One gets the sense from Minneapolis musician Mason Jennings that despite his tendency to write songs about searching for that thing we humans call "meaning," he's really just along for the ride. Like it's the experience of the search that counts, not necessarily finding what he was looking for.

The singer-songwriter, in town to join Jack Johnson and friends for this weekend's sold-out Kokua Festival, is, like his music suggests, a laid-back regular guy with a guitar and a thing for nature. Not to mention (he never does) a music career on the brink of going absolutely viral, thanks to a steady and strong home-grown effort that's given him the fan base and the experience to take things beyond Minnesota.

Jennings is currently on tour in support of his sixth full-length album, "In the Ever," which he released on Jack Johnson's Brushfire Records label.

Jennings spoke to The Advertiser by phone from Sunset Beach.

How did the whole Kokua Fest invitation come about?

I've been friends with Jack and Kim Johnson for about six years, and I just signed on to Brushfire Records this year, and so it just made sense that this was a good year to come out.

Is this your first time performing in the Islands?

Yeah. I was born here, but I haven't been back in 22 years.

Tell us a little about your life so far.

I grew up in Pittsburgh. I dropped out of high school to travel around and just knew that music was what I wanted to be doing. I ended up in Minnesota and I've been there ever since.

Was there a specific event that tipped you off that music was your thing?

I just felt like I could really like writing songs. That's what I felt called to do. I just love it so much.

Who do you consider to be your strongest musical influences?

Johnny Cash, Leadbelly, John Lennon.

And what about your nonmusical influences? What drives you?

I really like authors and novels. Hemingway's novels are really big for me. Being outdoors. I have a studio in the woods and I think it's really important for me to be surrounded by nature.

The only way we, as listeners, know how to relate to artists is to compare them to other artists. How do you keep your music from being redos of the various artists that influence you?

For me, it's really about experience — just trying to write about things that I've actually experienced. All we have in this world is our own perspectives, and I think that as long as I'm writing from my own perspective, I think it'll be me.

You were chosen to cover two Bob Dylan songs for the "I'm Not There" soundtrack. What was that like for you?

The first thing I asked was if I had to imitate him. They said I didn't, and that I could just do my thing. Then I asked if Bob was cool with the movie, because I didn't want to be involved in something he hates. Once I found out he was OK with it, I felt much more relaxed and I was able to go into the studio and record it without thinking about it too much.

On your latest album, you explore ideas of transcendence, spirituality, God ... is that new territory for you?

I think so. On my last album, "Boneclouds," I definitely started the process, but on this album I wanted to explore the more joyful side of it.

Does that mean you're looking for answers?

Yeah. And I think for me, it's about trying to be OK with looking and maybe not finding them.

Do you ever get to a point where not getting answers is an acceptable answer?

That's the goal, right? Trying to have joy and be grateful — and not have the answers.

You kind of went lo-tech while recording this last album, recording it in a cabin in the woods with minimal equipment. Why?

I really wanted to get out of the studio for this one. I wanted to be in an organic place; hear rain on the roof, hear birds outside.

What's next for you?

I'm going to tour in May with Brett Dennen, and then in June I'm going to tour with Jack Johnson, and then in the fall I'm doing a headlining tour of Europe and the States, and then hopefully get back to Hawai'i within a year or so.