Latest news with #MarkRonson
ABC News
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Mark Ronson on Raye collab 'Suzanne' and Amy Winehouse comparisons
Mark Ronson is a certified hit machine. And he has multiple awards, millions of streams and, crucially, the respect of his peers to prove it. He's the brains behind Bruno Mars-fronted mega-hit 'Uptown Funk', co-wrote the Golden Globe and Oscar-winning 'Shallow' with Lady Gaga, and collaborated with everyone from rappers Ghostface Killah and Sean Paul to vocal icons Adele and Miley Cyrus. Before the accolades, and a catalogue that cemented him as a taste-making super-producer to the stars, Ronson was an amateur DJ. For his 19th birthday, he received a pair of turntables and began scratching his way around New York City, gigging his way up from East Side clubs to high-fashion events. Now 49, Ronson has spent the past few years reflecting on his youth, writing a memoir called Night People, coming out in September. "The book is about 90s hip hop nightclubs in New York and me coming up as a DJ as a teenager playing for Biggie [Smalls] and Jay-Z and all these people," he tells Double J's Dylan Lewis. That nascent era has also reignited Ronson's creativity as he continues work on the follow-up to the Barbie soundtrack and his 2019 divorce album of "sad bangers", Late Night Feelings. "I've just been obsessing over the sound of it. And then I just met Raye, and we made this song just like that." The song in question is 'Suzanne', a delightfully smooth slice of soul played with a flesh-and-blood band, burnished with Ronson's signature classy, vintage polish. The timeless production is a natural fit for Raye, the breakout London star whose vocal and visual styling have regularly invited comparisons to the late, great Amy Winehouse. Initially, the 27-year-old Raye was reluctant to work with Ronson, who worked closely on Winehouse's 2006 blockbuster Back To Black, concerned people would double down on the similarities. "I actually was quite nervous and scared," she revealed in a People interview. "I know I can never, ever, ever, ever, ever attempt to replace or imitate Amy. I'm in awe of her. We all are, and we miss her." For the uninitiated: Raye, real name Rachel Agatha Keen, was slumming it in a bad record deal for years with Polydor, who failed to cultivate her talents. Instead, they shelved her music and had her writing songs for others, including Beyoncé and John Legend. After leaving Polydor in 2021, she channelled her frustrations into new songs — a difficult-to-categorise bridging of old-school jazz and R&B with contemporary pop, hip hop and electronic music — including her chart-topping global hit, 'Escapism' (featuring 070 Shake). Her 2023 independent debut album, My 21st Century Blues, was a runaway hit that saw Raye make history at last year's Brit Awards, winning six of her seven nominations and breaking Blur, Adele and Harry Styles' record four wins at a single Brits ceremony. Needless to say, Ronson has been a Raye admirer for some time. "Even though I've lived in America since I was eight, and I speak with a ridiculous accent, I am English," he explains. "So, when I see another English artist really come up through the ranks and start to take over — like how she's made a splash in Australia and America; killing it at the Oscars and the Grammys — I've just been cheering her on as a fan." Ronson has mentored plenty of emerging talent in his time, such as young Brooklyn artist King Princess and big-voiced gospel-pop singer Yebba, and often works in services of his artists' influences and tastes. That approach was no different with Raye. "She's young, she's definitely a generation who grew up with music like Amy Winehouse," Ronson says. "She's a really soulful singer, she has jazz influences. I might have guessed she was a fan of Amy, but I didn't know she was a super fan of mine. And she played it very cool." There's another strange connection between the two, with a 19-year-old Raye working out of Ronson's former London studio when he relocated once more to the US in 2016. "I left the studio there and I think she then took it over [as part of] a crew of people. It was her, Fred Again… a few other people that took this studio over." 