He started out playing coffee shops in San Diego but Jason Mraz is now a world-renowned singer-songwriter, even if he often longs for the cappuccino days. RealMusic Blog met up with him recently to talk about his new single I’m Yours, playing the Nobel Peace Prize Concert, going home for Christmas to feed his cats and how much he loves his UK fans…
Your new single I’m Yours is out this week, which is a reggae-infused slice of summer pop - are you trying to bring a bit of warmth into December?
“Perhaps! The song was written in the summer of 2004 and it’s been a happy hippy song we’ve been singing for a few years now. It’s about generosity, so it fits with the spirit of Christmas at least.”
Did you think about doing a remix with sleigh bells on?
“No, but perhaps we should!” (Laughs)
The song’s been knocking around for a while now, hitting top ten in the US and No.1 in Norway, Italy and Sweden…
“It’s really interesting to watch this song grow - from audiences singing it at my live shows to getting onto the airwaves is just wild. We played it at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert a few weeks ago and got a great reception - that was a career highlight. We’ve been to around 20 different countries this year and music is such a uniting force - it doesn’t matter where you are, as soon as the music starts the reaction is the same.”
You took some time out to backpack around the world a few years ago. What’s it like going back to the same countries now as an artist?
“It’s a different perspective - you don’t get to see anything! When you’re backpacking it’s just you and your thoughts, going to cafes and the park. When you’re on tour, you do four or five cities in a row and get a day off to explore, then you’re back on the bus again.”
Your recent album We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things went gold in the States - tell me a bit about it…
“It was a real joy to make. After my second album I decided to quit the industry and just go home, feed my cat, unpack some boxes and feel some sense of normality. I wanted to go home and be with people I knew. So I spent a year surfing and cooking in my kitchen - room service just doesn’t provide food for the soul and you need something familiar sometimes. I also made the album during that time, without anyone pressuring me about it. We tried to make it as if we never had any success, we didn’t overproduce it and it’s by far our best to date.”
You worked with James Morrison on one of the tracks - was that just a random collaboration?
“Yes - he was just in the same studio and knew that I needed another vocalist and offered to do it. He’s a great singer, so I was more than happy.”
Are you planning to hook up with him here?
“We played Shepherd’s Bush Empire in June and he joined me then to sing live, which was great. I also met up with him to co-write recently and I fell asleep. We started writing the song and I just passed out on the couch - when I woke up they were done and recording it… It sounded great though!”
You’re well known in the States, not so much in the UK - how’s that?
“It’s fine - I don’t judge success on how well known we are. We also have really loyal fans who’ve been there from the start and come back whenever I play, so that’s great. I think the UK has the most loyal fans - we sold out the Royal Albert Hall in September in a country that doesn’t sell our records or play us on the radio.”
You play the ukulele - do you use it on any song on your album?
“There’s a little in a song called If It Kills Me but it gets a bit buried on the album - I play it solely on the ukelele live though.”
You’re a male singer-songwriter on a chart circuit that’s increasingly female dominated. Do you feel any pressure to fly the flag for the boys?
“Not really - I feel more feminine than male - maybe that’s why I’m there.” (Laughs)
What do you do when one of your songs comes on the radio?
“I heard I’m Yours when I was in my car earlier in the year and I analysed it to death! It sounds good on the radio though because they use so much compression, it really beefs up the quality of the track. The first time I ever heard my song on the radio I was driving in Australia, so I was on the wrong side of the road and felt like I was in some sort of twilight zone. I looked around at other cars to see if people could see me listening to myself, but then I realised how foolish that was. (Laughs) It was a weird moment.”
What are you doing for Christmas?
“I get to go home which will be great. So I plan to surf and hang out, look after my cats.”
What would be your ideal Christmas present this year?
“I thought about getting myself a go-kart, but I probably won’t. I’m not really very into things - I like books, but as soon as I read them I pass them on.”
You’re all set for socks?
“I am. You know, many years ago I used to wear socks and then throw them away, but then I realised that wasn’t very green of me so I wash them now.”
Very rock n roll! Finally, what’s the most played song on your MP3 player?
“Bon Iver - my drummer just put it on my iPod and I fucking love it!”
Listen to Jason Mraz Radio on RealMusic
Jason Mraz’s single I’m Yours and album We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things are out now.
(Clare Lydon)
