Guy We Heart: Mark Ronson Issue #44

Being a world-renowned DJ, sought-after producer, record label head, musician, and style icon is a lot to juggle, but London-born New Yorker Mark Ronson somehow manages

By Kelley Hecker
Published: November 1st, 2010 | 12:00am

Although Ronson started in the biz by DJing gigs for high-profile friends, he wasn't fond of being known as just a celebrity DJ. Instead, he founded Allido Records and became involved in production, lending his chops to records by breakout stars including Amy Winehouse, Adele, and Lily Allen. He also dabbled in his own recordings, releasing his debut Here Comes the Fuzz (Elektra) in 2003 and '07's widely received covers album Version (Columbia), which transformed songs by the likes of Coldplay and the Zutons into big-band R&B numbers. The latter practically turned him into a superstar overnight, but Ronson was ready for a change.

"Creatively, sometimes you need a kick in the ass to get knocked out of your comfort zone," Ronson says of his new effort, Record Collection (RCA), which distances itself from the trademark horns of Version and even brings him up to the microphone. After signing on in 2009 to produce Duran Duran's as-yet-unreleased album, Ronson says he was influenced by the New Wavers' heavy use of synths and rounded up some of his favorite musicians, friends, and old analog keyboard to begin composing Record Collection.

Never one to take it easy, Ronson also squeezed in vocal lessons for the album, after Lady Gaga spurred on the idea and introduced Ronson to her coach, Don Lawrence. "It was a bit scary," he admits. "I've only been on the other side of the glass telling vocalists what to do. I now have more sympathy for all the singers I've worked with."

With a fresh batch of material under his belt, Ronson is eager to hit the road again. He even formed a new band, the Business Intl, which includes former Pipette Rose Elinor Dougall and electro-popper MNDR. Both will provide keys and vocals as well as, Ronson jokes, the asset of "looking much cooler" on stage.

Though earlier this year, Ronson snuck in time to design sneakers for Gucci, this decade's Renaissance Man has decided to finally ease up. "I have a bad habit of saying yes to everything," Ronson says. "I just got home and my dog pretended she didn't even know me. I need to stay in one place for a bit."

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Ronson's Final Words

Mark Ronson will be remembered as 2010's best... FRIEND
Record Collection was almost named... INTRODUCING THE BUSINESS
In karaoke, I kill at... BLUR'S "THERE'S NO OTHER WAY"
GQ said I have style, but my biggest faux pas was the... SHINY SUITS CIRCA '08
The sister most likely to give girlfriends the third degree is... SAMANTHA
If I wasn't in music, my day job would be... A DOG WALKER
London has the best... PUBS but NYC is better for it's LATE-NIGHT RESTAURANTS
The most played vinyl in my record collection is... MICHAEL JACKSON'S OFF THE WALL

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He's Going the Distance: Ronson's Running Playlist