Nicole Brice
Aug 15, 2023
Life Øn Mars is a beacon of creativity and musicianship
In the vast universe of music, ever so often a band emerges that challenges conventions, defies expectations, and takes us on an extraordinary sonic journey. Enter Life Øn Mars, a metalcore band from Lafayette, Louisiana, with unparalleled creativity. With its beginnings in 2022, the band is currently comprised of Jack Torry on vocals, Brayden McClelland and Max Hellickson on guitar, Ryan March on bass, and Holden Hebert on drums.
These guys have had a busy year thus far releasing new music both in February and June of 2023 and show no signs of slowing down. With their exceptional musicianship, boundless creativity, and a penchant for pushing the boundaries musically, their evolution as musicians is sure to bring further innovation. Set to perform at Rad Fest 2023 at PARC International in downtown Lafayette, Louisiana, on August 19, 2023, Life Øn Mars is ready to take you on a musical journey that transcends boundaries and is the fifth band in our installment of interviews with all acts on the bill.
In an age where conformity and predictability seem to reign supreme, Life Øn Mars emerges as a beacon of creativity and musicianship, and we can’t wait to hear more from them. Powerful vocals with tight production round out the sound for this band. We know you’ll enjoy their music as much as we do.
We recently reached out to the band to learn a little more about them and were able to connect with guitarist Max Hellickson. Take a moment to learn a little more about Life Øn Mars and then be sure to catch their set at Rad Fest on Saturday, August 19.
MaM: I see 2023 has been a busy year for you. Your single “Vandal” was released in February 2023 and then your newest single, “Whitewall,” was released June 16, 2023. How do you feel about the year so far?
MH: 2023 has been a very productive year for us. We’ve been writing a ton of new music and slowly integrating our new originals into our live set. ‘Vandal’ was the first one and it did pretty well! ‘Whitewall’ was a lot of fun to write and record and one of our favorites to play live.
MaM: “Vandal” reminds me of Killswitch Engage with the screams in the beginning that fade to a strong vocal chorus. Who do you cite as your influences both vocally and musically?
MH: Collectively the band has a very diverse range of music tastes. We’re big fans of genres like hardcore and modern metalcore, which explains the Killswitch Engage-type sound. Some of us also listen to more ambient and soft genres that inspire us. Some bands we take inspiration from are Alpha Wolf, Knocked Loose, Invent Animate, Wage War, Gojira, Sleep Token, Architects, and plenty of others.
MaM: What inspires you lyrically? Life happenings or abstract concepts?
MH: A bit of both. We pull inspiration from events in our lives that have deeply affected us and try to express them in different ways. We attempt to connect to our listeners and fans in any way possible, and writing lyrics that resonate with them is the best way.
MaM: Are there plans to record an EP or an entire album, or do you plan on just continuing to release singles?
MH: We are currently in the process of finishing our debut album set to release in early 2024.
MaM: Give us a brief history behind the band name. Obviously, it speaks for itself, but I’d like to hear your take on it.
MH: So, the name just came from us brainstorming band name ideas. Holden came up with the name Life Øn Mars as a reference to the David Bowie song. Max had the idea of putting the accent on the ‘O’ to make it look like a planet and make it look more original.
MaM: How did you hear about Rad Fest and what expectations do you have going into the festival? Will your set list have a few surprises?
MH: We heard about Rad Fest from our friends who played the festival last year and we’ve been working really hard this year and then we got invited to play. We are super stoked to be a part of this new Lafayette staple in our scene. It really brings everyone together and we’re excited to be a part of this year's festival. As far as surprises go, we may be debuting a new song set to be on our album. Stay tuned!
MaM: If you could share the stage with any well-known band in the future, who would it be?
MH: A dream show of ours would be to play with Knocked Loose and Alpha Wolf. They have really inspired us. We have also seen both bands a couple of times.
MaM: What are the aspirations for the band long term?
MH: To make music that people enjoy and to create a live experience that leaves our audiences with memories they will never forget or to inspire those to pick up an instrument or start singing. Music is a powerful thing. We love seeing more people in the scene.
To check out the music of Life Øn Mars in preparation for Rad Fest, be sure to hit one of the links below, then show them some love by following them on social media.
YouTube: Life Øn Mars - YouTube
Instagram: LIFE ØN MARS (@lifeonmarsofficial) • Instagram photos and videos
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lifeonmarsofficial
Twitter: X (twitter.com)
Apple Music: Life Øn Mars on Apple Music
Spotify: Life Øn Mars | Spotify
Nicole Brice loves shining light on up-and-coming bands. Do you have a band you think she should hear? Send an email to MixedAlternativeMag@gmail.com.