Bruno Mars new album: 2016 release date, new songs, tour, and everything else you need to know

​It'll make a dragon wanna retire, man.​



It's been nearly four years since Bruno Mars treated his Hooligans with a new album, after 2012's Unorthodox Jukebox topped charts the world over.

In fact, both his debut album Doo-Wops & Hooligans and its follow-up have topped six million sales worldwide, making him one of the best-selling male artists in music right now.

But where's the new music, Bruno? Yeah, 'Uptown Funk' with Mark Ronson was a deserved global smash last year, but we've been waiting way too long for album number three. Here's everything we know about the anticipated collection.
Album release date: It's coming later in 2016

We can all agree we've already waited long enough for Bruno's new album, but it we have a little while longer yet.

The Hawaiian singer was initially planning to release the collection back in March, but joining Coldplay and Beyoncé for the Super Bowl halftime show in February pushed everything back. Bruno confirmed that he was basically still working on new music back in January.

I'm on a mission. I'm Obsessed to make an album I'm genuinely proud of. Stick with me Hooligans. I'll get there. Love Brunz

— Bruno Mars (@BrunoMars) January 10, 2016

Earlier this year, however, Bruno's father Pete Hernandez told his local paper the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that we can expect the star's new music by the autumn. "Bruno has seven great new songs – I've heard 'em – but the album should now be released in September or October, to qualify for next year's Grammy Awards," he said.

Lo and behold, good old Pete was totally on the money, as Bruno Mars released his new single '24k Magic' on October 7. It flew in on Bruno's private jet for the funkiest, slickest visual of his career. Only Bruno could pull off some these outfits.

So what about that album then? Well it's also called 24K Magic and it will be released on November 18. We have little info on the tracklist as of yet, but we do know Bruno will be promoting it with a huge performance on Saturday Night Live on October 15.
Bruno Mars new songs and credits: What will it sound like?

It'll come as no surprise that Bruno Mars has been in the studio with Mark Ronson and Jeff Bhasker. 'Uptown Funk' won two Grammy Awards and was the biggest song of 2015. That being said, Mars was only in the studio with them before 'Uptown Funk' came out, so it's not known if they worked on any other songs together.

Digital Spy did ask Ronson last summer if he'd been working with Bruno again, but at that point he said he hadn't. Of course, that could've changed by now. Surely after the success of 'Uptown Funk', Bruno would want to sprinkle some of that groovy goodness across his own record?

Lead single '24K Magic' definitely hints at Bruno continuing with his current groove, owning those dance moves and coming back with party tune after party tune. There's certainly a sense this will be a throwback record.
Bruno Mars '24K Magic' music video gif.
GIF

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Saying that, the most surprising of his collaborations comes in the form of electronic producer Skrillex. "I'm actually working with Bruno Mars right now," he told Billboard. "I'm not going to give specifics of what it sounds like, but what we're doing is so f**king different, awesome and next level and sounds like nothing else that's happened before." Interesting.

It echoed comments made by Bruno's sound engineer Charles Moniz back in February, who revealed that the star was still "chipping away" at the record. "I think we're very close," he said of its completion, adding: "I think it's going to be the next movement of Bruno."


LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars attend the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.

© Getty Images Kevin Mazur/MTV1415/WireImage

Moniz hinted that the music is largely upbeat, saying that the atmosphere in the studio is "about having fun. It's about everyone coming together and having a good time." He added: "That's the thing: when the vibe's right and everyone's having fun, that's when the best music comes out."

The only hint Bruno has given us himself (aside from '24K Magic') is a bit of "boopy boop boop". In all likelihood this is just him goofing around the studio, but if we get some of that soulful electronica on the record then we'd be more than happy.

That new fire!

A video posted by Bruno Mars (@brunomars) on Mar 12, 2015 at 9:15pm PDT

Bruno Mars world tour: will he be hitting the road once again?

Considering the 30-year-old played a total of 154 headline shows as part of his worldwide Moonshine Jungle Tour between 2013-2014, taking a mammoth $156.4 million at the box office, we think it's safe to assume he'll be right back out on the road again soon.

But when will it happen? Well considering Bruno is releasing his new album in November, we're expecting dates for the tour to be announced within weeks of its release. Judging by the average scheduling of these things, it's highly likely Bruno will be kicking off his third world tour in the first half of 2017. Polish up those gold chains, people.