Maroon 5 has come a long way since it was formed in 2001. The alternative pop band has released two chart-topping albums (Songs About Jane and It Won't Be Soon Before Long), enjoyed 10 hit singles and won a Grammy award; not to mention embarked on numerous tours to perform in front of millions of their fans.

Arabia is Maroon 5's next stop, where the American group – which comprises frontman Adam Levine, James Valentine on lead guitar, keyboardist Jesse Carmichael, Mickey Madden on bass and drummer Matt Flynn – makes its Middle East debut this Wednesday at Dubai Festival City.

Lead singer Levine has collaborated with the likes of the Ying Yang Twins, Kanye West, Alicia Keys and Natasha Bedingfield. But when he's not making music, the 29-year-old singer is grabbing headlines for his hilarious cameos on comedy shows, his colourful love life (he's rumoured to be dating Aussie actress Sophie Monk), and of course, for his support of Barack Obama during the 2008 American presidential election. He even appears on Malik Yusef's Promised Land, a song predicting the future of the US with Obama.

So what's next for Levine and the rest of the boys? The frontman sits down to have a chat with Emirates Business about Dubai, future plans, and a very particular acting ambition.

This will be your first time in the Middle East. Excited about this Wednesday's show?

Oh definitely. Dubai is one of those places you hear so much about, and as a band we try our best to visit as many places as we can when we go on tour.

Many American artists are wary of visiting due to the way the Middle East is portrayed on the American news. Did you have any worries about coming here?

No, we're not particularly ignorant, so we know what really goes on. We're curious to see what Dubai is like.

Do you find it strange that Maroon 5 is so popular in a region you've never visited? Does it make you grateful for the internet?

I love it. It gives bands more opportunities to succeed. It's amazing how anyone from anywhere in the world can watch our videos and listen to our music on YouTube.com, for example.

How is the global credit crunch affecting you and the music industry?

Well, certainly a band signing a record deal and selling so many CDs is no longer the case. But that has been going on for a while now. The key to making money lies within touring. It gives bands more opportunities to succeed, and it gives them more freedom.

Sounds like you're not a fan of major record labels.

I've never been a champion of corporate record companies. I think that record companies have always robbed bands blind. But now the industry is crumbling, because artists are no longer selling 30 to 40 million records. It's good for the artist, because now they can go on tour and make more income. But now there are also deals that dictate that a percentage of what the band makes from touring must go to the company. It shows how bad the business is. In defence of the companies, they are great for money, and us working with a major label got us the financing. Don't get me wrong, we work with great people and we respect their creative opinion and vice-versa. I don't want to look like I'm just bashing. They're not all evil – but we're wary because you hear a lot of horror stories. We want to make sure that no-one is messing with us creatively.

So would you say you're business-savvy?

Not really, but I like to be wary. It's a good thing to know the business going on around you. Outside of the music world, I don't have business in my brains.

You've just released your first remix album, Call And Response: The Remix Album. When's your third studio album due?

Once we're done touring, we're going to take a couple of months off, then start work on the new record. But we want to release the third album soon. I'm predicting the beginning of 2010.

Maroon 5 is appearing in Nicholas Stoller's forthcoming film, Get Him to the Greek, and you do a bit of acting in music videos. Is Hollywood next?

A video is easy because you don't have to talk, but I tell you what, I'd love to be in James Bond.

As 007?

No, I'd love to be a Bond villain. I'd be happy, but to be honest, I doubt that's ever going to happen.

So what do you think of Daniel Craig as Bond?

You know what, he's the best James Bond ever. Even better than Sean Connery. There – I said it!


The ultimate Maroon 5 mix cd

1) This Love
2) If I Never See Your Face Again (Swizz Beats remix feat. Cross)
3) Sunday Morning
4) She Will Be Loved
5) Won't Go Home Without You
6) Miss You, Love You
7) Wake Up Call (Mark Ronson remix feat. Mary J. Blige)
8) Makes Me Wonder
9) Harder To Breathe
10) Not Falling Apart (Tiesto remix)
11) Must Get Out
12) Better That We Break (Ali Shaheed Muhammad remix)
13) Sunday Morning (Questlove remix)
14) This Love (Tricky Stewart remix)