For his follow-up to 2010’s Doo-Wops & Hooligans, Bruno Mars continues to show his love of Motown. 

The singer is working with Benny Blanco, the superstar producer who’s worked with the likes of Katy Perry and Maroon 5, who told Rolling Stone that Bruno’s new record will show off his love for soul music.

“It’s like some throwback Nina Simone type s***,” the producer told the mag.

But Benny’s not surprised Bruno’s channeling the legend.

“It’s Bruno,” he said. “He can sing the ABC’s and you’d be like, ‘Holy f***! He knows how to vibe.’”

The “Grenade” singer is also working with Adele’s songwriter, Paul Epworth, who wrote “Rolling in the Deep.”

But even with all this star power, it seems Bruno is still dealing with the pressures of the sophomore slump. He tweeted on June 20, “Wise men say that if you’re not struggling to make your album its probably not gonna be a good album.”

Seems like Bruno might have another number one hit on his hands.

No release date has been announced as of yet for the singer’s second solo album.

 -Shannon Carlin, CBS Local