Unplugging to say goodbye to his fans

JASON Mraz is literally unplugging his guitar in every sense of the word. His upcoming intimate theatre shows in Singapore could be his last and he will perform acoustically - a throwback to 15 years ago when he was a struggling musician playing in San Diego coffee shops with just his guitar for accompaniment.

This back-to-basics tour will be a farewell to remember for his fans as the two-time Grammy winner plans to play a comprehensive three-hour set - complete with intermissions in between - that will feature his classic hits alongside new songs from his latest album, Yes!. A regular fixture and hot ticket on the local concert calendar, Mraz has previously played three sold-out shows here - with his last one in 2012 at Gardens by the Bay being his biggest to date.

Although the 37-year-old is now at the peak of his popularity, he says nothing will make him change his mind about retiring from the music business before he hits 40 as he plans to concentrate on farming back home in California and devote his time to charity work.

A social activist who supports a wide range of issues including climate change and human rights, he also established the Jason Mraz Foundation three years ago.

"When I play my music, I always hope I serve a purpose greater than myself; and I care very deeply about finding a solution to the biggest problem we face on our planet - that's global climate change, caused by pollution from human beings like you and me," he says in an e-mail interview.

"If we believe in the idea that everything is disposable then we should be prepared to be disposable too," Mraz warns, before adding that cutting back on everyday items like single-use plastics bags, water bottles and paper coffee cups is not only beneficial for the environment but can also help save money.

This sense of optimism and hope are common themes in his songwriting and the positivity is obvious from the title of the new album, Yes!, which he recorded with the folk-pop-rock quartet, Raining Jane. The all-female group will be performing in Singapore for the first time with Mraz in the upcoming shows.

"Yes inspires creativity; it's what allows creativity to occur; yes is love; yes is what gave us life; we're all here because two people said yes," Mraz explains, before adding the word is the "connector" because the whole album is the product of it. "If anyone on our journey had said 'no', we wouldn't be where we are," adds the vegan, who admits he doesn't shy away from writing one love ballad after another and that is a conscious decision on his part because he feels "a song should be an affirmation of some kind".

Although Mraz has been collaborating with Raining Jane since 2007 - they co-wrote the hit single, A Beautiful Mess from his 2008 album, We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things - Yes! is the first full album he's written with them. It peaked at No 2 on the Billboard charts upon its release in July this year.

Mraz adds that working with different musicians is nothing new as he puts together a new band for every album he's recorded so far. "I'm used to reinventing myself, and (Yes!) gave me the opportunity to reinvent in a more acoustic music style, (where) we had to think differently about our voices and the similarities and sounds of the instruments."

The plan initially was to record only an EP but the songwriting sessions held from October 2012 to February 2013 blew him away when he listened to them.

Recalling those moments when the five of them would just sit in a circle and play whatever came to mind, Mraz enthuses: "Their approach to music and their voices definitely bring a tenderness and sentiment to this record that some of my (earlier ones) don't have."

An Acoustic Evening with Jason Mraz and Raining Jane takes place at The Star Theatre on Nov 17 and 18 at 8pm. Tickets from S$68-S$168 are on sale now at Sistic