Jason Mraz never imagined his career would lead him to a place like “Dancing With the Stars” – but he’s glad it did.
While exclusively speaking with Pvnew in the ballroom Tuesday night, the “I’m Yours” singer told us that his journey to success has always been about stepping out of his comfort zone and taking leaps of faith along the way.
“I just left all the possibilities open,” he recalled of his earlier days as a musician, long before he signed to Elektra Records in 2001 and released his first major label album, “Waiting for My Rocket to Come,” one year later.
Now, two decades after fans heard hits like “You & I Both” and “The Remedy (I Won’t Worry)” for the first time, Mraz is still taking chances on new opportunities that come his way – even if they require putting on some dancing shoes.
“I never thought I would end up on ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ that’s for sure!” he told us with a laugh.
Mraz noted that being open to performing on any stage – no matter how big or small – is the same advice he’d give to any aspiring artist trying to make it in the music industry.
“I’d say, put your artistry first and embrace it. And leave open the possibility of any stage [that] can make itself available to you,” the “I Won’t Give Up” singer, 46, advised.
“For me, I could have ended up on a cruise ship, or on a sidewalk, or in the park, or at a coffee shop, in a bar,” he continued. “There’s so many places to share your art.”
Mraz also encourages those hoping to get a breakthrough not to get discouraged – or think too far ahead.
“I never had an expectation of where I would end up, but I knew I just wanted to claim that I was an artist,” the “I Feel Like Dancing” crooner recalled.
“I identified as an artist and I let that be my sail, that all this art wind has been carrying me through.”
During Tuesday’s “Most Memorable Year” night, Mraz and his pro partner, Daniella Karagach, performed a quickstep to “On the Road Again” by Willie Nelson, receiving a total score of 27/30 from judges Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli.
“It was a lot of fun. I tried to keep the fun very much involved in this dance, just because I feel like we’re not very serious,” Karagach, 30, shared.
“We don’t take ourselves seriously, and his most memorable year is a huge step into his career, so I feel like we had to celebrate it.”
The routine was inspired by 1999, the year the Mechanicsville, Va., native “bet on” himself and started to make all his “musical dreams come true” by moving to California.
When asked what advice he wishes he could give “young Jason,” Mraz gave us a hilarious – and unexpected – response.
“I would say, ‘Don’t get a tramp stamp. You don’t need it, you’re never going to see it anyway!’” he exclaimed. “Of course I have one … I’m from the ’90s!”
Next week, Mraz and Karagach will dance a contemporary number to The Cranberries’ 1994 hit “Zombie” during the dance competition show’s Halloween-themed “Monster Night” episode.
No word yet on what their “zombie/mummy hybrid” costumes will entail, though Mraz teased that fans should be “scared.” And perhaps this will be the week they score their first 10? If they’re “Lucky.”
“Dancing With the Stars,” which also features celebrities like Harry Jowsey, Charity Lawson and Alyson Hannigan competing for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+. New episodes are also available to stream the following day on Hulu.
