expressing one thing” sans irony. “I imply, we really feel honest about no matter we do, after we’re engaged on it or performing it. However I assume within the conventional definition of what sincerity in a tune is, that is extra that. And so that you attempt to make the lyrics as particular as doable with out sort of resorting to sort of a slight escape into some sort of humorous route.”

Provides Russell, “Generally there’s humor in Sparks songs, and in order that appears to be nearly the main target typically when persons are speaking about Sparks lyrics. However even when there are extra humorous subjects in a few of our songs, I feel there normally can also be hopefully an emotional aspect to it too, or a counterside. However in ‘Drowning in a Sea of Tears,’ it’s a misplaced relationship form of tune, and I feel even in having one thing that’s been a tried and true topic in pop music for eternally, we will discover contemporary methods of conveying these kinds of subjects too. There may be sort of additionally an actual critical tone to the video, however there are some moments in it which have some form of eerie components that may make you smile, too — regardless of somebody truly drowning in a sea of tears.”

The earlier single to be launched from the upcoming album was “JanSport Backback,” which truly no much less critical a sentiment, although the title imagery provides an uncommon wrinkle. “I stroll round lots, and even after we’re on tour, I sort of attempt to get out, simply to see issues, but in addition simply to check the folks,” says Ron. “And one factor I observed even amongst extra fashion-conscious ladies was the JanSport backpack… I imply, there are different manufacturers and all that, however that one, the title sounds one of the best. And for no matter cause, it lent itself to getting used as sort of a metaphor for simply turning your again on the connection.”

Says Russell, “We had completed the precise tune, however there wasn’t a lyric for it but. And so Ron got here up with that form of a metaphor for one more relationship that will not be going the best way the individual talking within the tune hopes it might be going. And the JanSport backpack is what the man sees on a regular basis, as a result of his companion is leaving him and all he sees is her again, as she’s strolling away from this relationship. In his thoughts, it’s solely an emblem of the sort of departure of his beloved one.”

It’s definitely refreshing, after all of the nation songs which have been written utilizing the sight of a girl’s tail lights because the literal or symbolic picture for her leaving, to provide you with one thing as novel because the sight of a once-beloved companion disappearing right into a sea of backpacks as an alternative of simply hitting the freeway. “Sure, it’s exhausting to seek out these symbols from the rear,” laughs Russell.

The primary single to have been launched from the forthcoming full-length undertaking was the album opener, “Do Issues My Personal Manner.” That is one other monitor the place veteran Sparks listeners may be trying initially for extra of a twist than truly exists, as a result of it’s truly is what seems to be: an ode to independence and, implicitly, to Sparks’ personal.

“We attempt to keep away from the apparent,” says Ron, “however I feel within the case of ‘Do Issues My Personal Manner,’ it’s most likely the apparent, that it truly is being finished sincerely. I feel you may belief this narrator, in that it truly is an anthem for doing issues your personal method.” Russell, for his half, goes to date to explain it as “our manifesto, being mentioned once more however in a unique form of method. I assume from day one, it’s form of been this rallying cry that we’ve saved to ourselves and haven’t as blatantly expressed it till this tune. Anyone can use that as their very own form of rallying cry, nevertheless it’s reflecting on on Sparks as properly. Our complete profession, what we’ve actually been possibly essentially the most joyful about with what we’ve finished is simply the truth that it’s all the time been on our personal phrases — every little thing. And for higher or worse, we’ve not needed to succumb to any outdoors forces telling us, what we must always or shouldn’t be doing. Or if they’ve, we’ve ignored them and simply sort of solid our personal path. And in order that tune is, in a sure method, talking about that.”

The best and possibly finest, or pointedly funniest, lyrics in “Do Issues My Personal Manner”: “My recommendation? / No recommendation.” “Properly, these are literally my favourite traces on the album,” notes Russell. “We preferred it a lot in order that after we had been mixing it, I couldn’t resist hitting the mute button for the music behind these two traces in order that they actually stood out with out the music persevering with beneath them; I believed these two traces had been too good to not emphasize much more.”

Among the many tracks on the album that haven’t been heard but, the tune on the album which may be most controversial, a minimum of amongst Angelenos, is “I-405” — which is definitely an enthusiastically professional-San Diego Freeway tune, regardless that the congested roadway is the bane of the existence of thousands and thousands who journey by means of the west aspect of L.A.

“That is sort of a love tune to the town,” says Ron. “Different cities, their essential sort of arteries are sometimes stunning rivers — you already know, the Seine or the Thames. Right here, you already know, the L.A. River is particular in some methods, nevertheless it’s not like it’s as clearly stunning as these in different nations. However while you view the I-405, and particularly sort of at nightfall and possibly from up on the Getty Middle, it is sort of a river, and there’s a actual magnificence to it. And so we felt that it was a great topic to be immortalized.”

