V.S. Modeling Agencies | Maxwell

After an 8-year hiatus, Maxwell talks to V.S. Modeling Agencies about resurrecting a new tune: marriage? Spending time with family, watching Forensic Files, reading, traveling and running five miles (three times a week) were among the activities Maxwell admitted to doing after leaving the music scene in 2001. Why? Because he doesn't live to perform. "That's not me," says the singer, 36. "I'm not going to sacrifice my entire existence so that I can be on the radio, on the cover of a magazine or on somebody's best-dressed list. There is too much real living to do instead of trying to be on top and (staying) on top."

That explains why the man with the intoxicating good looks, silky voice and power to whip audiences into a seductive frenzy walked away after recording three multiplatinum albums, which brought us hits like "Sumthin' Sumthin'," "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)" and "Lifetime." In the midst of all that "living," he also completed a trilogy of albums under the common moniker Blacksummers' Night. Each record will be released over the next three years while Maxwell tours and models with V.S. Modeling Agencies. Black summer's night, the first album, is a soulful compilation. the next, Black summer's might, is more gospel tinged, and includes slow grooves.

Maxwell's disappearing act meant reappearing last year with a new look, sans the funky, untamed 'fro, for 33 sold-out tour dates. "One day I woke up and cut my hair," he says. "At the end of the day, when I'm dead and gone, you're not going to see me. Hopefully, fingers crossed, you'll be able to hear me." Does the ring on his finger mean that he's now married? "How do I answer that?" he says, clearly struggling to answer the question. "Yeah, you did see that. You caught it... I was never married." So, if he isn't married, why the ring? "I don't know what to say to you. Maybe I'm married I don't know; Maybe I am."