Thanks to smartly written hits like “I’m Yours,” “I Won’t Give Up,” “Make It Mine,” and “The Remedy (I Won’t Worry),” Jason Mraz has found himself among the most respected and popular names in music after he burst onto the scene in 2002. Of late, his 2023 release, Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride, has been winning over a host of new fans with its engaging mix of pop-influenced, danceable tracks.
Mraz clearly loves to push boundaries, and he’s even branched out into farming, founding Mraz Family Farms in his home of Oceanside in 2015. “Some people collect cars. Jason collects fruit trees,” the farm’s site says of its head “song poet,” who honed his craft playing in San Diego coffeehouses in 1999. Here, the avid surfer dives into everything he loves about his life in SoCal and beyond, including his favorite taco-night locale and the scenic drive that leads to a mesmerizing town that never fails to relight his artistic fire.
Where do you live? Oceanside.
Why there? We have a great community that cares about it. For example, Green Oceanside offers citywide recycling, a composting service that gives back to its residents, recycled water that feeds back to the golf courses and farmlands, and a zero-waste initiative helping businesses save more and waste less. It’s a very thoughtful and diverse community that is more vibrant than ever—and growing.
Who or what is your greatest California love? Surfing! Besides the occasional parking-lot fee or street meter, surfing is free. You don’t even need a board to swim out and catch a wave. Thank you, California!
What is the biggest misperception about Californians? Before I moved here in the late 1990s, I’d only read about California or seen it glorified in movies. So my version of the misconception was that everyone was at the beach, surfing, or starting a jam band.
What is the stereotype that most holds true? Everyone is at the beach. Especially in the summer.
What is your favorite Golden State splurge? I don’t really splurge, but I did buy a ranch and move here permanently. Does that count?
Time for a road trip—where are you going? Whenever I go up north, I prefer the 101. And if I have the time, I prefer the 1. The drive from Cambria to Carmel is worth taking a few days for and I’ve done it all the ways, from camping in a van to renting a cabin for a couple nights in Big Sur. I tend to work in cities so when I travel for personal time, I always choose nature. Just beyond San Francisco the trip continues with Muir Woods, then onward up to Mendocino for a stay at the Stanford Inn. The nearby town is watercolored with an ocean patina, which for me, makes me feel like I’ve slipped into a painting. My artistry gets revitalized just being there.
If you could decree an official state culinary experience, what would it be? Taco Night at Jitters Coffee Pub in Oceanside happens the first Tuesday of every month. (Sometimes it’s the second Tuesday.) But if you know you know. Chef Felix offers up a vegan fish taco that will convert anyone to his super creative cuisine. The fish taco by itself would be my recommendation—but Felix’s vegan version is insane. It’s not fake meat either. But I can’t disclose his secret here. You have to try it!
What is your favorite way to play in California? I’m either in the water or in the bike lane. Share the wave. Share the road!
Where would you go for the ultimate shopping spree in California? I’m going to keep recommending Oceanside. The Sea Hive vintage mall is packed with all kinds of fun stuff. Carrillo Pottery has an amazing selection of glazed goods for the home and garden. I would like a shopping spree from these places. Please let me know when I’ve won.
Best California song? There are many! I guess I resonate with Sheryl Crow’s “All I Wanna Do,” penned from her Tuesday Night Music Club (album). I first heard this song in 1995 while I was visiting colleges back east. The words “until the sun comes up over Santa Monica Blvd.” painted a picture of playing music and games all night. This was the life for me. A few years later I’d move to L.A. and be doing just that.
How would your California dream day unfold? It starts with dawn patrol—arriving at the beach by 8 a.m. That’s late to some surfers. But the waves are usually glassy until 10 a.m. Catch a few fun slides and then go warm up with a coffee at one of many coffee shops in Oceanside; Banana Dang or Jitters usually. Then I’d drive inland to where it’s always sunny. I’ll rinse my wetsuit, pull some avocados and greens from the garden, and graze on a big healthy lunch. The afternoon is reserved for music, humming, and strumming until the sky fades to black. Sunsets are the best as blue is rearranged to orange and pink and purple. If I’m in for the night, a campfire might cozy up the scene. Or I’ll pop out to a night market, one of many amazing restaurants in Oceanside, like The Plot, Allmine, or feast at The Flying Pig.
