Mraz talks music, book and salads

@SL_body_copy_ragged:NEW YORK -- To record his third studio CD, Jason Mraz withdrew from the music industry so he wouldn't be affected by album sales and charts. Instead, the pop singer went to his hometown of San Diego and traveled to London while disconnecting himself from his phone and e-mail.

The result: "We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things." Mraz calls the CD his most personal yet. Months after its release, the album's first single, "I'm Yours," is still a hit on those charts Mraz tried to avoid, rounding off the top 10 this week on the Billboard Hot 100.

He has also released a new book, "A Thousand Things: Photographs by Jason Mraz."

Q: What's been your most memorable moment on tour?

A: When I first started touring, I got to tour with Jewel for many long weeks and on our last night she invited me on stage to do a duet and we shared a microphone, and I always thought that was so great because I could clearly see in her mouth while she's singing. I'm like right there in her face. Like up her nose at times and feeling her breath in my face. Maybe it was kind of perverted for me to have those experiences but it was great as a fan and fellow musician. It's a great opportunity to be that close to other musicians.

Q: Talk more about this book of photos.

A: For the past five years that I've been touring, I've taken Polaroid instant film; Polaroid 600, the cheapest kind you can buy. And there's really something quite novelty and interesting about this film, and now I've taken thousands and thousands of pictures.

Q: Between studio sessions, live shows and the book, what's Jason doing in his free time?

A: I spend a lot of my time, most of time, preparing food, believe it or not. I wake up every day and I start my day with a super smoothie, which has about 24 ingredients in it. I also prepare raw salads. Most people think you get bored eating salads all the time, but these are some of the most hi-def salads you'll ever lay your eyes on. I travel with what I call my little movable feast, which is this flight case full kitchen set-up. I've got a big blender, cutting board, knife, all these extra things.

Q: Speaking of foods, I hear you have an avocado farm.

A: About five years ago, I moved to the wilderness just outside of San Diego; I just really wanted to live amongst the trees. In this area I found all the trees were avocados. The trees produce about two, three times a year and different acreages have different kinds of avocados. ... It's kind of a magical place.