[9] Mars' family moved to Jackson, Mississippi when he was a senior in high school.

He was lead singer and guitarist in a band called Adley Madidafus in high school.

[2] Mars has been compared to Jason Mraz and Josh Rouse,[2] and described as a tougher edged version of Jeff Buckley.

[10] Mars says that songs come to him spontaneously, and that he relies on the quality and memorability of the material to remember what he creates.

"[9] In 2010 Mars said he would like to live in Austin, Texas if not for his then-girlfriend Mary-Louise Parker, actress on West Wing, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Weeds.