Mark Ronson

Mark Ronson

Outro

Up yer ronson

interviews, outro, april 2007, COMMENTS

Recognised as one of the worlds finest DJs, and a darling of the New York fashion cognoscenti, hip hop elite and just about anyone that likes to party, Mark Ronson is also a talented producer, solo artist, band leader and label boss. Last year he confirmed his big time status with a cover of Radiohead’s ‘Just’, and his new album ‘Versions’, out April 16, is bristling with UK talent. This month, NIGHT is respecktin’ his status.

You worked with Americans on the last abum, and with Brits on this one - who’s best?
Neither. On the first album, Here Comes the Fuzz, I took brash American hip hop and put vocal melodies over it. On this album I’ve taken melodic British pop songs and remixed them with a New York hip hop sound. There’s something about British pop music that lends itself very easily to soulful hip hop, and I think it just shows something universal about music.

You’ve got Lilly Allen, Robbie, the Charlatans and Radiohead on your new album. What is it about the UK scene you like?

There is more excitement in the UK about music. In America there is a stay-at-home attitude towards music - the fans stay in and illegally download the music, a problem which is much worse in the States than here. In the UK, people get excited about going out to see music, swap records, and generally get out amongst it. There’s still a record buying public here, and it’s a lot more compact in the UK than in the States, which helps keep music exciting.

So you’re saying that Brits are, in fact, best?
No.

What’s your favoutite club here?
The Yo Yo club night at the Notting Hill Arts Club.

Are you an artist or a producer?
I’m not sure, I always used to feel like an artist in my own right, but I’m in danger of becoming pigeon holed as a female solo artist producer through my work with Christina Aguilera, Lilly Allen and Amy Winehouse. On ‘Versions’, I think that I’m a producer who’s made an artist record, even if I’m not on there singing solo. The term ‘artist’ is pretty loose and can be applied to anything.

Do you ever sneakily save stuff from your production work for your solo albums?
If I’m working with another artist and come up with a beat or hook I really like, I’m tempted to save it. But I never do. That’s a limiting, negative approach. It’s never worth holding back with your music because a, you might die before you get it out, and b, if you’re worried that you might not produce anything else that’s good, you shouldn’t be a producer.

Is it true you DJed at Katie Homes and Tom Cruise’s wedding?
Yes.

Did you play ‘You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feeling’?
Yes. He shot me with double-barrelled fingers.

Words: Leo Batchelor

From: April 2007 Issue

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