'Suzanne' sees Ronson embracing the retro-facing sound that skyrocketed his career in the mid-2000s after the breakout success of Back To Black. So how does he feel about the Winehouse comparisons? "I'm not gonna lie; I guess when I first came out, people were like, 'Oh, the retro guy. Of course!' "I think because Amy was the first thing that I ever really had success with, for a little while … everything I did sounded like that, for about three or four years. "Then, by the time I made [2010 album] Record Collection with 'Bang Bang Bang' [featuring A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip and electro-pop artist MNDR], I was sort of ready to move on. "But it's funny now, there's a new generation of kids — there's Jalen Ngonda and Thee Sacred Souls — going back to that. Kids who are hearing it for the first time. "So, I always have to be in the studio with a younger artist like a Raye who'll be like, 'No. Do that shit. We love that!' I'm like, 'Really? But I did that before.' And they're like, 'No, no. It's cool.' "So, I mean, it's fun to get back together with so many musicians that I did that [sound with] because Raye feels like an artist sort of worthy of that sound." 'Suzanne' saw Ronson reuniting with guitarist and producer Thomas Brenneck. A member of instrumental ensembles Menahan Street Band, Budos Band and El Michels Affair, Brenneck's expansive credits include albums for funk and soul greats Charles Bradley and Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings. He also played on Back to Back, and perfectly represents the kind of prolific, old-fashioned, behind-the-stardom muso that Ronson loves filling out his key personnel with. "But you know I I'm always trying to make something that still sounds fresh, I guess." After co-writing the music with Brenneck, the rest "just came so easy," Ronson continues. "I just left the room for a second and Raye said, 'I think this song's supposed to be called Suzanne.' It sounded very random … But I was like, 'Cool!'" Between smooth bottom-end, gentle guitar strokes and warm brass, Raye uses vivid details to paint a lush lyrical portrait of a female crush. "Grey skies out the window, but she's a summer breeze," she sings. "You can't tell if she's into you, she's a winding road/That I've been running on down since I was seven years old." Ronson didn't tell Raye at the time, "because I wanted her to have her own Suzanne. But there was a woman growing up [who] helped raise me and my family," he explained to triple j. "She had just passed away, like two weeks before [recording]. She was from Southampton in England; it was all these coincidences." He tells Double J: "It was such a lovely, cathartic release. We didn't really make it for either one of our albums. We just liked it. We were like, 'Let's just put it out.'" Raye and Ronson have already knocked out a second collaboration, 'Grandma Calls The Boy Bad News', which Ronson describes as having a "Memphis Atlantic record, kind of 60s feeling", and released as part of the soundtrack to the Brad Pitt-starring F1 movie. Plus, there's hope that the partnership can continue. "We have such a great energy. You never know, but I do hope so," Ronson concludes. "Because I love Raye and her energy and I love how free ['Suzanne'] was and it just came out of us. That's why I'm very grateful for the gift of this song. I know that sounds a little over the top but I mean it."
Harpers Bazaar Arabia
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Harpers Bazaar Arabia
How RAYE and Audemars Piguet Are Rewriting the Rules of Legacy – One Song at a Time
In honour of Audemars Piguet's 150th anniversary, RAYE lends her voice to a story about womanhood, intuition, and the beauty of creative legacy There's something powerful about a woman in full control of her voice. Not just the sound of it, but its purpose. And RAYE, in every sense, is that woman. This summer, the British singer-songwriter – fresh off a record-breaking sweep at the BRIT Awards – joins forces with Grammy-winning producer Mark Ronson to release Suzanne, a track created in celebration of Audemars Piguet 's 150th anniversary. But instead of commemorating the occasion with a product or campaign, the Swiss watchmaker chose to honour the moment with music. And at the heart of that decision? A woman's voice. More than just a collaboration, Suzanne is a love letter to heritage and intuition, rooted in serendipity. The name was first floated during early writing sessions between RAYE and Ronson – without knowing that Suzanne Audemars, a key figure in the brand's founding story, had once existed. The coincidence soon became the song's soul. And what began as a melody evolved into a tribute. 