Bruno Mars on How The '90s Inspired '24K Magic,' His Musical Growth & More

Following Bruno Mars' 2012 sophomore studio album Unorthodox Jukebox, fans have been anxiously waiting for the Grammy-winning recording artist to release his third studio album -- and today (Nov. 18), it's finally here. The 31-year-old Hawaii native released 24K Magic via Atlantic Records, consisting of nine new songs including his hit single of the same name. 

We recently caught up with the singer/songwriter/producer and he talked to us about the making of his new record, his single, and more during an exclusive interview.

On the writing/recording process for 24K Magic

Bruno tells us that this album is very '90s-influenced, which you can tell by its visuals. He recalls listening to music by Bobby Brown, Diddy, and Mase, and participating in dance battles at school with their music. And as much fun as it was creating this album he also says it was a lot of "torture." 

"It was a lot of fun, it was a lot of torture, it was everything. When I'm writing an album, I gotta go through all of these different roles. I get to find my way home."

It's been four years since Bruno dropped an album. Unorthodox Jukebox was released in December 2012, featuring hits like "Locked Out Of Heaven," "Treasure," and more, and was very successful. The record reached No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 in addition on charts all over the world, including countries like Canada, the UK, Australia, Mexico, and more. 

Bruno tells us that during the last few years, as fans were eager for another studio album, he did take some time off in between -- but not much. "I took a couple months off, but you gotta fulfill this craving and I wanted to start putting some new ideas down. Once I got in the studio I couldn't get out."

During those years, Bruno also helped to write a song on Adele's latest album called "All I Ask," a beautiful piano ballad. 

From Doo-Wops & Hooligans, to Unorthodox Jukebox, to 24K Magic, Bruno's music has grown a lot over the last six years. Bruno says, "It's grown with me. I'm hoping the fans [are] growing with me and they're hearing the journey that I'm trying to take them on. It's me keeping the party going, and trying to make sure that the music that I'm writing is exciting me. Because if I'm not excited and if I'm not having fun doing this, I won't do it anymore."

It's hard to not be excited by Bruno's single "24K Magic." It is one of those infectious songs that you can't help but move around and sing along to -- and that's what the song is about. It's about "having a good time." And it all started with the lyrics, "Put your pinky rings up to the moon."

On the meaning behind his single "24K Magic"

"The song '24K Magic' is about having a good time. That was me feelin' myself in the studio and I want everybody to, when they're hearing it in their car, they're hearin' it in the club or in the kitchen, I want them to feel themselves, and feel as fabulous as I did when I wrote it."

One thing you might not know about "24K Magic" is that the intro with lyrics, "I just want to take you higher/Throw your hands up in the sky/Let's set this party off right," is recorded by singer/songwriter Mr. TalkBox, real name Byron Manard Chambers. Bruno tells us, "Everything else on the song is me doing the vocoder stuff, but I wanted to have this intro, and there's a guy, his name is Byron -- awesome musician -- I've never heard anybody do that with the TalkBox like he does it." He added, "It sets the record off."

Whether "24K Magic" becomes your favorite song on this album, or it's another track (or multiple), just know that each song is special to Bruno. "I only have nine songs on this album, so [you] best believe that every single song is very special to me."

Watch Bruno Mars' official "24K Magic" music video below.