Adam Levine is one of the most famous and successful musicians in the world, as the lead singer of the pop rock band Maroon 5 and a former coach on the hit show The Voice. But is he related to another singer named Ryan Levine, who is also from Los Angeles and has been involved in several bands over the years? The answer is no, they are not related by blood or marriage, but they do have some connections and similarities that might surprise you.
How They Met
According to Wikipedia, Adam Levine met Ryan Levine in 1994, when they were both teenagers and aspiring musicians. They formed a garage band called Kara’s Flowers, along with Jesse Carmichael, Mickey Madden, and Ryan Dusick. Adam was the lead vocalist and lead guitarist, while Ryan was the bassist and backing vocalist. The band released their only album, The Fourth World, in 1997, but it was a commercial failure and they disbanded shortly after.
How They Diverged
After Kara’s Flowers broke up, Adam Levine and Ryan Levine went on different musical paths. Adam reformed the band with Carmichael, Madden, and Dusick in 2001, adding James Valentine as a new guitarist and changing their name to Maroon 5. Their debut album, Songs About Jane, was released in 2002 and became a huge success, launching their career as one of the most popular bands in the world. They have since released six more albums and won three Grammy Awards.
Ryan Levine, on the other hand, formed a new band with Andrew Ampaya, Sal Cortez, Ryan Clark, and Agustin Sanchez in 2004. They called themselves Test Your Reflex and signed with RCA Records, the same label as Maroon 5. They released their debut album, The Burning Hour, in 2007, but it did not achieve much commercial or critical acclaim. They also appeared on a tribute album to The Smashing Pumpkins and opened for them on one of their shows. However, Test Your Reflex disbanded in 2009.
How They Reconnected
After Test Your Reflex split up, Ryan Levine and Andrew Ampaya continued to make music together under different names. They first called themselves No Country, then Low Shoulder, and finally Wildling. As Wildling, they signed with Warner Bros. Records in 2014 and released their first EP, Here. They also appeared on several TV shows and movies as themselves or as fictional bands.
One of these movies was Jennifer’s Body (2009), a horror comedy starring Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried. In this movie, Ryan Levine and Andrew Ampaya played members of a band called Low Shoulder (the same name they used at the time), who were responsible for a demonic ritual that turned Fox’s character into a man-eating succubus. Adam Levine also had a cameo in this movie as himself, performing with Maroon 5 at a prom.
Another movie that featured both Adam Levine and Ryan Levine was Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016), a mockumentary comedy starring Andy Samberg as a former boy band member turned solo artist. In this movie, Adam Levine played himself as one of Samberg’s rivals and collaborators, while Ryan Levine played a member of his former boy band, The Style Boyz.
How They Compare
Adam Levine and Ryan Levine have some similarities besides their last name and their musical background. They are both from Los Angeles and have Jewish ancestry. They are both singers and guitarists who write their own songs. They are both married to models: Adam to Behati Prinsloo since 2014 and Ryan to Jessica Hart since 2021. They both have three children: Adam has three daughters (Dusty Rose, Gio Grace, and Sumner) and Ryan has two sons (Hudson James and Luca) and one daughter (Baby).
However, they also have some differences that set them apart. Adam Levine is more famous and successful than Ryan Levine, having sold over 120 million records worldwide with Maroon 5 and won multiple awards and accolades. He is also more versatile and adventurous than Ryan Levine, having ventured into acting, television hosting, fashion designing, fragrance launching, record producing, and philanthropy.
Ryan Levine is more low-key and less mainstream than Adam Levine, having been involved in several indie rock bands that did not achieve much fame or fortune. He is also more loyal and consistent than Adam Levine, having stuck with his musical partner Andrew Ampaya for over 15 years under different names.
Conclusion
Adam Levine and Ryan Levine are not related by blood or marriage, but they do have some connections and similarities that make them interesting to compare. They both started out as teenage musicians in Los Angeles who formed garage bands with their friends. They both went on to pursue different musical careers with varying degrees of success. They both appeared in some movies as themselves or as fictional characters. They both married models and had three children. They both share a passion for music and a talent for singing and playing guitar. However, they also have some differences that make them unique and distinctive. Adam Levine is more famous and successful than Ryan Levine, having achieved global stardom with Maroon 5 and diversified his career into other fields. Ryan Levine is more low-key and less mainstream than Adam Levine, having remained faithful to his indie rock roots and his musical partner Andrew Ampaya. They are both admirable and inspiring in their own ways, and they both deserve respect and recognition for their achievements.
