Bruno Mars

'Doo-wop' is a very special word for me. Because I grew up listening to my dad who, as a Fifties rock & roll head, loved doo-wop music.

I'm a big fan of songs like Joe Cocker's 'You Are So Beautiful' and Eric Clapton's 'Wonderful Tonight' - songs that go straight to the point.

I don't throw lavish parties or nothing like that - I just want a bed and a TV.

I'm the Nickelodeon version of DangerMouse.

I've had big record label presidents look me in the face and say, 'Your music sucks, you don't know who you are, your music is all over the place, and we don't know how to market this stuff. Pick a lane and come back to us.'

I've definitely seen bands before they made money kind of change their thing on the next tour, and I prefer it when it's a little more raw.

I don't think anyone ever plans to change line-ups, but it's something that comes with being in bands. I was in a band once and there were always problems - members come and go - and some of the world's biggest bands have changed line-ups loads!

I feel it's my job to continue being a student of music if I want to continue being an artist and a producer of other artists. You have to keep filling your mind with other music. You have to be ahead of the curve.

In my songs, I'm not saying something that's never been said before. The have lyrics aren't going to blow people away. It's the emotion and the melody that drive it home.

There are no record companies in Waikiki.

Everyone calls me Bruno; they don't ever call me Peter - that was just my government name.

I love artists like Prince, who hold on to that element of mystery.

My dad was into the 1950s doo-wop era. If you look at those groups, or at James Brown, Jackie Wilson and the Temptations in the 1960s, you'll see you had to be sharp onstage.

In Hawaii, some of the biggest radio stations are reggae. The local bands are heavily influenced by Bob Marley.

I just know that I'm a fan of all different kinds of genres. You're supposed to be free doing music, and that's how I feel.

A grown man should always carry cash, right? I don't know who told me, but someone told me that a long time ago, and the biggest turnoff is when a guy doesn't have cash on him.

I don't ever want to come out with something safe and get away with, 'It sounds good!' It's got to be more than sounding good. The music I like are events.

I tend to overthink things. I'm not the guy who screams 'This is a world smash!' when I finish a song.

I really wish I knew what I was doing because I'd be writing hit songs every minute.

I guess if I'm a product, either you're chocolate, you're vanilla or you're butterscotch. You can't be all three.