Like many artists that eventually plough their way out of the woodwork, Bruno Mars began his career as a writer for other singers. His work crops up in the portfolios of Flo Rider, Alexandra Burke, Sean Kingston, Travie McCoy, Adam Levine and Brandy. He even co-wrote Cee Lo Green's 'Forget You'. However, he always set his sights very high and revealed in an interview recently that he aspired to the musical heights of Amy Winehouse- which, it appears, is why he's now teaming up with Mark Ronson, the producer that pushed Amy into super-stardom.

"It was perfect," he said, of Amy's Back to Black album. "You couldn't put it in a box 'cause it could be played [anywhere]... And they did it. Her and Mark Ronson." Having grown up listening to a wide variety of music, all of it has rubbed off but in a kind of mis-matched way, he's an endearing if not brilliant patchwork quilt. His latest album 'Unorthodox Dukebox' is also a great patchwork, as Mars has brought together some of the business' best producers including Diplo, The Smeezingtons (who did his entire first album), Jeff Bhasker, Paul Epworth, and Emile Haynie. He described these collaborations to the Associated Press as "a big ole science project."

The album has got fairl good reviews so far but he's already joking about a future 'comeback', saying "You know my sister sings, my brother plays drums in my band. My whole family is a bunch of musicians. So, when the right time comes, you'll see it on some kind of reunion tour, CBS special, 'Behind the Music: Bruno's Family,' trying to revive my career."