NEW YORK — Remember that one night at band camp? Brett Dennen does.

The 29-year-old singer-songwriter discovered his love for music there and hopes to reach a large fan base with his latest effort, "Hope for the Hopeless."

Dennen, who will embark on a headlining tour this week to promote his third studio CD, is often compared to John Mayer and Jason Mraz — but even those singers have praised Dennen's music.

AP: You discovered your love for music at camp. Tell us about that.

Dennen: We had this really special tradition at this camp I went to, and every night some of the counselors would lead us in songs around a camp fire. Just the stars and the skies and the raging fires and all your new friends — (it was) just really nostalgic. And being there as a kid, I idolized my counselors, especially the ones who played guitar, and I thought if there's anything I wanted to be, it's a camp counselor, specifically one who played the guitar. And that's also what sort of developed my love for the folk singers because we played Neil Young songs and Paul Simon songs.

AP: How would you describe your sound?

Dennen: I would start by saying it's in the folk, singer-songwriter genre. Some of the other things you might hear in there are some world music, specifically, and I'm just a really big fan of African music, a big fan of Brazilian music, and so I think I let a little bit of those influences get in. As well as some rock and some other Western music but I think it's rooted in the singer-songwriter, storytelling folk music.

AP: How'd it feel to have the likes of John Mayer and Jason Mraz praise your music?

Dennen: It always feels good when someone appreciates you're music and it feels really good when it's a fellow musician just because musicians are usually really critical. And it feels even better when it's a musician that you like, or a musician you respect. So having guys like Jason Mraz or John Mayer not only be into the music but also vocally supportive of it is great. And I've worked with Mraz on a song and John Mayer has even had me come on tour with him, and I've supported him in a couple different fashions on tour and he's said incredible things about me in the press — having that support is amazing and it's incredible. Like, how could I ask for anything more?

AP: In terms of mainstream music, where would you like to be?

Dennen: As far as being on the radio or having a music video or whatever, to me it's more about reaching lots and lots and lots of people. And if I can do that through radio, I would love it. But I also know that that might not be a possibility, just the way (the) industry (is) and it's an ever-changing industry. And I think if I continue to do what I've done — play shows, connect with people one-on-one and let everything else around do the same — I think I can get to the place I want to get to, which is playing for thousands and thousands of people every night on tour, all over the world.