'I love this song and I'm so proud of it,' RAYE shared. 'It feels like everything was meant to be.' In many ways, her journey mirrors that of the Maison she now represents: independent, uncompromising, and shaped by generations of craft. Her artistry is grounded in classical training, but fearless in genre, and is all about telling the truth. On her own terms and in her own voice. Audemars Piguet's choice to centre a woman like RAYE isn't incidental but intentional. Through its APxMusic initiative, the brand continues to explore the creative intersections between sound and watchmaking, supporting artists not for their fame, but for their authenticity. The accompanying short film Syncing Sounds 150, directed by Theodor Guelat, offers an intimate look into the duo's studio process, revealing how two seemingly different creative minds can come together and build something lasting. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Audemars Piguet (@audemarspiguet) The track was unveiled during an immersive evening at 180 Studios in London, where the brand's Le Brassus home was reimagined for the night. RAYE performed live to an intimate crowd, followed by a DJ set from Ronson that kept the night spinning. Their latest offering is a reminder that legacy doesn't have to follow a formula. Sometimes, it can start with a feeling, a name, and a woman brave enough to sing it. Imagery Supplied
Forbes
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Raye And Mark Ronson Team Up For New Single ‘Suzanne'
Raye and Mark Ronson Acclaimed British songstress Raye and superstar producer Mark Ronson have joined forces for a new single, 'Suzanne,' marking the first time the two powerhouses have worked together on new music. The summer-ready single, 'Suzanne," is a fitting entry into both Raye and Ronson's catalogs with a blend of jazz club instrumentals and a poolside pop sensibility. The song was released in celebration of Audemars Piguet's 150th anniversary as part of the watchmaker's AP x Music program, anchored by ventures like Ronson's ongoing 'Syncing Sounds' series, which in the past has included another R&B singer collaboration: Lucky Daye's 2022 single 'Too Much." Raye sings to the 'Suzanne' in question over Ronson's instrumentation as she shares honest thoughts about their budding relationship. 'Time gives way to the magic hour, sunset at the bar / You rest your left ear on my shoulder and I wonder if that's just how you are / I whisper to the waiter, 'A glass of something strong' / 'Cause I'm about to finally tell you how I've been feeling all along,' she sings on the track. 'Eyes are like the ocean, nails are painted green / And I know this sounds like a lie, but I swear you're the prettiest I ever seen / Now I can't tell you if you into me, so I'ma say it out loud / Things I never say, the things I should've said, I couldn't, and I guess I'm telling you now.' Reflecting on the song and the feelings it sparks, Raye said "For me, it's just joy,' according to Elle. 'The song makes me so happy — I find it so infectious.' Getting to work with Ronson especially was a dream come true for the 'Escapism' crooner given her time working in his London studio as an up-and-coming songwriter. 'I've always been a Mark Ronson superfan,' she confessed. 'Mark is a king of timeless music — music that outlasts trends, that outlasts phases.' Ronson, for his part, acknowledged the song's emotional underbelly, calling it 'slightly melancholy, but still joyous.' Despite working on myriad songs in the past with some of the biggest names in music, Ronson holds 'Suzanne' in especially high regard. 'This is one of my favorite pieces of music I've worked on in a long time,' he said. Raye is set to take the stage at Bonnaroo Festival on June 14 and will perform at music festivals across Europe this summer.
