Out Of Breath

Straight out of L.A, Maroon 5 are all too familiar with the Hollywood scene.  Regulars at the Viper Room with the brightest movie stars on their trail, the band has notched up support and sales for their debut album Songs About Jane.  Now aiming for the UK, Adam Levine, Mickey Madden, Ryan Dusick, James Valentine and Jesse Carmichael tell us what they think of their record deal, their influences and our pop music

You recently played an exclusive gig at the Water Rats in London.  What was that like?
JC: It was awesome.  It was the first show we played in a month and it was a big release of energy. 
What’s it been like doing promo work on this UK trip alone?
AL: It’s been a lot of work ‘cos we have been concentrating on all of it in one week as opposed to spreading it out over the whole time we’re in the States.
Were there any highlights?
JV: The highlight for me was definitely Top Of The Pops.   It was a live show and just finding ourselves in the middle of this crazy pop world – pop music over here is just insane.
AL: It’s very different in the States.
JV: The production value of that show was pretty entertaining – miming our instruments for the first time!  We’ve never done that before.
How is the UK pop scene different?
JV: Well, I don’t think a band like Blazin’ Squad would really fly in the States!
AL: Isn’t it Blazin’ Crew?
JV: That music would never work in the States; people would not buy it.
AL: That actual music – nobody.  Think about it, a bunch of little young 14-year-old white dudes rapping?  It just wouldn’t happen in the States
RD: They’d get beaten!  (giggles)
The continuity of promo work and gigging must get on top of you so how do you keep on top of it?
AL: You have to be on your toes to stay original in what you say.  When you get the feeling you’ve just said the same thing to the last person, it’s obvious...I said that to the last person!
JC: I think the trick is to always remember to check your perspective on things and understand that if starts to get boring doing interviews, you have to take a moment to refresh yourself and recognise how lucky you are to be doing this with your life.  We love playing music with each other and interviews are a blessing because you get to expose people to what you’re like.
Many labels were interested in signing you but why did you choose to go with Octone?
AL: The biggest thing in the record business is that if somebody is not immediately interested in literally putting papers in your face, then it’s really not going to work because everybody is very spineless sometimes.
(the rest of the band look horrified)
AL: Well, it’s true!  People don’t want to lose their jobs.  If they sign to you and it doesn’t do well, it’s their ass.
JC: Plus when we brought the demo of these songs to different labels, some wanted us to focus more on the rock’n’roll side and some wanted us to go in the more R&B direction.  Octone was pretty much the only label that said “you guys are great as you are combining those two things together – go with it”.
Why Maroon?
RD: That’s the one question we cannot answer!
JC: We took a blood oath to never reveal the secret origins of Maroon 5.  It’s just us and Jane – the only people who know.
RD: It’s for Adam’s sake.  All of Adam’s life has been thrown out into the public because our album.  He is very honest in his lyrics and therefore has to answer a lot of questions about his personal life and his relationship because that is what our music is largely about.  Maroon 5, the name, is very personal to us.  It came from a private place and we just figured to keep one thing sacred.
Why did you decide to base most your debut album on one subject (Adam's ex-girlfriend Jane)?
AL: I didn’t really decide – it kinda happened this way.  Making that record was very natural, straightforward and simple.
MM: The title of the record came after the realisation that 'Oh, most of these songs are about Jane!'  It wasn’t like, 'Alright, here we go, here’s the concept – signs of a relationship!'  She was actually a robot.
AL: Have you ever seen Weird Science? You should check it out. 
(all fall about laughing)
Do you see yourself as a storyteller than a songwriter?
AL: Not at all.  Writing songs for me is just something that I do.  It’s like a hobby, it’s really fun but it doesn’t consume me to the point where I have 150 songs all penned out frantically.
MM: Maybe a notch above a hobby!  (laughs)
AL: It’s really not!  It’s a hobby.  Seriously it’s like playing tennis and it’s fun.
MM: (in hysterics) But you’re the Andy Roddick of song writing!
AL: That’s the thing, I don’t want to be a songwriter.  I don’t want to write songs for other people...
MM: You want to play tennis?
AL: (silent while the others guffaw loudly)
I take it Adam is the pin-up of the band – is that right?
JC: (in annoyance) No.
Is it you?
JC: Duh!
MM: Yeah, Adam’s up front, you know what I mean?
AL: Yeah, even if I were really unattractive, I’d still be!
MM: Not only is Adam very handsome and charming, Adam’s the voice.
AL: I’m also the most desperate for attention.
MM: It works that way too.
RD: I like to hide behind my cymbals.
AL: We really do fall into place very naturally.  It was never like ‘I want to be the singer’.  There’s never been any competition for our positions at all.
Adam, why is there a lingering shot of your crotch in the ‘Harder To Breathe’ video?
AL: (sounds tired) I don’t know!
RD: It’s because Adam’s known for his enormous manhood.
AL: (stands up slowly) I, er…I’ve been known to, er, have kinda a big... (cue laughter from everyone).
Does it bother the rest of you?
RD: It bothers me! (laughs)
MM: (giggling) It bothers me too!
AL: (straight-faced) The bottom line is, if my penis can help sell more records, more power to it.
JC & RD: (start singing loudly) Power! To the penis! (sniggering) Power to the penis, right awwn!
Many comparisons have been made, though the one that crops up repeatedly is Stevie Wonder.  What do you think about that and has he said anything?
AL: Stevie Wonder?  I would love him to say anything to us – even ‘fuck off!’ would be nice.  I hope he’s a fan…I wonder if he’s heard our record?  He must have!  Probably somebody has said to him “This guy sounds like you!”  and he thought (puts on a grumpy voice) “White boy steals my shit!”  He’s my biggest influence, I would say.  He is such an amazing, thoughtful, creative, fabulous songwriter and that is so cool especially in that genre.

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