Talks About His New EP, "Nothin' On You," "Billionaire," Home on the Stage
I had the opportunity to sit down and talk to Bruno Mars just days after the release of his solo EP It's Better If You Don't Understand. He has already made a splash on the pop charts as the featured vocalist on "Nothin' On You" by B.o.B., and "Billionaire" by Travie McCoy. We talked about his evolution into being a solo artist in his own right. The interview was conducted May 13, 2010.
Bill: To a lot of pop fans it looks like you sort of came out of nowhere with the vocals on "Nothin' On You" and "Billionaire," but that's not really the case. Can you tell me a bit about how you got to where you are now?
Bruno: I moved up to California from Hawaii to, you know, be an artist, a singer. I never really knew. I was in a little over my head I guess of what it takes to be out here doing music. Luckily, I met up with the right people and learned of the process of creating a song and producing a song and writing a song. It took me awhile to figure it out.
So the artist thing...once I got into writing songs and stuff, that kind of, like, became the first priority. Labels would come to me and say, "Hey man, well why don't you write for this artist that's been signed with us for a long time now." Opposed to them coming to me and taking a chance on me. So I was, like, I've gotta survive. Let me see if I can hustle this angle, and I guess I'm a producer now. So I just started producing and writing for other acts. Me and my partner Phillip Lawrence.
It was only a matter of time until someone heard me singing these demos and stuff. "Nothin' On You" and "Billionaire" were really like the songs that...that was me. When I was writing those hooks I was writing those songs for me. Aaron Bay-Shuck, A&R for Atlantic, heard that and was just, "We gotta sign him. He's the guy that's writing and singing and playing it. Who's gonna sell it better than this guy? It's comin' from his heart." That's how it all panned out, and it just came out real close to each other, so that's why it feels like it's comin' out of nowhere.
Bill: For someone who hasn't heard any of your music yet. They haven't heard the hits. How would you describe your music to encourage them to listen?
Bruno: I would say it's real melody driven. Everything that I write and everything that I sing is coming from a real experience. I put a lot of emotion behind my music...and prepare to get your face blown off because it's awesome! (laughs)
Bill: The songs that are on your EP. How did you decide to keep them for yourself and not give them to someone else to record?
Bruno: Well, the first song that I wrote for me...I wasn't signed, and I wrote "Talking To the Moon." I just knew. I knew this song's mine. I'm gonna put this song in my back pocket. I dont' wanna play this for anybody. So I wouldn't play it for anybody. When Atlantic heard "Nothin' On You" and they heard "Billionaire," I said, "Well, wait a minute. Check THESE out...boom!"
Bill: The title of the EP It's Better If You Don't Understand comes from the lyrics to the song "The Other Side." Can you tell me more about what the title means to you or why you attached it to the EP?
Bruno: Yeah, you know, a lot of people...there's always been so much question about what kind of music I do. Everything. You know, what's his nationality? Is it R&B? Is it pop? Is he a rapper? Is he really that short? A lot of things. There's so many...I always thought that was my struggle, explaining the kind of...you know you asked earlier what kind of music. It's hard for me to explain. Not because I'm trying to be out of the box or...it's just like, man, I just write songs. Hopefully, I try to write songs that touch a lot of people.
So that phrase, "It's better if you don't understand," resonated so well with me because that's been my whole life, a campaign. Just listen, basically. It's a way to say just listen to this music and you be the judge of what it is and how it makes you feel. Opposed to me telling you I am a pop singer or an R&B singer or a soul singer. I want the audience to have their own personal feelings toward my music.
Bill: Are there any particular major influences on your music?
Bruno: Oh man, yeah, that's why I've got "Billionaire" which is a reggae song, my Police, Bob Marley, Sublime. "Nothin' On You" is a throwback hip hop song. It's Tribe Called Quest and it has that soul, Marvin Gaye-ish type chords, and old Motown type feel. You know, that's another struggle that I've had. Being in love with all different kinds of music from rock to country to pop to hip hop.
