One year ago, Annie got the chance to interview her musical crush,
Jason Mraz, for a local magazine. Unfortunately, the magazine went out of business before her issue was published.
Here is the article that she submitted.
Enjoy!
I’ve always loved pop music. I don’t like to admit it, but I do. If I start dating someone new and musical preferences come up, I lie. I talk about the cool and unusual music that I listen to, but never mention the soft rock and pop music that lurks in the back of my CD case.
It all started when I was eight. I was decked out in my black stirrup pants and my shirt with the vest attached. New Kids on the Block were about to take the stage and the thought of them catching a glimpse of me in all my pre-pubescent glory sent me running to the bathroom five times to pee out of nervousness. They danced and lip-synched, and I was smitten. I went home and did a fake radio interview from my bedroom and dreamed about getting the chance to one-day interview a pop star.
Fast-forward 15 years, and my dream has come true. I’ve traded in my stirrup pants for new designer jeans that look old and gross and I’m getting ready to do a real telephone interview Jason Mraz from his home in San Diego.
Jason’s performance on Austin City Limits about a year ago blew me away, and I bought his album Waiting for my Rocket to Come the next day. While nothing like NKOTB, Jason’s music is still seen as pop – especially because of the late-2002 hit, “The Remedy.” Determined to play it cool – and consequently validate moving his CD to the front of my case – I chatted with Jason about dealing with being defined by a hit single, his upcoming release, and Fear Factor, among other things.
I’ve only peed twice waiting for the call…
Q: Your first song released from your debut CD was The Remedy. While a catchy tune, it didn’t really showcase your talent that was evident throughout the rest of the album. What have you learned from this?
A: The first single we wrote for the new album is a kind of satirical song about what is expected from a single to go to radio. It sounds like the Remedy Part II with the rest of the songs being a bit more musical. But this time around we made light of it, kind of a satire about what you’d expect.
Q: You made a pretty ballsy move when you came out with your second CD as a live album. What made you decide to do that?
A: Up until the point of releasing the live CD we were just known as “the remedy guy” and there are a lot of people that probably don’t want to go to a concert for that remedy guy but we’ve been playing shows for a lot longer than that. We wanted to let people know what else there could possibly be from the remedy guy. And it also came at a perfect time because we were touring and really didn’t have the time to get off the road and get into the studio to make the next album. So we were able to make that second album that night in Milwaukee. We had to fill our contractual obligation to make the second album but we were able to make it on the road, which is a great bridge to the next studio album.
Q: When you look at yourself at 50, what do you see? Will you be on Celebrity Fit Club or will you still be performing?
A: I’ll probably just be running a coffee shop, but it would be great if I could still be touring a couple of times a year. I do hope to be doing this when I’m 40. I’d like to keep writing and keep challenging myself. As long as I have a place in the business I’m going to keep taking a stab at it . . . making more records. I have a couple of books that I’m working on so hopefully in the next 5 years those will come out…just a little hobby that I work on in the morning. I’m very low key and I don’t want to give myself too many responsibilities.
Q: You grew up in Virginia and seem like a laid back guy that’s not running towards the spotlight or aiming to get in US Weekly. How do you handle the fame and sort through all the bullshit that comes with being a celebrity?
A: I just try to think back to when I was really affected by the music and I wanted a poster of that person on my wall. I think the person is more symbolic. All the hype I hear about “people love Jason Mraz”, I think they love the music and how it fits into their lives, but when I look around I still live with my same friends and my same family. All that hype and all that stuff that’s on the Internet doesn’t affect me and what I do on a day-to-day basis. I’m aware of it, know it’s out there and appreciate it so that continues to fuel why I work hard.
Q: You were doing a radio interview in Japan and were asked which song is most representative of your life and you decided on Elton John’s Rocketman. What song is representative of how you feel now and how you are growing?
A: Hmm, very good question. Peaceful Easy Feeling I guess. Rocket ride hasn’t taken off yet; we’re kind of on the launch pad counting down.
Q: Would you do a reality TV show?
A: I don’t know if I could do that. When we made the DVD for the live album it was 2 guys with their camera and we knew those 2 guys really well. A TV show is a little different I’d imagine. I’ve been approached to be a guest on reality TV shows. I’ve yet to say yes to them, I’d don’t think I’ve quite found the right one for me. It’s not something that has gotten my attention just yet. I don’t think I could handle cameras filming me just trying to be normal or doing challenges to get a better room in my house or something. But an actual game show I would totally do. I’d jump off the cliff on Fear Factor.