Wales Online
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Mark Ronson and RAYE drop jazzy new song Suzanne
Mark Ronson and RAYE drop jazzy new song Suzanne The Uptown Funk hitmaker and the Worth It singer came to hit the studio after both working as brand ambassadors British singer-songwriter Raye (Image: Getty Images ) Mark Ronson and RAYE have shared the track Suzanne after wanting to work together "for years". The Uptown Funk hitmaker and the Worth It singer came to hit the studio after both working as brand ambassadors for watchmaker Audemars Piguet, with the collaboration being part of its APxMusic series. Superstar DJ and producer Ronson said: "I've admired RAYE's artistry for years now, watching her evolution from songwriter to the powerhouse artist she's become. When Audemars Piguet brought us together through their APxMusic programme, it felt like the stars aligning at exactly the right moment. "This collaboration isn't just another project – it's something we've poured ourselves into night tracking sessions in London, New York and Los Angeles. The music we've created together carries both our musical DNA but takes us somewhere neither of us would have reached alone." The song is named after the Swiss luxury watch brand's founder, Suzanne Audemars. RAYE added: "Everything about how this song came to exist, and this moment with Mark and AP, feels meant to be. Article continues below "I used to work in Mark Ronson's London studio when I was a baby artist focusing on my songwriting craft, and always dreamed of the day I could one day work with the musical genius that is Ronson. "From the feeling in my heart that the song should be called Suzanne within minutes of hearing the music Mark created, to learning of Suzanne Audemars and the joy I feel in my bones whenever I play this song in my headphones, the overwhelming consensus of emotions is gratitude and pride." The Oscar Winning Tears singer has recorded another song Ronson, Grandma Calls the Boy Bad News, from this month's F1 movie soundtrack album. The Escapism hitmaker couldn't be prouder of the music they've created together. She gushed to PEOPLE: "We've made music together that I'm so proud of, and I love. "I play it, and it makes me happy and joyful, so I'm proud." RAYE also provided an update on her follow-up to 2023's My 21st Century Blues LP - which won British Album of the Year at the 2024 BRIT Awards - after she suffered a setback when her car was stolen with both the original songbooks from her debut record and her only copy of notes and ideas for the new record inside. She said: "I don't have an album title. "I'm like, 'What is it gonna be called?' It's stressing me out right now, I can't lie, because I've got the music starting to really come there. Article continues below "I just don't know what this album's gonna be called. "In my humble opinion, My 21st Century Blues is such a fire album title, and I can't hand in an album title that's less good than that."
Perth Now
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Mark Ronson and RAYE drop jazzy new song Suzanne
Mark Ronson and RAYE have shared the track Suzanne after wanting to work together "for years". The Uptown Funk hitmaker and the Worth It singer came to hit the studio after both working as brand ambassadors for watchmaker Audemars Piguet, with the collaboration being part of its APxMusic series. Superstar DJ and producer Ronson said: 'I've admired RAYE's artistry for years now, watching her evolution from songwriter to the powerhouse artist she's become. When Audemars Piguet brought us together through their APxMusic programme, it felt like the stars aligning at exactly the right moment. 'This collaboration isn't just another project – it's something we've poured ourselves into completely…all night tracking sessions in London, New York and Los Angeles. The music we've created together carries both our musical DNA but takes us somewhere neither of us would have reached alone." The song is named after the Swiss luxury watch brand's founder, Suzanne Audemars. RAYE added: 'Everything about how this song came to exist, and this moment with Mark and AP, feels meant to be. 'I used to work in Mark Ronson's London studio when I was a baby artist focusing on my songwriting craft, and always dreamed of the day I could one day work with the musical genius that is Ronson. 'From the feeling in my heart that the song should be called Suzanne within minutes of hearing the music Mark created, to learning of Suzanne Audemars and the joy I feel in my bones whenever I play this song in my headphones, the overwhelming consensus of emotions is gratitude and pride." The Oscar Winning Tears singer has recorded another song Ronson, Grandma Calls the Boy Bad News, from this month's F1 movie soundtrack album. The Escapism hitmaker couldn't be prouder of the music they've created together. She gushed to PEOPLE: "We've made music together that I'm so proud of, and I love. "I play it, and it makes me happy and joyful, so I'm proud." RAYE also provided an update on her follow-up to 2023's My 21st Century Blues LP - which won British Album of the Year at the 2024 BRIT Awards - after she suffered a setback when her car was stolen with both the original songbooks from her debut record and her only copy of notes and ideas for the new record inside. She said: "I don't have an album title. "I'm like, 'What is it gonna be called?' It's stressing me out right now, I can't lie, because I've got the music starting to really come there. "I just don't know what this album's gonna be called. "In my humble opinion, My 21st Century Blues is such a fire album title, and I can't hand in an album title that's less good than that."
