21 May 2023 , 18:00
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Jason Mraz has criticised televised singing contests like American Idol, saying it's the producers are the "real winners".
Speaking ahead of the show's finale this weekend, the I'm Yours singer, 45, urged people not to skip the steps of playing in coffee shops in their bid for success.
In an exclusive chat with The Mirror, Jason opened up about his experience on the show as a guest singer in 2019, saying he was made to feel "terrible" during his performance despite having been a huge success in the industry for 20 years.
The Virginia native said: "I did get to go on Idol and I went on as myself. I wasn't competing. All I had to do was sing my song. And I was nervous. Because I'm in there and they looked bored. And I was like, wait, I'm not even competing and I feel terrible while I'm performing."
Walker Burroughs performing with Jason Mraz on American Idol in 2019 (Talent Recap/YouTube)Explaining how he realises some people have the sole goal of appearing on such a show, he let his opinion know on how talent was simply churned out in front of the camera at the producer's request.
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He continued: "The show is like, 'right after the commercial, we're gonna see somebody else and then we're gonna see somebody else, and then see somebody else'.
"And you sometimes think 'wow, they were great' but in equal part, you are waiting for some like car crash, and you're waiting for some embarrassing moments."
Jason confessed: "At the end of the day, it feels like it's the producers of those shows who are coming out as the winners and the artists are just, you know, part of the joke. Part good and bad."
Jason Mraz is still in love with music as he prepares for his eighth studio album (Redferns via Getty Images)However, he admits that if you sign up for the show you know what you're getting yourself into and he added: "My heart goes out to anyone who gives those shows a try. It's a valid place to try."
Instead of trying to make a name for themselves on reality shows, the star, who is about to release his eighth studio album titled Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride, would love to see artists propel themselves through a more organic route.
He knows there are many more routes available now compared to when he was an up and coming artist - and that is something he "likes". However, he revealed he doesn't want open mic nights or coffee shop performances to disappear.
"I don't want that to go away and in some communities it is going away because of how connected we all are on the internet. I like that there's more opportunities for independence, too. But you know, luckily, all that does mean though is there's even more competition than ever."
Jason Mraz's new album is due out in June (Swell Publicity/ Shervin Lainez)Despite his somewhat negative thoughts on certain routes into the industry, Jason clearly hasn't fallen out of love with his passion.
"I think music is still magic, and that's great," he gushed.
He opened up on how picking up any instrument can help him turn from feeling like he is "nothing" to believing he is "something".
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"I go from silence to sound I go from darkness to light. It's like the easiest medicine I can ever take."
Jason Mraz’s new album Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride is out June 23 on BMG