Maroon 5 - What Lovers Do (feat. SZA) [iTunes-AAC].m4a

As the pop-rock band (though it’s more pop than rock these days) gears up to release its upcoming album, Maroon 5 have dropped another single to keep fans satiated while they put the finishing touches on what could be another big era for the group.

“What Lovers Do” is a laid-back affair that follows in the footsteps of recent previous releases, though this time around, the band is even more relaxed than before. It's more calming than sultry, which is probably what frontman Adam Levine was going for, though it's not an all-around bad attempt to contribute something unique to the current Top 40 landscape. While he usually likes being the star of the show, it's the featured guest who really shines on this song, which feels more like a glorified album track than a true single, and her presence may help this tune shine in ways it wouldn't be able to if it were just Levine and co.

The poppy cut features R&B singer SZA, who is finally breaking into the mainstream in a noticeable way after years of being a critical favorite. This year alone, she has launched her debut full-length album Ctrl at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, and just recently, her single “Love Galore” broke into the Top 40 on the Hot 100, granting the singer-songwriter her first appearance inside that important region.


“What Lovers Do” appears to be the third official single from Maroon 5’s upcoming sixth full-length, and while no concrete details have emerged about that album, all signs suggest that it’s coming sooner, rather than later. It has been three full years since the hitmakers last released an album, and they aren’t known for taking long breaks in between cycles.

The promotion around this as-yet-untitled record began last fall, when the band dropped the tropical pop effort “Don’t Wanna Know,” which went on to peak at No. 6, giving the band their twelfth top 10 cut. Just a few months later in early 2017, the group followed that success story up with the decidedly-chill “Cold,” which also ended up performing well, stalling at No. 16 on the Hot 100.