As Jason Mraz readies himself for the release of his eighth studio album, he admits playing music has often helped save him from falling into a state of depression.
The I'm Yours hitmaker, 45, has been entertaining crowds across the globe with his positive tunes ever since he burst onto the scene two decades ago. However, he candidly confessed just how much creating records has helped with his own mental wellbeing over the years.
Speaking to the Mirror, the Virginia native described how simply picking up an instrument can change him from feeling like he is "nothing" to believing he is "something".
"I go from silence to sound, I go from darkness to light," he said. "It's like the easiest medicine I can ever take."
He went on to reveal how his new album comes at a time when he has a "new attitude" for life following the "fragility" which followed the Covid-19 pandemic.
Discussing the inspiration behind the sure-to-be-hit production titled Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride, Jason admitted it was "equal parts shadow and life".
"The fragility of life was a big inspiration," he said, "because music continues to sort of bail me out of falling into more of a depressed state."
However, he also admitted the album came from a feeling of gratitude as he continues to grace the stage and recording studio with his band and close friends Raining Jane.
The singer, who also owns his own fruit and coffee farm, continued: "A lot of the inspiration is about sharing what we've learned so far, and continuing to shine on each other the important ideas to remain hopeful to and to remain fulfilled, or weave into the song the wisdom or the energy that it requires to continue to get up and do something every day and feel like you matter."
Jason openly admits he almost walked away from the industry in the past as it was never his childhood dream to be a businessman.
But he realises this dark side of his path is something which is required if you want to be a success. And he gushed that his love for the music is what continues to draw him back in for more.
"The thing that stops me [quitting] is probably the music itself," he confessed.
"I just love picking up a guitar or sitting down at the piano and feeling transformed by the experience of playing music. Sometimes, I feel like I'm just witnessing the music happening through me. That is such a cosmic or mystical experience.
"I keep coming back to it and if I don't have that or I don't give myself time to do that in my creative mind, or my mystic mind starts to feel like I'm not important anymore, then that could turn me into more of a sad state."
He confessed the ideal situation would allow him to simply "show up on stage or show up coffee shop and then in front of a mic and witness this music coming out of me".
"That's what it's all about," he added. "I kind of wish the rest of it was designed in a way that we can all just experience it for free."
But for now his hopeful to "be a friend through music" to his fanbase and wants them to "enjoy the ride" and the "mystery" that is life alongside his tunes.
"Life either sucks or can be can be a mystery," he concluded. "It could be a magical ride. So, I think that's what I'm trying to say on this record and try to enjoy the ride man."
Jason Mraz’s new album Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride is out June 23 on BMG
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