The album title “Mad!,” so simple as it’s, has a double that means for the Maels. “At all times one of many tougher issues is developing with the album title, nevertheless it appeared prefer it was an acceptable title, each for the album but in addition only for the occasions,” says Ron — “each within the sense of mad that’s craziness and mad as madness, but in addition mad as being irate. And I feel that it matches the second.”

Sparks is at work, as reported or rumored, on a filmic followup to their “Annette” film musical, this time with legendary filmmaker John Woo on the helm.

Says Russell, “Originally of final yr, we luckily met John Woo and had him hear this new undertaking that we had been engaged on known as ‘Excruciary.’ He came visiting, sat by means of the two-hour presentation of the entire story and the entire music and mentioned, ‘I actually simply love this and need to do that.’ We had been simply so excited, as a result of, to start with, John Woo doing a musical appears actually incongruous, however then John Woo doing a Sparks musical appears even one step past that. However after working with him for a yr now, we actually get alongside properly with him and actually like him lots, simply as an individual, together with clearly appreciating what he’s finished for the historical past of cinema. We had been working with him for all of final yr, refining some components of the screenplay, and we’re all fairly pleased with the place it’s at now, so we’re simply hoping that we’re gonna have the inexperienced gentle quickly to sort of truly put it into manufacturing.”

“We’ve spent the final yr sort of on and off working with John to sculpt a couple of issues,” provides Ron. “He had a couple of concepts that he needed to include, and with a film musical, particularly one the place it’s steady singing, anytime there’s a brand new concept, it’s extra sophisticated than simply including it to a screenplay. You need to truly re-record one thing and work out a brand new association for it. However his concepts had been all actually unbelievable and really, very visible. So we’re going by means of the interval now making an attempt to finish the financing of it — that’s all the time sort of essentially the most troublesome half, a minimum of for the initiatives we’ve labored on, which is proscribed in quantity, I acknowledge. However we’ve the backing of simply an incredible director after which additionally Frank Marshall and Patrick Crowley, two unbelievable producers. And so it’s at that stage the place every little thing is sort of out of our palms so far as getting the financing for the movie, however we couldn’t be extra enthusiastic about any undertaking. And sort of having the validation of individuals of that caliber is an unbelievable factor. John Woo simply has such an incredible sense of cinema, and it’s gonna be an incredible movie.”

Sparks’ newly introduced North American tour dates for 2025:

Fri. Sept. 5 – Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
Mon. Sept. 8 – Philadelphia, PA @ Keswick Theatre
Tue. Sept. 9 – Washington, DC @ Lincoln Theatre
Thu. Sept. 11 – Boston, MA @ Berklee Efficiency Middle
Fri. Sept. 12 – Brooklyn, NY @ Kings Theatre
Solar. Sept. 14 – Columbus, OH @ The Athenaeum Theatre
Mon. Sept. 15 – Cleveland, OH @ TempleLive at Cleveland Masonic
Wed. Sept. 17 – Toronto, On @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Sat. Sept. 20 – St. Paul, MN @ Fitzgerald Theater
Tue. Sept. 23 – Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre
Wed. Sept. 24 – Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre
Fri. Sept. 26 – Portland, OR @ Revolution Corridor
Sat. Sept. 27 – San Francisco, CA @ Golden Gate Theatre
Mon. Sept. 29 – El Cajon, CA @ The Magnolia
Tue. Sept. 30 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek Theatre

Abroad tour dates (the July 12-19 reveals are newly introduced):

Solar. June 8 – Kyoto, JP @ ROHM Theatre
Tue. June 10 – Osaka, JP @ Zepp Namba
Thu. June 12 – Fri. June 13 – Tokyo, JP @ EX Theater
Wed. June 18 – Thu. June 19 – London, UK @ Eventim Apollo
Sat. June 21 – Solar. June 22 – Manchester, UK @ O2 Apollo
Tue. June 24 – Glasgow, UK @ Royal Live performance Corridor
Thu. June 26 – Haarlem, NL @ PHIL Haarlem
Sat. June 28 – Brussels, BE @ Cirque Royal
Mon. June 30 – Paris, FR @ La Salle Pleyel
Tue. July 1 – Cologne, DE @ Dwell Music Corridor (venue upscale)
Thu. July 3 – Copenhagen, DK @ The Koncerthuset
Fri. July 4 – Stockholm, SE @ Grona Lund Tivoli
Solar. July 6 – Berlin, DE @ Uber Eats
Tue. July 8 – Milan, IT @ Teatro degli Arcimboldi
Sat. July 12 – Bilbao, ES @ Bilbao BBK
Tue. July 15 – Dublin, IE @ Nationwide Stadium
Wed. July 16 – Dublin, IE @ Nationwide Stadium
Fri. July 18 – Edinburgh, UK @ Edinburgh Playhouse
Sat. July 19 Wolverhampton, UK @ The Halls