New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Atlantic Records) - Elektra Records has announced this week's release of "IT'S BETTER IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND," the debut EP from Bruno Mars. The four-track collection arrives at all digital retailers today, Tuesday, May 11th.
Best known as one-third of the red-hot production duo The Smeezingtons (Flo Rida, Cobra Starship, Matisyahu), Mars recently stepped into the spotlight with his soulful vocal turns on Rebel Rock Entertainment/Grand Hustle/Atlantic recording artist B.o.B's No 1 hit single, "Nothin' On You (Feat. Bruno Mars)" and Decaydance/Fueled By Ramen recording artist Travie McCoy's Top 40 smash, "Billionaire (Feat. Bruno Mars)."
Now "IT'S BETTER IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND" sees the Hawaiian-born singer/songwriter/producer unveiling his own deeply personal songs that blend purposefully simple production with irresistible hooks and powerful vocals.
Among the collection's highlights is "The Other Side," which sees Mars joined by both B.o.B and the one and only Cee Lo Green (whose hugely anticipated new Elektra/Atlantic solo album, "LADY KILLER," is slated for release later this year).
All four tracks on "IT'S BETTER IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND" were produced and written by Mars in collaboration with his Smeezingtons partners, Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine.
"It's hard to put myself in a box," says Mars of the EP's contents. "I just write songs that I strongly believe in and that are coming from inside. There's no tricks. It's honesty with big melodies. And I'm singing the s@#$ out of them."
A buoyant live performer, Mars has already received a wide array of national media attention for his role as featured vocalist on "Nothin' On You." He recently performed alongside B.o.B on both BET's 106 & Park and the nationally syndicated The Ellen DeGeneres Show, with further appearances slated for the May 12th episode of ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The scion of a Honolulu-based musical family, Bruno Mars grew up surrounded by a wide array of diverse sounds, spanning reggae, R&B, folk, and 1950s-era rock 'n' roll. Upon graduation from high school Mars headed to Los Angeles where he teamed up with Philip Lawrence and formed The Smeezingtons. The pair quickly became one of the most in-demand production/songwriting teams in modern music, with a streak of major hits including Flo Rida's "Right Round," Brandy's "Long Distance," and K'Naan's "Waving Flags"(which is now set to serve as the official theme song of the upcoming FIFA World Cup tournament in South Africa).
It wasn't long before Mars also lent his signature vocals to a pair of Smeezingtons-penned and produced hits: B.o.B's RIAA platinum-certified sensation, "Nothin' On You," and "Billionaire," the debut single from Gym Class Heroes frontman Travie McCoy.
"Billionaire" looks set to follow in the footsteps of "Nothin' On You" as one of the year's biggest tracks. The single is currently ascending the CHR/Top 40 airplay charts, while its companion video recently premiered across all MTV platforms.
An exclusive acoustic performance of "Billionaire" is currently streaming at Entertainment Weekly's EW.com - check it out at https://music-mix.ew.com/2010/04/01/travie-mccoy-billionaire-exclusive-acoustic-performance/.
Mars is currently hard at work recording his as-yet-untitled debut album, slated to drop later this year.
For more news and information, please visit: www.brunomars.com or www.elektra.com.
