For Adam, it pays to take risks

MANILA, Philippines - Grammy-winning American rock band Maroon 5 is back in the country for the third time for the Manila leg of its Overexposed tour.

Prior to its concert tonight at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the band performed here last year and in 2007.

In a press conference hosted by the clothing brand Bench at the Manila Peninsula yesterday, frontman Adam Levine — the latest in Bench’s line-up of international endorsers (alongside A-listers Bruno Mar, Joe Jonas, plus Michael Trevino of The Vampire Diaries and Lucy Hale of Pretty Little Liars ) — gave props to the Filipino fans for their continuous support for the band. Tickets to the band’s concert were sold-out within just a few weeks.

“Our fans here are what keep us coming back. They’re always so excited, so passionate more so than most people,” said Adam.

Since its debut in 2002, Maroon 5 has sold over 17 million albums worldwide, scored three Grammys and ruled the charts with such smash hits as This Love, She Will Be Loved, Makes Me Wonder and Moves Like Jagger, considered as Maroon 5’s biggest hit yet. Maroon 5’s fourth and latest record Overexposed, described by Adam in other interviews as the band’s most pop album, was released mid of this year, and its first single Payphone charted at No. 2 on Billboard Hot 100.

Outside the band and its accomplishments, Adam’s profile has increased what with his stint as one of the coaches in the American reality show The Voice.

Nevertheless, he downplays if not dismisses labels of him like “music icon.”

“I don’t consider myself a music icon or a style setter. I’m just glad to be doing what I love doing,” he said.

Of The Voice, which is now on its third season, he said: “The Voice has been amazing and continues to be fun and surprising.”

He particularly noted that the chemistry among the show’s musician coaches (he is joined by Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green and Blake Shelton) is now better than ever. “I don’t know if you can trust my opinion, but I think [the current] is the best season. The talents are amazing always, but the rapport [among the coaches] is [just] amazing.”

Being a clothing brand endorser, Adam, who said he doesn’t endorse anything he couldn’t really support, was also asked what his personal style is. “Simple, laidback, not too much [and] really classic,” was his response.

When the press conference’s host tried to get him to discuss a bit of his personal life by asking him a question on what he looks for in a woman, Adam, who has been linked to supermodels, warded off the question by explaining that he can’t talk about those things.

He was, however, generous with his advice for those still wanting to break into the music business and pursue their dreams of becoming a singer.

Adam pounded on the importance of consistency, saying: “Whatever it is you want to do, just do it all the time. The more you do it, the better you can get… If you got a certain knack for something, a little spark, you got to do it all the time.”

On how to achieve staying power or success, he believes there’s no secret formula to it except that it pays to be open-minded, to take risks, to diversify one’s work and to shed as much ego as one can.

Apart from Adam, the Maroon 5’s other members are Mickey Madden (bassist), James Valentine (guitarist), Matt Flynn (drummer) and PJ Morton (session keyboardist). Founding member Jesse Carmichael took an indefinite leave from the band early this year to reportedly focus on his music studies.