BRUNO MARS RELEASES OFFICIAL DEBUT SINGLE “JUST THE WAY YOU ARE”
Bruno Mars "Just The Way You Are" Elektra Records
Elektra recording artist Bruno Mars will unveil the first single “Just The Way You Are” via his newly launched BRUNOMARS.COM site today, July 19th. The single will arrive at all DSPs on July 20th, with his forthcoming hugely anticipated Elektra debut album slated to arrive later this year.
In the meantime, Mars has lined up his biggest US tour schedule to date. The Hawaiian-born artist will support Maroon 5 on the fall leg of their 2010 “Hands All Over” Tour, joining a bill that also includes One Republic. The dates begin October 6th at Santa Barbara, California’s Santa Barbara Bowl and then continue through an October 19th show at Tulsa, Oklahoma’s BOK Center (see attached itinerary). Tickets for all shows are now on sale to the general public –please check local listings for ticket availability.
Also just announced, Bruno Mars will perform at the Bowery Ballroom on August 25th, which will mark his first solo-performance debut in NYC.
What’s more, Bruno will join K’naan for a very special one-night-only concert, set for Wednesday, August 4th at West Hollywood, California’s House of Blues. The two artists recently collaborated on the international #1 smash, “Wavin’ Flag,” which served as the anthem of the FIFA World Cup tournament in South Africa. The track was written and produced by Mars and Philip Lawrence, two members of the hit making production trio The Smeezingtons.
Though best known for his soulful vocal turns and co-production skills on Rebel Rock Entertainment/Grand Hustle/Atlantic recording artist B.o.B’s #1 hit single, “Nothin’ On You (Feat. Bruno Mars)” and Decaydance/Fueled By Ramen recording artist Travie McCoy’s top 5 smash, “Billionaire (Feat. Bruno Mars),” Mars recently released his own debut EP, “IT’S BETTER IF YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND,” which peaked at #1 on the iTunes Pop chart. Among the deeply personal, purposefully simple 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 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 will join Travie McCoy for multiple upcoming TV performances of their collaborative hit, “Billionaire.” The duo will team up for VH1’s Do Something Awards, slated for July 19th, as well as a visit to TBS’ Lopez Tonight with an as-yet-unscheduled air date (check local listings). Mars will take the stage again with Travie McCoy to perform “Billionaire” at the 2010 Teen Choice Awards hosted by Katy Perry, airing on Fox August 9th. Bruno’s hit singles with B.o.B and Travie McCoy are both nominated as well. “Nothin’ on You” is up for the Choice Music: Single award and “Billionaire” is nominated for the Choice Summer: Single award.
Bruno has already received a wide array of national media attention for his role as featured vocalist on both “Nothin’ On You” and “Billionaire.” He appeared alongside B.o.B on a number of recent TV shows, including BET’s 106 & Park, the nationally syndicated The Ellen DeGeneres Show, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and TBS’ Lopez Tonight, while additionally joining Travie McCoy for performances on ABC’s The View and NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
Mars is also confirmed to be a featured new artist on VH1’s You Oughta Know beginning at the end of August. Emerging artists among the likes of John Legend, Regina Spektor and Kings of Leon have been featured on the prestigious VH1 program in the past.
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 Ari Levine as The Smeezingtons. The three 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 aforementioned “Wavin’ Flag.”
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 #1 sensation, “Nothin’ On You,” and “Billionaire,” the debut solo single from Gym Class Heroes frontman Travie McCoy. The latter track recently exploded into the top 5 on Billboard’s “Hot 100,” where it remains bulleted for its airplay and sales gains this week.
“Billionaire” is also an unqualified multi-format radio blockbuster, hitting the top 5 at CHR/Pop and the top 10 at Rhythmic outlets nationwide. The song was recently RIAA platinum-certified at 1.6 million in sales. What’s more, the “Billionaire” music video is scoring at both VH1, MTV, BET, Teen Nick, and Fuse (where it was recently the network’s #1 most played clip).
For more information, please visit www.brunomars.com or www.elektra.com.
Bruno Mars
“Just The Way You Are”
Elektra Records