Bill: As you continue to explore being an artist, are you planning to continue to write and produce for others?
Bruno: Definitely. I think writing for other people keeps you on your toes especially when you have the privilege to write with another artist slash writer, because you learn. Every time you're in the studio working with a hip hop artist or a rock artist you learn their world a little more and what they are trying to say. Like Cee-Lo, for instance, I've had the honor to work with him. He's just one of those guys that just says something that inspires you just talking to you about anything. He could be talking to you about a restaurant, and the way he phrases certain things is really different from the way that I would phrase things. You want to write it down.
Bill: Are there any writing or production projects in the pipeline that we should watch for?
Bruno: Yeah, I'm gettin' in the studio with Cee-Lo. He's comin' out with an album. We've been goin' back and forth. He's on my EP. I got a week booked with him, and we became good friends in this process. I'm really excited about that.
Bill: If you had to pick one, could you pick a favorite record you've worked on outside of your own EP?
Bruno: Yeah, you know, I really like this record I did with K'Naan called "Bang Bang." It's K'Naan featuring Adam Levine (of Maroon 5). That was like the pre-"Nothin' On You." Kind of an interesting hip hop organic record with Adam Levine singin' the hook. It was just a fun record, and it really established our sound. It was never a single or anything like that, but that one was always close to me. I think it's because I really wanted it on my record.
Bill:So what's next for you? Is there an album on the way or a tour?
Bruno:Definitely an album on the way. I'm gonna finish what I started and put together a few more songs. You know the reason why I write songs is the joy and fun I have onstage. That's really why I'm doin' what I'm doin' is because I love performin' live. That's been the whole goal. That's what I've been doin' since I was a kid. I'm addicted to that sh*t, man, that energy sh*t comin' off the audience. That's why I can't wait to get on tour. I'm tryin' to wrap up the album in the next month. Hopefully, yeah, man, people will come see me live. See me do what I do best.
I had the opportunity to sit down and talk to Bruno Mars just days after the release of his solo EP It's Better If You Don't Understand. He has already made a splash on the pop charts as the featured vocalist on "Nothin' On You" by B.o.B., and "Billionaire" by Travie McCoy. We talked about his evolution into being a solo artist in his own right. The interview was conducted May 13, 2010.
Bill: To a lot of pop fans it looks like you sort of came out of nowhere with the vocals on "Nothin' On You" and "Billionaire," but that's not really the case. Can you tell me a bit about how you got to where you are now?
Bruno: I moved up to California from Hawaii to, you know, be an artist, a singer. I never really knew. I was in a little over my head I guess of what it takes to be out here doing music. Luckily, I met up with the right people and learned of the process of creating a song and producing a song and writing a song. It took me awhile to figure it out.
So the artist thing...once I got into writing songs and stuff, that kind of, like, became the first priority. Labels would come to me and say, "Hey man, well why don't you write for this artist that's been signed with us for a long time now." Opposed to them coming to me and taking a chance on me. So I was, like, I've gotta survive. Let me see if I can hustle this angle, and I guess I'm a producer now. So I just started producing and writing for other acts. Me and my partner Phillip Lawrence.
It was only a matter of time until someone heard me singing these demos and stuff. "Nothin' On You" and "Billionaire" were really like the songs that...that was me. When I was writing those hooks I was writing those songs for me. Aaron Bay-Shuck, A&R for Atlantic, heard that and was just, "We gotta sign him. He's the guy that's writing and singing and playing it. Who's gonna sell it better than this guy? It's comin' from his heart." That's how it all panned out, and it just came out real close to each other, so that's why it feels like it's comin' out of nowhere.
Bill: For someone who hasn't heard any of your music yet. They haven't heard the hits. How would you describe your music to encourage them to listen?
