Mraz is a four-letter word

MANILA, Philippines - You’ve got to hand it to Jason Mraz for the idea. You can use four-letter words to define his music. After all, in interviews, past and present, and through his active online presence, the 35-year-old American singer-songwriter unabashedly declares what he wants his music to be (or bring) about, and that is — love, life, help and hope.

Jason, who’s behind such pop favorites as Lucky, Remedy, I’m Yours, I Won’t Give Up On Us, has been quoted as saying that with the abundance of depressing music out there and bad news on TV and elsewhere, he’d like to “offer things that are a little happier.”

Different strokes for different folks, as they say, and on his part, he views his art as a way “to lift each other up” — that’s what he tells The STAR in a phone interview ahead of his scheduled return to the country for the May 14 concert at the Big Dome to play songs from his latest record Love Is A Four-Letter Word and his many other hits.  

That explains why he is (one of the most) accessible and visible on social media. His social media sites — quite the goldmine, by the way, for quotable quotes on things like spirituality, environment or relationships — are also teeming with interaction with fans. Early this year, on Twitter, he launched a song, entertained feedback, conducted a Q&A with followers and gleaned inspiration from fan tweets for a music video.

“(Social media) does help (my creativity). All artists want their music to be heard or all artists want to be heard. On social media, you can use the opportunity to be seen, be heard... as well as to really hear and know other feelings and experiences, to share messages of hope and togetherness, and to use art to lift each other up,” Jason explains to The STAR.    

Nevertheless, the music activist (he already has a foundation and among the advocacies he has taken up are climate change awareness and fight against human trafficking, a very real issue hereabouts) admits that he doesn’t usually bring up issues close to his heart in his concerts, understandably so, as he wants concertgoers to just have fun and let go.

“I will be turning up the volume,” says Jason when asked what Pinoys can expect from his third concert here. His previous show was acoustic. This time, he’s coming with a band and a bigger production.

Jason has been here, there and everywhere this past year, including to the wilderness of Antartica. But he remembers very well his shows in the Philippines, with his very first one in 2006, because “it was party, I felt like an esteemed guest.”

Whoever thought he’d reach far, literally and figuratively, it definitely wasn’t him. Jason, who started out in the old-fashioned way by pounding the coffeeshop circuit and playing solo in small venues, shares that he has felt successful long before people told him that he was a success — long before the awards, the commercial hits, the multi-platinum records, the world tours. According to Jason, “My definition of success is having to do whatever I wanna do and not have any other job. I was able to achieve that very early on, performing in coffeeshops, and I already felt then I had all the success in the world. It got me invitations to perform in other coffeeshops and other people’s clubs. Before you know it, you are performing in (amphitheaters). So, I never had a vision or intuition. I never thought about longevity.”

“I certainly hoped I would be successful,” he continues, “but I never thought anything. I’m still mystified and extremely grateful for I can play in wherever I can have fun. I’m having a lot of fun doing it, and a lot of gratitude.” 

What was clear to him though, that music made him light, giddy and happy, even as a kid growing up with a grandfather who had a great voice, a stepfather who was a drummer and a mother who played the piano.

“Since I was a little kid, I love to sing. I love the feeling, the vibration of music, your breath, your voice...Apart from the DNA that has been passed on, I think Mother Nature said, give this boy a break, a heart to do some work, to help others. (So) part of it is natural. And part of it was the opportunity to be supported.”

Asked how he stays grounded, Jason readily admits that “I don’t stay grounded always. But I guess that’s why there are practices to stay grounded. I do yoga quite regularly. It quiets my mind. I feel strong. It nurtures and develops the strength within. It develops compassion for oneself. I also eat plants as a diet. I feel clean and strong. It contributes to a feeling of being comfortable. I think comfort and peace of mind make you stay grounded.”

Meanwhile, the songsmith also confirms that a new record is in the works. While he has claimed in interviews that he is in a songwriting process constantly, it seems he is on a roll more than ever as the new album, reportedly coming out by the end of the year, is close on the heels of Love Is A Four-Letter Word.

Jason made his debut Waiting For My Rocket To Come in 2002. His sophomore record and first major commercial success, Mr. A-Z, was unveiled in 2005. His third We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things, which gave him the record-smashing single I’m Yours for lingering on the US charts for over 70 weeks, followed three years after in 2008. Then his latest, Love Is A Four-Letter Word, was just released last year, selling over nine million singles and one million albums to date while its single I Won’t Give Up is already certified triple platinum in the US.

“I’m just taking a break now, taking a break from recording. I have lots of great songs and ideas. Whatever is going on in my life is my source of inspiration for the album. That’s all I can say for now.”

As a parting shot, Jason gives an advice for those still waiting for that big break and finding their place in the music business: “I say, be humble. Whatever it is that you wanna do, do it. If you wanna perform, do it. You don’t wait for someone in the industry to choose you. You don’t waste time. Just do it. Then be humble, be grateful and enjoy the ride.” 

(Jason Mraz And His Band Live In Manila! is produced by Ovation Productions and brought to you by ETC, MMI , 2nd Avenue, Diva Universal, Jack TV RJ 100.3 FM, History Channel. It is also supported by The Philippine STAR, Manila Bulletin, BusinessWorld, Inquirer.net, Monster Radio RX 93.1,, Mellow 94.7, 96.3 Easy Rock, 97.9 Home Radio, ABS CBN, Myx and OptimaSignsolutions. Tickets are priced at P6,125, P5070, P3,700, P2,430 and P845 and are available at all Ticketnet outlets or may be purchased online at www.ticketnet.com.ph.)