MANILA, Philippines?Futuretainment, a company led by actor-restaurateur and now concert promoter Marvin Agustin, has taken over the people who are mounting the Maroon 5 concert on May 23 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay.

The move reflects the aggressiveness of Agustin and his partners in joining the concert promotion business, whose biggest player at present is Renen de Guia of Ovation Productions.

What?s admirable about De Guia is that he bankrolls the concerts directly without waiting for corporate sponsorship.

If Agustin can do that as well, with an eye on major and hot new acts, the local audience may look forward to more exciting foreign concerts soon.

Already Agustin has bagged Bruno Mars who is performing on April 7 and 8 at the Cebu Waterfront Hotel and Araneta Coliseum, respectively.

It?s Maroon 5?s second time in the country, following an impressive performance in March 2008 at the Big Dome which reportedly attracted some 10,000 people.

The Inquirer talked with the band?s lead singer/rhythm guitarist Adam Levine via e-mail recently.

What was your primary motivating factor for being in a rock band?

I fell in love with music at a really young age, and started playing guitar around 10 years old. But, I think it was the combination of the excitement I?d get from hearing the awesome music on the radio and the extravagancy of the concerts my dad would take me to that made me really want to be a part of it.

Did you ever imagine this would become a full-time job?

You grow up dreaming that one day you?ll be that guy on the stage instead of the fan in the audience, but it?s still surreal to believe that this is now my full-time job.

Do you think failure and rejection in the early years helped Maroon 5 become a better band?

I think if a person or group of people has the right focus, drive and determination to succeed, that rejection will only make them stronger and fight harder to achieve their goals. So yes, our tough beginnings have definitely helped us get to where we are now.

You?ve said that turning on to black music (gospel, R&B, hip-hop) in New York improved your songwriting. Why do you think hip-hop is probably the most dynamic music genre in the current scene?

Because I think it?s more powerful and emotional. Its roots are based on a person?s soul and the words come from deep down. When someone reflects on their pain and struggles, the words and music tend to be stronger.

There are a lot of collaborations between different artists going on. Who would you like to work with, soon?

I think a collaboration with The Roots would be a great experience and produce a great product.

What?s good about fame and fortune?

The opportunity to help others who are less fortunate and in need of simple essentials to live.

And what?s bad about fame and fortune?

It makes it tough to enjoy a personal, simple life sometimes.

What?s the most valuable life lesson you?ve learned as a musician?

You should give your best in every performance.

Do you believe songs have a way of changing people?s lives for the better?

Of course, look at how ?Imagine? by John Lennon has become such a powerful and inspirational song that so many people across the world stand behind to make the earth a better place.

You?ve also been quoted as saying that ?the band is reaching its peak and may make one more album before disbanding ? Eventually I want to focus on being a completely different person because I don?t know if I want to do this into my 40s and 50s and beyond, like the Rolling Stones.? Is it also because life as a public figure has become tiring, if not complicated?

I love what I do and think that, yes, although it might be ?tiring? and ?complicated? at times, this life is a gift and I would be even more blessed than I have been if I could last as long as the Stones have. The band is strong right now and we are anxious to get back into the studio and record another album. We don?t have any plans on disbanding any time soon.