Bruno: I would say it's real melody driven. Everything that I write and everything that I sing is coming from a real experience. I put a lot of emotion behind my music...and prepare to get your face blown off because it's awesome! (laughs)
Bill: The songs that are on your EP. How did you decide to keep them for yourself and not give them to someone else to record?
Bruno: Well, the first song that I wrote for me...I wasn't signed, and I wrote "Talking To the Moon." I just knew. I knew this song's mine. I'm gonna put this song in my back pocket. I dont' wanna play this for anybody. So I wouldn't play it for anybody. When Atlantic heard "Nothin' On You" and they heard "Billionaire," I said, "Well, wait a minute. Check THESE out...boom!"
Bill: The title of the EP It's Better If You Don't Understand comes from the lyrics to the song "The Other Side." Can you tell me more about what the title means to you or why you attached it to the EP?
Bruno: Yeah, you know, a lot of people...there's always been so much question about what kind of music I do. Everything. You know, what's his nationality? Is it R&B? Is it pop? Is he a rapper? Is he really that short? A lot of things. There's so many...I always thought that was my struggle, explaining the kind of...you know you asked earlier what kind of music. It's hard for me to explain. Not because I'm trying to be out of the box or...it's just like, man, I just write songs. Hopefully, I try to write songs that touch a lot of people.
So that phrase, "It's better if you don't understand," resonated so well with me because that's been my whole life, a campaign. Just listen, basically. It's a way to say just listen to this music and you be the judge of what it is and how it makes you feel. Opposed to me telling you I am a pop singer or an R&B singer or a soul singer. I want the audience to have their own personal feelings toward my music.
Bill: Are there any particular major influences on your music?
Bruno: Oh man, yeah, that's why I've got "Billionaire" which is a reggae song, my Police, Bob Marley, Sublime. "Nothin' On You" is a throwback hip hop song. It's Tribe Called Quest and it has that soul, Marvin Gaye-ish type chords, and old Motown type feel. You know, that's another struggle that I've had. Being in love with all different kinds of music from rock to country to pop to hip hop.
Bill: As you continue to explore being an artist, are you planning to continue to write and produce for others?
Bruno: Definitely. I think writing for other people keeps you on your toes especially when you have the privilege to write with another artist slash writer, because you learn. Every time you're in the studio working with a hip hop artist or a rock artist you learn their world a little more and what they are trying to say. Like Cee-Lo, for instance, I've had the honor to work with him. He's just one of those guys that just says something that inspires you just talking to you about anything. He could be talking to you about a restaurant, and the way he phrases certain things is really different from the way that I would phrase things. You want to write it down.
Bill: Are there any writing or production projects in the pipeline that we should watch for?
Bruno: Yeah, I'm gettin' in the studio with Cee-Lo. He's comin' out with an album. We've been goin' back and forth. He's on my EP. I got a week booked with him, and we became good friends in this process. I'm really excited about that.
Bill: If you had to pick one, could you pick a favorite record you've worked on outside of your own EP?
Bruno: Yeah, you know, I really like this record I did with K'Naan called "Bang Bang." It's K'Naan featuring Adam Levine (of Maroon 5). That was like the pre-"Nothin' On You." Kind of an interesting hip hop organic record with Adam Levine singin' the hook. It was just a fun record, and it really established our sound. It was never a single or anything like that, but that one was always close to me. I think it's because I really wanted it on my record.
Bill:So what's next for you? Is there an album on the way or a tour?
Bruno:Definitely an album on the way. I'm gonna finish what I started and put together a few more songs. You know the reason why I write songs is the joy and fun I have onstage. That's really why I'm doin' what I'm doin' is because I love performin' live. That's been the whole goal. That's what I've been doin' since I was a kid. I'm addicted to that sh*t, man, that energy sh*t comin' off the audience. That's why I can't wait to get on tour. I'm tryin' to wrap up the album in the next month. Hopefully, yeah, man, people will come see me live. See me do what I do best.
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