Maroon 5 teases new music ahead of Columbia concert

Maroon 5’s world tour returns to North American arenas this fall, and audiences – including Columbia on Saturday, Sept. 10 – have a chance to hear the pop rock band’s newly finished and unreleased single.

The band reportedly shot a companion music video for the song in L.A. at the end of August, dressed as anime-like monsters (frontman Adam Levine sported a blue turtle costume).

It’s all under wraps for now, lead guitarist James Valentine said in a phone interview.

“All I can say is there’s a new video and a new song. There’s a sniper pointed at me right now if I reveal any more details,” he said, with mock seriousness.

However, he did reveal that “there is a very, very good chance of hearing the song” at the Columbia concert at Colonial Life Arena. “We’re excited to take it out on the road.”

The tour features support from Swedish singer-songwriter Tove Lo, indie pop band Phases and hip-hop/reggae fusion duo R. City – whose song “Locked Away” features Levine. Tove Lo and R. City will open the Columbia show.

Maroon 5 last played in Columbia in 2007 at Colonial Life Arena. In addition to Valentine and Levine, the band is Jesse Carmichael, Mickey Madden, Matt Flynn and PJ Morton.

The promise of new music is exciting news for fans who have been waiting two years since Maroon 5’s last release “V,” which included hits “Maps” and “Sugar.” The album was a continuation of the band’s move toward a more electronic pop/dance sound, but Valentine has hinted that the next album will be more of a throwback to Maroon 5’s debut, “Songs About Jane.”

Before the band arrives in Columbia, Valentine chatted more about the band’s new tunes, canceling shows in North Carolina and why the group is more relaxed than ever.

Q: “V” came out almost exactly two years ago. How would you sum up the last two years in a sentence or two?

Valentine: It’s, um, oh man, it’s an interesting part of our career. I think we’ve hit our stride in terms of touring and putting out records. Initially, when Adam joined “The Voice,” there was an adjustment period, getting used to touring and making records around his schedule. Up until then, we had been all about the band 24/7. It’s been nice because the rest of the band has been allowed some breathing room. To sum up the last two years, it’s been fruitful and productive, but also way more relaxing. And that was way more than two sentences.

Q: It’s been said the band is beginning work on a new album and that the sound is going to be more like “Songs About Jane.” Is that true?

Valentine: Well, we’re starting to think about the new album. That has been discussed, about the possibility of going back to more of a “Songs About Jane” feel. But we always have a plan and we always end up doing something completely different. We get into the studio and see what we’re feeling. So who knows?

Q: How hard is it to find time to create new music between touring and band members having different commitments, like Adam being on “The Voice”?

Valentine: It hasn’t affected the way we make records. The TV schedule is planned far, far in advance, so we know the dates we need to work around. We make it work.

Q: Maroon 5 cancelled shows in Raleigh and Charlotte because of HB2. Did those cancellations influence the decision to play in Columbia?

Valentine: I’m not sure if those were related to be honest. I think it might have been. There might have been some shuffling of dates because of that. That was a tough decision for us but we were speaking up against this bill we don’t agree with.

Q: You’ve been involved in some environmental advocacy, with a documentary about illegally logged wood being used to make instruments. Why is that an important issue for you?

Valentine: It was brought to our attention by Reverb, that there was a problem with the illegal logging of woods that are used in instruments, in guitars. It was surprising that it was news to me. It’s very much like blood diamonds. There’s a whole organized crime moving illegal wood. Lots of violence, not to mention environmental devastation. It became a no-brainer that as a guitar player – I just made my own signature guitar – I got to ask, where is this wood coming from? That’s the most important thing that consumers can do, ask and make sure the wood is coming from legal sources.

Q: Wrapping up here, your sister Amanda Valentine is also in the public eye as a former contestant on two “Project Runway” seasons. Does she ever give you fashion advice?

Valentine: Oh yeah. She actually moved out to L.A. briefly and lived with me and Adam. She helped design our very first video for “Harder to Breathe.” That was her first foray into styling. She does a lot of styling of bands in Nashville now, and makes custom clothes for Twenty One Pilots. I’m really proud of everything she’s done.

Q: Anything else?

Valentine: We’re really excited to come back (to Columbia) and it’ll be a really fun tour. I’d say for those who haven’t seen us live, it may be a different experience than you might be expecting. We make pretty slick records for the radio, but our live performances are much more of a rock show than people might expect.

This story was originally published September 7, 2016 at 8:28 AM with the headline "Maroon 5 teases new music ahead of Columbia concert."