HE ENTERED THE ATLANTA music scene in 1998 and the next year released a debut album, “Inside Wants Out.” Just two years later, Columbia Records put out “Room for Squares,” which has sold more than a million copies. And this Sunday, he’ll be up for two Grammys: Best New Artist and Best Male Performance.

You’d think the guy–who’s all of 25–would be out partying every night. Nope. “I’m a homebody,” reports Mayer. In fact, the Connecticut-raised New Yorker says he can’t get enough of vacuuming. “I just love to see an array of dust and bits of paper and twist ties and watch it go from being there to disappearing with one stroke of a vacuum cleaner.”

He comes out of hibernation pretty regularly, however, to play gigs. Earlier this month, Mayer released a live album and DVD, “Any Given Thursday,” based on songs from “Inside” and “Squares.” Mayer recently took questions from NEWSWEEK’s Vanessa Juarez about his new live effort, what kind of underwear he wears for writing songs and his addiction to “American Idol.” He fired back with more quick-witted kookiness.

NEWSWEEK: Are you excited about the Grammys?

John Mayer: I am. I have a hard time imagining that there actually is a Grammys, because the nominations felt like the Grammys to me, you know.

You’re among pretty impressive company for Best Male Performance. Elton John, one of the other contenders, says great things about you.

I love Elton back.

So now that you’re a high roller, how do you get around town?

Um, a Navigator with 22-inch rims. No, ugh, I just take a cab.

You’ve really exploded in the last year–the fame, the music videos, the publicity–how are you feeling about it all?

You know, it feels like I have a job. I haven’t really had a crazy return in terms of fame because I don’t really go out into places that I would be considered famous in. Like I walk to the store and I come back. I think if I was a partier and I was licking girls stomachs, I think I’d feel a lot more famous than I do. I feel like I’m a technician. I go to work and I come home.

Would you say the songs you chose for the new live album, “Any Given Thursday,” outline the story of your life?

No. They outline the story of being handed a piece of paper and a Sharpie marker, you know, 20 minutes before the show.

“Lenny/Man on the Side” brings thoughts of Jimi Hendrix–you know, the guitar at the beginning and then the vocals come later in the song.

Oh, absolutely. That really is my homage to that Jimi Hendrix/Stevie Ray Vaughan/Curtis Mayfield kind of thing. “Man on the Side” was actually one of the first songs I ever wrote. There was never really a place for it. It was kind of the unexciting little brother for every other song. I think it lives in a really nice spot right now.

What do you think you’re upcoming tour in Europe will be like?

I think to make a dent in those places you have to land, talk, talk, talk, talk, play, fly, land, talk, talk, talk, talk. I’m getting the sense that the last two trips to Europe were done so that I can be able to land and put all my efforts into playing and not talking about playing.

At a concert last August you said: “I wrote these songs in my bathroom in my underwear.” So, were those boxers or briefs?

[Laughs.] Well, I’m a boxer-brief guy. Yeah, hardcore boxer-briefs, it’s the best of both worlds.

You followed with, “I promise to write all my future albums almost naked.”

Well, yeah I feel that the human body has incredible resonance when nude. So I will be, I have been and will continue to be naked for the rest of my life playing music.

It’s been widely reported that you were discovered at the Southwest Music Festival (SXSW) in 2000.

SXSW was a really huge part of it, but I think it’s been a little bit misrepresented as this first and final culmination of the record deal.

Are you going to this year’s festival in March?

I doubt it. Also, it is, psychologically, a very strange festival. You basically have all these people from every respective town in the country who really, really want to make it. You put them in the same room together and you see how they interact. It’s kinda like “American Idol” but with self-respect.

Have you been watching that?

Love it. I’ve become so addicted to it. I auditioned for Simon in the shower the other day. I thought, “Well, I have a career singing what I sing, but what if I were to walk into ‘American Idol’ cold turkey, how would I do?” I don’t know if I’d make it to Hollywood, but I’d have to try.