We all crave a sound that's good to our ears. Music. It consoles our feelings, brings comfort, or simply a good company to pass time. However, there is undeniably one artist who creates music that's not only good to our ears but also good to our soul. I know everyone knows who he is. He is Jason Mraz!
JASON MRAZ
(image source: billboard via Twitter)
Jason Thomas Mraz, popularly known as Jason Mraz and Mr. A-Z, is an American singer-songwriter and two-time Grammy Award winner. He was born on the 23rd of June 1977 at Mechanicsville in Virginia. He is married to his second and present wife, Christina Carano.
Jason Mraz was born to a working-class family and so reaching his dreams doesn't have an easy road. After graduating high school in 1995 at Lee-Davis High School, Jason moved to New York City and enrolled at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy to work in the musical theater. He learned playing guitar by using a guitar that was supposed to be thrown away. The guitar was given by a friend. Jason dropped out from the Academy and went back to Virginia, not on Mechanicsville, but in the Shockoe Bottom area in Richmond. There he worked as an elementary school janitor and also joined Ashland Stage Company. He then entered and became a scholar at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia. He headed to San Diego instead of attending classes and pursued being a musician. For around three years, he performed once a week at a coffee house named Java Joe's in the Ocean Beach area in San Diego. This was also where he met his friend and bandmate, Toca Rivera.
Before becoming an international sensation, Jason already have released a live acoustic album entitled, "Live at Java Joe's" (repackaged as "Live & Acoustic") in 2001 which also included songs like "1000 Things", "You and I Both", and "Halfway Home". His music covers genres such as soul, reggae, funk, jazz, acoustic rock, acoustic hip hop, pop, pop rock, alternative rock, and blue-eyed soul. Aside from the guitar, he can also play other instruments like the ukulele, piano, keyboards, bouzouki, and synthesizer.
MUSIC
(image source: BRIC Celebrate BK! via Twitter)
Jason Mraz currently has 6 studio albums, 5 live albums, and 17 singles. He signed to Elektra Records in 2001 and also moved to Los Angeles. His first album, "Waiting for My Rocket to Come", was released on October 15, 2002. The album peaked at #55 on the Billboard 200. It sold one million copies and was certified Platinum. His lead single, "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)", also peaked at #3 on the Billboard 100.
After almost three years, his second album entitled, "Mr. A-Z", was released on the 26th of July 2005 under Atlantic Records. His second album was nominated at the 2006 Grammy Awards for "Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical". Meanwhile, its lead single entitled, "Wordplay", ranked 5th at the Billboard 200.
About three years again later, he released his third album on the 13th of May 2008 entitled, "We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things". It debuted on the 3rd spot at the Billboard 200 and was certified Platinum for selling one million copies. The lead single, "I'm Yours", peaked at #6 at the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed at the chart for 76 weeks which was back then, the longest record in 51 years in the magazine's history. The single was a nine-time Platinum in the U.S. It was also the Song of the Year of ASCAP in 2010. Jason Mraz also received the Hal David Starlight Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2009. Again 2009, he and his song, "I'm Yours", was nominated at the 51st Grammy Awards for "Best Male Pop Vocal Performance" and "Song of the Year". Meanwhile, the album was nominated at the Grammy's for "Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical". In the 52nd Grammy Awards, Jason won "Best Male Pop Vocal Performance" for the song "Make It Mine" and "Best Pop Vocal Collaboration with Vocals" for the song "Lucky" with Colbie Caillat.
Four years later, he released his fourth album entitled, "Love Is a Four Letter Word", on the 13th of April 2012. The album peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 while its lead single, "I Won't Give Up", ranked 8th at the Billboard Hot 100 and became #1 on the Digital Songs. It was certified four times Platinum in 2013 for selling four million copies. The album was nominated for "Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical" at the Grammy Awards in 2013.
On the 15th of July 2014, he released his fifth album entitled, "Yes!" It was his first acoustic album and collaboration with Raining Jane, an all-female folk rock band. All songs in the album were written by Jason and Raining Jane except for their cover song, "It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday", by Boyz II Men.
(video source: Jason Mraz via Youtube)
Last 10th of August this year, he released his sixth and latest album "Know". The lead single, "Have It All", was inspired from his trip to Myanmar where he received a blessing from a Buddhist monk. The song was described to bring lots of good vibes. He also did a collaboration with Meghan Trainor for the song, "More Than Friends". A music video was released for the songs, "Have It All", "Might As Well Dance" and "More Than Friends", while a lyric video was released for the other songs in the album. The "Have It All" music video includes performing arts students who were also from his hometown in Richmond.
POPULARITY
(image source: Parade)
Jason Mraz had gained fans all over the world and performed all over United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia. He also performed with Eric Clapton in front of 45,000 people at Hyde Park in London, and at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway. Some venues he had sold out shows at were Royal Albert Hall in London, Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, Madison Square Garden in New York, and O2 Arena which is the second largest venue in UK. He also performed at the White House for the 90th National Tree Lighting Ceremony with President Barack Obama and his family. In the Philippines, Jason already had done seven shows, where the latest one was still way back November 27, 2014.
DID YOU KNOW?
(image source: Jason Mraz via Twitter)
■ Jason Mraz made his broadway debut in 2017 at the musical show Waitress where he played as Dr. Pomatter.
■ Jason loves cats. He has a cat named Holmes whom he occasionally posts pictures on his social media. He even worries for his lovely feline when he's on tour just like when he extended his performance at the musical Waitress.
