Bruno Mars Talks Album Influences, Beyoncé and More

In the world of pop music, Bruno Mars might just be the man of the moment. The Grammy-award winning artist just released his latest record, 24K Magic, this past weekend to much fanfare. Mars also recently announced an accompanying world tour to boot, which includes a stop right here in Sacramento.

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone , Mars offered a few insights into his musical genius. One excerpt from the piece detailed his goal to create a 1990s-sounding vibe with his brand new album.


Mars’ new album, due out this month, is called 24K Magic. He says he wanted to re-create the feeling of the R&B he fell in love with as a kid, growing up in Hawaii in the early Nineties: Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, New Edition and Bobby Brown, Jodeci, Boyz II Men, Teddy Riley, Babyface. “There’s nothing more joyous for me than those school dances,” Mars says. “Slow-dancing at the Valentine’s Day banquet with the girl you have a crush on, and the DJ spins ‘Before I Let You Go,’ by Blackstreet. And the (expletive) is magical, and you think about it for the next eight months.”

Mars also shed some light on what he learned from working with one of the biggest stars in music. In the piece, the 31-year-old singer/songwriter shares a brief story about readying for his performance at this past year’s Super Bowl halftime show.


Mars says he got an education watching Beyoncé prepare. “She’s not (expletive) joking around,” he says. “She’s going to get onstage and show everybody why she’s the best every single time. She’s got that monster in her.” But the memory that stands out is more relatable. “Me and Beyoncé were both working on our diets, stressing out,” he says. “Then the day before, we’re watching playback backstage, and she’s eating a bag of Cheetos. I’m like, ‘That’s what you’re doing?’”


He mimes Beyoncé popping a Cheeto in her mouth. “She’s like, ‘There’s nothing more we can do these last two days. It’s gonna be what it’s gonna be. So I’m gonna enjoy this bag of Cheetos.’”


You can read more of Mars’ Rolling Stone interview here. The superstar musician’s 24K Magic Tour hits Golden 1 Center on July 18, 2017.

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