Jason Mraz lives in a beautiful, bright world that most of us can only dream about. The wave-riding, bare-footed, guitar-toting musician sings about love in the most positive, the most saccharine-sweet way that the entire human race will ever hear.
Also you can't escape Mraz. Since 2008, most weddings here in Thailand either have I'm Yours or Lucky as their main theme song. Whatever happened to Here Comes The Bride, we will never find out.
The 36-year-old cat lover started out on San Diego's coffee house scene. His debut, Waiting For My Rocket To Come, hit the shelves in 2002, but it took him one more album, and six more years to arrive at his global success when he released We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things in 2008. Last year's release Love Is A Four Letter Word followed suit with a hit single I Won't Give Up.
Just like his music, Mraz appeared to be full of shining optimism. His gentle nature radiated through his voice, and his facial expressions brimmed with kindness. Carrying fresh water and a hot herbal drink and wearing his flannel shirt partly buttoned, Mraz joyfully tackled Thai journalists' interviews in the blink of an eye before his packed show at the recent Sonic Bang Music Festival in Bangkok.
Here's what he had to say for himself.
What's up with your bead necklace?
You know, every time I lose them, they seem to reappear in my life. They're very special to me. When I'm really in a bad place, I'll go through these, and try to think of names of 108 people.
Can you tell us a bit about your new album?
My approach is the same. You're gonna hear sunshine. You're gonna hear optimism. You're gonna hear positivity and tools for transformation. But sonically, it's gonna sound a lot different. Lyrically, it's the same optimism. That's my mission, my goal is to leave the world a better place than we found it. Some of it is humorous. Some of it medicinal, healing.
We've heard that you always write a new song in every country you go to. Have you written anything here?
Yes, I have. Last time I was here, I wrote a song called Five More Minutes. It's about how my girlfriend and I, when we say our goodbyes, we just wish we had five more minutes.
What is your writing process?
There are two ways. First, you can sit down, and start working on it. Stay really focused. Or you can play. You can play with your instruments and words, and then you just capture it. I try not to force the topics. I try to write whatever that is going on in life. Otherwise I have to create a situation where I have to go back to my past. Sometimes I have a narrative running in my head. You know that voice, so I try to use that voice to get it on the page. Then the process is editing. I usually write the songs to be very long. They eventually get cut because it's not necessary for me to keep on telling the story. It's enough in the first two verses. It's finished when it feels like there's a closure, when I feel like I've got it. Sometimes that process takes an hour; sometimes it takes weeks.
Your music is about love and sharing love, what else would you like to share?
I want to share my resources, my food, my shelter, and I want to take care of my family. Secondly, I want to share my time by listening. I think that's what a lot of people want. They want to feel loved. They want to feel heard. I only cared about myself for a long time, but when I grew up I wanted to see what I can give to the world.
To you, what is love?
It's hard to describe. I've attempted to describe it in series of songs. I also say that love is a four-letter word because it's so hard to describe. Love is sharing, giving. When we give and share with someone, we bridge the gaps between us, and creativity occurs. To me, love is creativity.
Your big message is positivity, but you must be in a bad mood from time to time?
Always!
Well, a lot of artists use their music to express their anger, what is your outlet then?
Well, I have my angry songs, my angry poems and my angry journals, but I arrive at positivity because I sit in the dark place and I feel it, then I dig my way out of it. I don't identify with being sad. I don't identify with being mean. I say to myself: "Okay, now I'm sad. What can I do to make myself happy again?" Every time I try to overcome something, I transform. I do write sad songs, but I don't want to sell them. I don't want to sing them on stage. I don't want to say: "I'm sad everyone. Be sad with me." You can acknowledge there's sadness in the world, but then you can provide a mantra that might get yourself out of it.
You've said that what you do is not work, but play. But being constantly on the road must take its toll sometimes?
Yeah, it does somehow. It's just like watching a long movie. We travel comfortably enough. You know, we were on the road in the monsoon, and there are people on the back of a pickup truck trying to stay dry, so I have no rights to complain when I'm warm and comfortable, and my job is to sing when I don't know where those guys are heading.
Where do you feel music is going?
It's gonna go in every direction. Technology allows you to make music on your phone. Technology creates new genres. But it doesn't mean that people aren't still picking up guitars, ukuleles or banjos, and still creating. I think music will continue to evolve, but I don't think any styles will be getting left behind.
What would be your best advice to give to aspiring artists?
To remember that music is the reward. The reward isn't screaming fans. The reward isn't the money. The reward isn't being on the radio. The reward is that relationship you have with music. And that is the foundation of your work; you'll always be successful. Just be with your instruments and lose yourself. Also don't be too hard on yourself.
