He looks like a happy-go-lucky, upbeat kind of guy. But singer Jason Mraz says he has gone through dark times, including struggles with drugs. Now, though, he is all about organic food and pure living- but he says there may be a time in the future when his dark side will come out again.

US singer JASON MRAZ admits he’ll always be vulnerable to the lure of drugs – despite promoting the benefits of a pure lifestyle.

The organic food-munching I’m Yours troubadour has had dalliances with debauchery in the past, and he refuses to rule out a return to the dark side.

Tragic actor RIVER PHOENIX shocked Hollywood with his sudden overdose death in 1993 – having spent much of his brief lifetime campaigning against drugs – but Mraz insists he won’t make the same mistake of pretending to be someone he’s not.

He told The Sun: “I’m only human, you know. I’ve certainly had dark periods in my life, and I could probably again.

“But, at the moment, I really get off on the purity thing.”

Mraz’s popularity in the US has grown steadily over the course of three albums, but the success of love-it-or-hate-it hit I’m Yours has sent sales of his latest LP We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things soaring across the world.

With increasing fame comes a greater impetus on touring – something that the San Diego-based homebody hardly cherishes.

“I would be very happy to stay in one place, but I’ve learned how to tour and I’m ok with it,” he said.

“There are little things you see out the corner of your eye or out the van window that you appreciate. Life becomes cinematic.

“But, believe me, life is just as cinematic sitting on my back deck and never leaving home.”

Mraz, 31, hasn’t even got the distraction of controversial rock ‘n’ roll antics to keep him entertained on the road.

He said: “Sometimes it’s a little too hassle-free, a little too smooth.

“We need someone to date a model and then beat her up.”

Storyteller

Aside from the upheaval of travelling from one place to the next, Mraz also admits he doesn’t get the same thrill out of performing to an arena crowd of 5,000 as he does to singing down the local café.

“I like the arenas cause I can bring the full band – we can make a big stink in there,” he said.

“But I also like being a storyteller, sitting in a small café with no set list, just talking with the audience.

“That to me has always been the most rewarding way to perform.”

Mraz avoids celeb parties at all costs – unless he has no choice but to attend – adding to his growing reputation as Mr Anti-Showbiz.

The singer can’t stand the way musicians are treated like royalty, and he is determined to stay grounded amidst all the absurdity.

“Fame has certainly got its perks but sometimes the way you’re treated is a bit over the top,” he said.

“People don’t treat you like a peer – they put you in a different place. I think that’s kinda weird.

“But I’m doing my best to stay grounded and high-five people and just be myself through this whole process.

“It’s not gonna last forever, so I’m certainly not gonna act like a big shot and then five years later have to come down off my horse and apologise to a million people.”

[From The Sun]

You would never know from his sunny, island-inspired music that Mraz has demons, but I suppose he’s no different than anyone else in that regard. His music is kinda catchy, and I like his point of view. He’s kind of the anti-John Mayer, if you think about it. When was the last time you saw Mraz in a tabloid or dating some celebutante, or Twittering his every move? He’s all about the music, and not the fame. You don’t see that too much anymore.

Here’s Jason Mraz performing live at Campo Pequeno in Lisbon on March 19th. Images thanks to WENN.com .