Mars Baby is a producer, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter shaping the new wave of R&B and alternative pop. Born in Cape Town and now based in Johannesburg, he has also spent time in the USA. At 26, his music explores love, hate, and everything in between. He has worked with artists like Shekhinah, Zoocci Coke Dope, Filah Lah Lah, and lordkez and was named an Apple Music Artist to Watch.

1. How would you describe your sound, and what influences have shaped it?

My sound is eclectic. I draw inspiration from a lot of different artists. Right now I’m a huge fan of early 2000’s pop & pop-punk, that’s been a huge influence on this latest project, bands like Blink-182 & Fall Out Boy. Other than that i’m a sucker for R&B. I’ve always drawn a lot of inspiration from artists like Frank Ocean, JMSN & D’Angelo. I also love tiktok music. I think it’s fun. 

2. Handsome Luke & The Heartbreakers has such an evocative title. What’s the story behind it?

Handsome Luke is a rockstar. He represents the part of me that has fully committed and sacrificed a lot in the pursuit of art and recognition. I added The Heartbreakers because it gives it this old school feeling, like a band from the 60’s. They represent the people who have been on this journey with me and the experiences I’ve had. 

3. As an award-winning producer, you’ve worked on a variety of sounds. How does your approach to producing differ from creating your own music?

I’ve always produced more music than I could handle, that’s why I became a producer. I had so many different sounds and rather than try to fit myself into all of them I decided to share them with the artists I like. I know very early on if a piece of music is for me or someone else, there’s something about the chord progression or the feeling of the guitar that tells me. 

4. Your music carries a deeply personal and emotional weight. How do you navigate vulnerability in your songwriting, and what do you hope listeners take away from your lyrics?

I never really think too much about being vulnerable or candid in my music. I’ve always been inclined to make it that way because I like being dramatic and evocative. I hope listeners take that from my music. That it’s okay to chat your chat and be brutally honest. 

5. With only three features on Handsome Luke & The Heartbreakers, what made these particular artists the perfect “heartbreakers” for the album?

All three features fit perfectly into their songs. lordkez, Hannah Ray & O’hara are all talented vocalists and songwriters so it just made sense for me with what I was going for. Hannah actually produced and started Break Free on her own and I ended up asking if we could work on it together because of how perfectly it fit. Each of their features represents a different stage in the story of Handsome Luke & The Heartbreakers that surrounds him.