Bruno Mars Opens Up About Mother’s Death: It’s something that you can’t imagine.

On how he got the name ‘Bruno Mars’:

My dad nicknamed me Bruno since I was 2 years old. The real story is: I was going to go by ‘Bruno,’ one name. Mars just kind of came joking around because that sounds bigger than life. That was it, simple as that.

On how he feels about the music industry:

It’s an oxymoron—the music business; like the art business. You’re making a business out of these songs that I’m writing. And how are you going to tell me that this song that I’m writing is only going to be catered to Puerto Ricans or to white people or only Asian people. How are you going to tell me that? My music is for anybody who wants to listen to it.

On how 90’s music influenced him today:

I’m a child raised in the ‘90s. Pop music was heavily rooted in R&B from Whitney, Diddy, Dr. Dre, Boyz II Men, Aaliyah, TLC, Babyface, New Edition, Michael, and so much more. As kids this is what was playing on MTV and the radio. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for these artists who inspired me.

Happy Birthday to my gorgeous mother. I love you mom. Everything I do is for you.

A photo posted by Bruno Mars (@brunomars) on Aug 21, 2014 at 5:50pm PDT

On losing his mother in 2013 to a brain aneurysm:

The woman who taught you to love, showed you what a woman is supposed to be. When that goes away, a little more than half your heart goes away with it. It’s something that you can’t imagine—the pain and the things that you keep going back to: ‘I wish I would’ve done this or said this.’ You just have to see life differently. It shows you the real importance of life. Nothing else matters in this world but family and your loved ones.

By:@CaDarius_