Lucky Daye Calls Collaborator Bruno Mars a 'Genius': 'Being Able to Work with Him Was Like a Dream'

The R&B singer said he “always looked up to” the 15-time Grammy winner, who has a songwriting credit on his latest studio album, ‘Algorithm’

Lucky Daye gives Bruno Mars a lot of credit for his songwriting prowess. That’s why it was the honor of a lifetime when the pair finally got to work together on the R&B singer’s new album.

Algorithm, Daye’s third studio LP, which was released on June 28, features a songwriting credit from Mars, 38, on the slow funk-influenced track “That’s You.” While speaking to Variety about it recently, the “Roll Some Mo’” singer, 38, explained how the full-circle collaboration came together and also gave his Grammy-winning collaborator flowers for inspiring him.

“Bruno’s a genius, first of all,” said Daye. “I always looked up to Bruno, from the song with B.o.B [‘Nothin’ on You’] since way back. I always cherish the way he write. He’s the reason I started studying Motown, the way Motown music was written. Because I know it’s all his bars and stuff.”

Reflecting on their time working on “That’s You,” the Table For Two artist shared, “For me, being able to work with him was like a dream because I always imagined it.”

“Him coming with the idea trying to mimic my voice was very endearing, and I didn’t want to let him down,” he added. “So I recorded his melody in the phone, and we threw that in ProTools, I took it home and threw some words on it.”

Daye — who’s written for stars like Beyoncé, Usher, Mary J. Blige and Boyz II Men — noted that his “goal was to make Bruno proud” with their collaboration. But the 15-time Grammy winner isn’t the only one he tried to honor on his new album.

According to the “Over” singer, his funky soft-rock-inspired album cut “Mary” was a slight homage to DMX and the late rapper’s 1999 hit featuring Sisqó, “What These Bitches Want.”

“I had the idea in my notes,” Daye told Variety. “I wrote literally DMX, DMX and Sisqó song, and I love concepts. I like to create a world around each song, and that was the world around that song.”

Related: Michelle Pfeiffer Takes Selfie with Bruno Mars After 'Uptown Funk' Lyrics Namecheck Her: 'Look Who I Ran Into'

Notable features on Daye’s Algorithm album include U.K. musician Raye and singer Teddy Swims. His new project comes over two years after his sophomore LP, Candydrip, which earned him a 2023 Grammy nomination for best R&B album.

Mars, on the other hand, has been quiet about releasing new solo music since 2016’s 24K Magic. In 2021, he teamed up with Anderson .Paak to create Silk Sonic, their ‘60s and ‘70s-inspired super duo. That year, they released their debut album, An Evening with Silk Sonic, which housed their four-time Grammy-winning single, “Leave the Door Open.”

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