Here are 10 Things We Love About Jason Mraz

1. He’s a Forward Thinker

Before every concert, Jason visualizes being in front of the crowd and puts himself in a place where he’s actually communicating and connecting with the audience. He uses the same skills in his everyday life. “If you start your day visualizing how you want your day to go and what you’ll do and say to certain groups of people, you really will execute it with grace.”

2. He Keeps it Raw

As a part of his healthy lifestyle, Jason only eats raw food. “It’s made eating a lot easier on the road instead of just succumbing to room service and fast food which can take a lot out of you physically and financially,” he explains. “It’s just a matter of doing some simple produce shopping everywhere I go.” Rather than indulge in culinary temptations, he sticks to eating fruits and vegetables everyday, as well as nuts for protein.

3. He’s a Smoothie Operator

As part of his raw-food diet, he starts each day with the most “insane super food smoothie”! And because he’s always traveling, he has to carry around his own blender and ingredients in a box, which he calls his “little kitchen.” The ingredients include goji juice, coconut oil, bee pollen, fish oils, and agave, all of which is topped off with an avocado and a banana. “On some days,” he says, “I can just drink that smoothie and eat nuts and feel great!”

4. He’s Inventive

He invented a fabu-licious recipe for chocolate guacamole, a concoction he calls “chocomole.” Having created the mix while on tour, he often makes it in his hotel room. “It’s like a raw chocolate mousse,” he explains, “But with avocados!” Click here for the full recipe and instructions.

5. He Gives Credit Where It’s Due

When Jason writes music, he acknowledges the great forces behind the process. “It’s really important to be as open minded as possible, because so much of music making is about experimentation and improvisation,” he says. “You just want to become an instrument that is channeling something far more powerful than you. I don’t even give myself credit for writing my songs. I’m just sort of listening in and tapping into something and my mind is responsible for all kinds of weird thoughts.”

6. He Wears His Heart on His Sleeve

Most guys are too macho to talk about their feelings, but Jason has no problem with it. “I use my heart as much as I can to rely on strong and positive feelings. Feelings of love have always led me toward a healthier, happier life. I pull from that and put it into the songs. I’ve always used songwriting to stay humble and stay spiritual.”

7. He Isn’t Afraid to Go Back to Basics

To create his album, We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things, Jason retreated from the industry, returned to his home in San Diego, and started writing in the coffee shop where his career began. “I pretended like I was starting over, as though I’d never had any success. I didn’t want to write about those influences, but rather just honest material. I wanted to write about life experiences and not rock-star experiences.”

8. He’s an Adventurer

The music videos from his new album feature Jason trekking around the world, everywhere from Kauai to Prague. “I want to take people on a journey and show them more of the planet because that is where our thoughts should be these days. By making videos that show the wonderful places and beautiful people that live here [on Earth] leads us all toward that ‘one-ness.’”

9. He Stays Grounded

He’s tight as spandex with his bandmates. Before every show, they remind each other that they are brothers by choice. And like brothers, especially after being together for eight years, they sometimes get into disputes. But “we always check in with each other and make sure we leave all of our troubles behind because we know that we have all come together to make great music.”