Vintage tank top from Search & Destroy; stylist’s own Ray-Ban sunglasses; Levine’s own Dickies pants (throughout).


In the decade since the release, Maroon 5 has recorded three more albums (two of them with drummer Matt Flynn, who replaced Dusick in 2006). Along the way, their musical style has evolved, moving away from the funky rock-pop they started out with toward a more mainstream sound featuring synth elements, electronic drum loops, and the heavy dance beats that often dominate today’s Top 40. It hasn’t gone unnoticed by music critics, many of whom criticized Overexposed for sounding overproduced. But Levine doesn’t lose sleep over it.

“Music critics are all fucking idiots,” he says two minutes into our interview, which took place two weeks after the album’s release. “The way that we make our records is no different from the way that certain bands make their records with just as much programming, just as many loops, and just as much fairy dust as we use.”

The thing is, most of those other bands don’t go into the record-making process with the goal of being popular—or at least they don’t admit it. Levine, however, has never been shy about his love of attention or living a life that garners plenty of it (he has a string of model ex-girlfriends, a home in the Hollywood Hills, and a Harley Fat Boy, Aston Martin DB9, and vintage Porsche 356). In fact, he is refreshingly honest about wanting to broaden his fan base. “There can only be so many bands that make raw, organic records that sound great. ... If I wanted to make a record that was super self-indulgent and all about the art I would, but I’d rather take those skills and apply them to something else, which is gathering a huge audience to appreciate the music.”

He knows his approach may put off some people, but at least it’s genuine. “There’s obviously a certain balance between pursuing an audience and pursuing what you love to do, but I love what we do. ... I would never put out a record I didn’t want to listen to.” And it’s obvious he’s not the only one listening. Overexposed debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart, and “Payphone” reached number one on the Billboard Hot AC and Top 40 charts. Levine relishes the success. “I get off on that ability to connect with a large group of people. That’s what I aim for when we’re making music,” he says. “I’d much rather be able to go to Indonesia and sing a song that we wrote and have everyone sing the words than be hiding and playing in a little club.”