Maroon 5 Talks Gwen Stefani Collaboration “My Heart Is Open,” Written By Sia

Earlier this summer, Maroon 5 revealed that No Doubt‘s Gwen Stefani will be featured in its new album V. Now, guitarist James Valentine reveals the song’s title, “My Heart Is Open,” and that it was co-written by Sia.

“Living here in Los Angeles we’ve known Sia for a long time, back from when she was just an artist, before her second act as, like, the most brilliant pop songwriter of all time, so it was really cool just to work with her,” Valentine says to Billboard. The band has great timing, as Sia’s 1000 Forms of Fear just became her first chart-topper in the United States.

When news of the collaboration broke, frontman Adam Levine didn’t divulge much but did give away that he enjoyed the process. (“We just sat around and talked for hours,” he said.) Turns out, Maroon 5 was also excited because No Doubt had influenced the band when they were known as pop-rock outfit Kara’s Flowers.

“A lot of times when you meet your idols it’s a letdown, but it’s the opposite case with Gwen, apparently,” Valentine said, of the two Voice coaches meeting each other.

Read Valentine’s full interview about V, out September 2, at Billboard.

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