The debut four-track EP from Bruno Mars, "It's Better If You Don't Understand," arrived at all digital retailers this week. 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 #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 11th episode of ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live!