■ He is a known supporter of the Obama administration and so the changes in the political climate during the Trump administration affected his music. He wrote rebellious type of songs which were rejected by his record label Atlantic and was not released. This also led him to question his purpose as a singer and even had thoughts of quitting music. Getting into the musical Waitress brought his interest back to performing.
(image source: Jason Mraz via Twitter)
■ He has a 7.5 acre of avocado farm located at Oceanside, California.
■ He is also a social activist focusing on issues of the environment, human rights, and the LGBT equality. His Jason Mraz Foundation supports charities for education, human equality, and environment.
■ Aside from receiving awards as a musician, he also received awards as a social activist. Some awards he received were Humanitarian of the Year by the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association in 2010 , and the Clean Water Award by the Surfrider Association also in 2010.
■ In June 14th of this year, Jason wrote a love letter to the LGBT community through Billboard as a part of the LGBT Pride Month celebration. A line on his poem which reads, "I am bi your side", brought so much speculations regarding his sexuality. In August, two months after the letter, Jason revealed that he is now bisexual.
■ He is an investor at a vegan restaurant named Cafe Gratitude located in Los Angeles. In honor of the establishment, he named one of his tours Gratitude Cafe.
■ He does yoga and has a couple of random videos while on tour which were uploaded on his official Youtube channel such as "The Nose Olympics". His dad also goes with him on tours and is hands on to Jason's shows.
(image source: Jason Mraz via Twitter)
■ The songs he wrote in the album, "Know", were mostly for his wife.
■ During high school, Jason was a member of the cheerleading squad, drama club, and school chorus.
(image source: Jason Mraz via Twitter)
■ Some of his merchandise includes chocolates from his farm, Mraz Family Farms, recycled shirts made from unsold tees from his previous tours, and wallets made from banners during his tours.
■ His surname means "frost" in Czech language.
■ Jason Mraz never wanted to be in the limelight his entire life. He prefers his life to be simple than be on the spotlight. He would only write songs when he likes to. When the time comes that he quits his singing career, he would rather return to his farm and live a peaceful and humble life.
WHY I LOVE JASON MRAZ
(video source: Jason Mraz via Youtube)
Jason Mraz's music was kind of special for me. I first knew him through his "The Remedy" music video which played on a music video countdown program at MTV. I was in elementary back then and I really liked the song because of its happy tune and I also can't forget the music video because of the chickens inside the car while he was driving. My sister likes him too and that made me remember his name even when I grew up. I remember inviting a friend to our internet cafe during high school to show the video with the speakers in full blast. (Proud and shameless! Who cares, it's Jason Mraz and the shop is ours!)
When I got my first smartphone in college, I began storing a lot of his songs. Studio albums, and audios from his different shows. This was the first time that I got addicted over music. The live versions of his songs were so heavenly that I couldn't stop listening to it. Discovering the rest of his songs felt like opening a treasure box filled with precious gems. I would even play his songs on speaker mode of my phone almost every single day of our vacant periods for around two to three semesters during college. My friends know me as a Jason Mraz fan before I got into Japanese music. (Not sure if they still remember though.) I loved him even more when I knew that he owns an avocado farm because I love avocados!
His singing voice alone is beautiful enough to listen to, and his creative words and playful style of singing really makes me want to listen to his songs on repeat. You know, when it comes to your favorite artist, listening to their music isn't enough. You have this urge of seeing and hearing them live, and so I kept wishing to be able to attend his concert someday.
GOOD VIBES TOUR
(image source: Jeff Coffman; posted by Jason Mraz via Twitter)
Now that Jason had released a new album, "Know", he is now back for an album tour too! The tour is called "Good Vibes Tour" which began on July 27 at Cleveland and will continue around the United States until September. From November to December, Jason will have an acoustic live show with Toca Rivera around United States. On 2019, the tour will be heading to Europe and Asia. The Europe tour will begin in February and end on March. On the other hand, the Asia tour will happen on the whole month of May. The tour will end back in United States on June.
(image source: PULP Live World via Twitter)
Jason Mraz's Asia tour includes the Philippines and is the first stop on his Asia leg. I know you'll ask so here's my answer. Yes! I am going to his Philippine show in Manila with my mother. The show will be on the 8th of May, a few days before Mother's Day, so I thought of having Jason's concert as my gift for my mother as well. I am sure she'll love his songs and have a fun time during the show. (Only good vibes for my mother!) Aside from her, Artgirl is also coming to watch which makes the night more special.
(Check Jason Mraz's website and social media accounts, Facebook-Twitter-Instagram, for the list of dates and venues for the Good Vibes Tour. For his Manila show on May, you can get updates through PULP Live World. You can stream Jason Mraz's music on Spotify.)
AN ARTIST WITH GOOD VIBE MUSIC
(image source: Jason Mraz via Twitter)
“Music is the weapon in the war against unhappiness.”
- Jason Mraz
Jason Mraz is an artist to be admired for so many good reasons. His inspirational music exudes positivity and his good deeds towards humanity and environment helps people to become aware of the issues in our society and also closer to give their help even in the most simple way. Aside from the heart-melting songs, Jason's music inspires us to become humble, simple, happy, and appreciative of nature. We need more artists like him in the music industry. I hope he doesn't quit on his singing career soon and rather continue bringing joy and good vibes to the whole universe.
Thanks for reading!
✧ Katsanslimites
