Jason Mraz has always been one to bring the good vibes, but even he’ll admit that the current events of recent years have had him feeling down.
“The world had changed a lot since 2012,” Mraz says in a statement. “More people are marching for their freedoms and equality; to be seen and heard. Activism is back in style. I wrote a lot of frustrated, angry, even sad songs between then and now, but nothing I wanted to come forward with; nothing I wanted to sing.”
Instead of moving forward with the not-so-happy tunes he had penned, the 40-year-old singer reflected on a trip to Myanmar in 2012, where he had a moving visit with a Buddhist monk. Mraz received a blessing from the monk that resulted in a song called “Have It All,” which he was inspired to bring to light amid the world’s tough times.
The lighthearted, guitar-tinged track features verses like “May you know the meaning of the word happiness/ May you always lead from the beating in your chest,” putting a pop beat to Mraz’s translation of the blessing he received six years ago — sentiments that resonate almost more so today than back then.
“‘Have It All’ stood out as a song with a hopeful message to help me heal and move forward; a song with a message of generosity — the antithesis of despondency,” Mraz continues. “It’s a blessing disguised as a rap song, and it’s meant to be paid forward and shared.”
Mraz wrote “Have It All” with David Hodges (Christina Perri, Kelly Clarkson) and JKash (Maroon 5, Charlie Puth, Meghan Trainor) in collaboration with his friends in Raining Jane (Mona Tavakoli, Chaska Potter, Mai Bloomfield, and Becky Gebhardt). He also released an equally feel-good video for the song (directed by Darren Doane) that sees Mraz bringing the spirit of “Have It All” to his hometown of Richmond, Virginia.
(via BillBoard)
