Maps of Music

The Romantic (2026)

Where the lyrics of The Romantic take you, and where it was really made.

The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 186,000 equivalent units, Mars's first number-one debut, yet it is also his shortest album to date.

Key places

Recorded in Los Angeles (2026)

Recording site Motown Recording Studios — The album was recorded at Shampoo Press & Curl studios in Los Angeles. The point is placed at the city centre, not at the building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recording session in Riverside (2026)

Recording site Penrose Recorders — Penrose Recorders in Riverside is listed among the recording locations for the album. The point is placed at the city centre, not at the building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recording at Milkboy in Philadelphia (2026)

Recording site Milkboy Studios — Milkboy in Philadelphia is listed among the recording locations for the album. The point uses the building position of the studio. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• The Romantic: fourth solo studio album and fifth overall by Bruno Mars
• Released 27 February 2026 by Atlantic Records
• First album in more than four years, following the collaborative album An Evening with Silk Sonic (2021)
• First solo album in over nine years, since 24K Magic (2016)
• Nine tracks lasting over thirty-one minutes, Mars's shortest album to date
• Shorter than his debut solo album Doo-Wops & Hooligans (2010)
• No guest appearances

Background

• In 2023 Mars was reportedly working on his next album with Brody Brown, Philip Lawrence and James Fauntleroy
• The album was reportedly near completion in May 2023, with a new sound and a tentative release date
• In 2024 it was revealed that D'Mile was involved in the follow-up album, and D'Mile confirmed this in 2025
• Mars was in early talks with Live Nation Entertainment for a 2024–2025 tour

Recording

• Recorded at Shampoo Press & Curl studios in Los Angeles
• Mars primarily composed the album with D'Mile, a past collaborator and producer of An Evening with Silk Sonic
• Other returning collaborators: Philip Lawrence, Brody Brown and James Fauntleroy
• All songs produced only by Mars and D'Mile
• On 5 January 2026 Mars announced on social media that the album was finished

Cover

• On 7 January 2026 Mars announced the album title and revealed the album cover

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Early life

• Born Peter Gene Hernandez on October 8, 1985 in Honolulu, Hawaii.
• Raised in a musical family; performed with the family band the Love Notes from age four.
• Gained recognition in Hawaii as an Elvis Presley impersonator as a child.
• Nicknamed Bruno by his father; stage name also adopted to avoid stereotyping.

Career

• Moved to Los Angeles in 2003; became a songwriter and producer with the Smeezingtons.
• Breakthrough came with featured spots on B.o.B's "Nothin' on You" (2009), a US number-one.
• Debut album Doo-Wops & Hooligans (2010) was followed by Unorthodox Jukebox (2012) and 24K Magic (2016), which won Album of the Year.
• Silk Sonic with Anderson .Paak released An Evening with Silk Sonic (2021).
• Known for a three-octave tenor range, retro showmanship, and his band the Hooligans.
• Solo album The Romantic was released in 2026.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Metacritic: generally favorable reviews, weighted average score of 66 out of 100 from 10 critic scores
• AnyDecentMusic?: 6.0 out of 10, based on its assessment of the critical consensus
• AllMusic, Andy Kellman: 4 out of 5 stars, describing the record as a well-dressed set of nine finely crafted love songs
• Billboard, Andrew Unterberger: called it Mars' most straightforward throwback yet
• NME, Nick Levine: 4 stars, calling it a laser-focused collection; praised the production and Mars's raspy voice
• Rolling Stone, Maura Johnston: 4 stars, describing it as an undeniable crowd-pleaser that blends 1970s soul with brown-eyed soul influences
• Consequence, Paolo Ragusa: praised the instrumentation and vocals but found the project lacked specificity
• Slant Magazine, Sal Cinquemani: 3 out of 5 stars, praising its succinct production and nostalgic charm
• The Guardian, Alexis Petridis: 2 stars, dismissing it as fundamentally lazy songwriting
• Pitchfork, Brittany Spanos: 5.8 out of 10, saying the record never really delivers the romance
• Paste, Sam Rosenberg: dismissed it as uninspired and a glaring self-parody

Records

• Billboard 200 debut at number one with 186,000 equivalent album units in the first week
• 93,500 pure album sales, 90,500 streaming units, 2,000 track-equivalent album units
• Mars's first number-one debut and second number-one album on the chart in the United States
• Second week: number two on the Billboard 200 with 80,000 equivalent album units
• Canada: number one
• UK Albums Chart debut at number three
• ARIA Albums Chart debut at number two in Australia
• Top ten in Australia, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Cha Cha Cha borrows the Philadelphia soul rhythm of Back Stabbers by The O'Jays, including the pause that leads into the chorus.
• The chorus of Cha Cha Cha interpolates Slow Motion (2004) by Juvenile featuring Soulja Slim.
• The album was released in three vinyl versions: a numbered first pressing edition, a webstore exclusive with a velvet sleeve, and a regular edition.
• Mars was announced as the 2026 Record Store Day ambassador on 30 January, and listening parties were held at more than 200 US record stores on 25 February.
• The Romantic Tour, 71 shows, runs from 10 April 2026 in Las Vegas to 14 October in Vancouver.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Maps of Ages ↗ (mapsofages.com)

Privacy · Contact