[情報] the Sun 專訪
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/sftw/article2052908.ece
Published: 18 Dec 2008
Jason Mraz
JASON MRAZ is the “American musician, occasionally bearded,
” bringing a bit of Californian sun to our winter gloom.
His new single I’m Yours, already a huge hit Stateside,
bears one of those tunes that gets inside your head and
refuses to go away.
Lilting vocals and laid-back acoustic grooves are his stock
in trade and a recent sold-out show at the Royal Albert
Hall proves that his “new Jack Johnson” claims are well
founded.
His album We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. gets a
re-release in the New Year to reflect his growing success.
It showcases Jason’s genre-hopping abilities with folk,
pop, rock, hip-hop, jazz, soul and reggae all finding a
place as well as duets with Colbie Caillat and our own
James Morrison.
The trilby-wearing singer from San Diego jetted into London
this week and SFTW caught up with him:
WHAT was your earliest experience of music?
The Muppets. Fuzzy creatures dedicated to growth and
happiness, using music and life lessons. These days my
music seems to be about the same thing.
Whose music influenced you growing up?
I listened to the radio, so I was influenced by everyone
from Michael Jackson to Milli Vanilli. But thankfully my
dad had a collection of Cat Stevens albums while my mom was
listening to jazz. It was well rounded enough.
What convinced you it would be your career?
I couldn’t keep any other job. Music was always the
distraction, so it was the obvious choice to pursue. My dad
always said to find a job I love to do, that way it wouldn’
t feel like a job. So I did that.
You combine a lot of genres, is it important not to be
pigeonholed?
It is important to not be boring, yes. Genre-spanning is
the effort to make the live show interesting. It’s also a
great way to challenge yourself as a writer.
What was your biggest breakthrough moment?
Well, I’ve been happily supporting myself for ten years
now on the hustle and trade of live entertainment. I guess
my breakthrough moment was when I decided to go for it once
and for all.
You’ve opened gigs for people like the Stones and Alanis
Morissette – what did they teach you?
The Stones gave us a lesson in longevity and how to care
about yourself. Surprisingly enough, they were not the
party band you imagine.
Alanis was more like a big sister on the tour, always
checking in on us, which improved the way we all interact
with each other on tour.
I’m Yours has been around for three years, why do you
think it took so long to catch on?
Likely because the song never had a home on any album until
now. Though for the fans that have heard it on stage for
the three years prior, it caught on instantly.
It has been a huge hit in the States, how important is
success in the UK to you?
It’s not. And neither is it anywhere else in the world.
Chart success and raising my profile isn’t what drives me.
Those tend to be more of a distraction than anything. We’
ve been visiting the UK for five years now and our fans
always turn up. This year we played a sold-out show at the
Royal Albert Hall, that was without radio play and album
sales. So that kind of success isn’t required to do what
we do. I’m just happy if I have a place to play music.
What is the song about?
Generosity. About giving yourself or your time to someone
or something else.
And what is the message behind Beautiful Mess, the song you
performed at the Nobel Peace Prize concert?
It’s a song about embracing every quality of your
significant other. You have to take the good and the bad to
get the real person.
How did you get to know Colbie Caillat and what was she
like to duet with on Lucky? Ditto James Morrison on Details
In The Fabric?
I became a fan of Colbie through MySpace and just
cold-called her to see if she’d want to write and sing
together. I dug her laid-back style and her attention to
little things that make relationships work. She was a
delight to share the mic with.
James was hanging around the studio while we worked and he
knew we needed a vocalist on details, so it was as simple
as asking and him.
He was very gracious with his time and talent.
How come you released three EPs in the build-up to the
album?
I released acoustic versions and demos of the forthcoming
album for the fans who were expecting an acoustic album,
and also because it had been so long since I’d released
anything. I didn’t want my return to be more pop. I’d
been living in coffee shops again and it was important for
me to share that process.
In this digital age, do you think the days of albums are
numbered?
I doubt it. Artists will continue to emerge and with them
will come a plethora of music.
How will you spend Christmas?
At home in San Diego, gobbling pills and catching waves and
reminding my cat just who his daddy is.
What are your plans/hopes in 2009?
I just hope to stay healthy and grateful for the
opportunity to explore the world and share music with so
many great people. Next year is all about touring.
--
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