Service95 Book Club With Dua Lipa

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Night People: Mark Ronson on DJing & 90s New York

Jan 6, 2026

Guest

Mark Ronson

Mark Ronson, a celebrated producer and DJ, discusses his memoir, shedding light on his childhood shaped by a nocturnal family lifestyle. He reflects on the vibrant 90s New York club scene, contrasting underground venues like Limelight with super-clubs, and how DJing provided him with a sense of control and validation. Mark shares a pivotal moment when he shocked a hip-hop crowd by mixing rock, showcasing the daring spirit of his work. The conversation also touches on the evolving role of women in nightlife and the complexities of race within the DJ community.

57:15

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ANECDOTE

Nightlife Childhood Shaped Musical Drive

Mark Ronson grew up with nightly parties at home, waking to fifty people and famous guests like Robin Williams.
Nighttime felt safe and joyful compared with chaotic daytime family life, shaping his love of the night.

insights

INSIGHT

DJ Booth As Control Center

DJing gave Mark control, validation, and belonging after a chaotic childhood.
The booth acted as a one-man command center where he bent the room to his will.

insights

INSIGHT

Varied Venues Fueled Experimentation

90s New York hosted both giant superclubs and tiny underground parties, creating a vibrant, experimental scene.
Constant venue variety forced DJs to adapt and honed creative mixing and presentation skills.

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Mark Ronson Introduced and Book Overview

02:09 • 3min

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Defining 'Night People' and Childhood Nights

05:34 • 5min

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Nightlife as Refuge and DJing's Appeal

10:48 • 11min

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Early 90s New York Club Scene

21:59 • 3min

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Researching the Memoir

24:34 • 3min

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Writing Process and Support

27:22 • 2min

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Collaborations and Transition to Producing

29:10 • 4min

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Juicy, Buddha Bar and Women's Nightlife

33:01 • 3min

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Race, Access and DJ Tensions

36:17 • 7min

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Risky Set: Dropping Rock into Hip-Hop

43:38 • 6min

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Balancing Family and Nightlife

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This month, for the Service95 Book Club, Dua Lipa speaks with producer, songwriter and DJ Mark Ronson about his memoir Night People: How To Be A DJ in 90s New York City. Part cultural history and part personal reckoning, the book traces Mark’s formative years between London and New York, and how his immersion into NYC nightlife ultimately shaped the 90s DJ scene in the city.

Set in 1990s New York, Night People captures the clubs, characters, and contradictions that shaped Mark’s creative life. He reflects on the idea of “night people,” shaped by his unconventional upbringing and his parents’ nocturnal lifestyle, and how DJing became both an escape and a source of control, validation, and belonging.

Written with candour, the memoir explores ambition, missteps, and the risks involved in pushing musical boundaries — including a defining moment when Mark challenged convention by dropping rock music into a hip-hop crowd.

Ultimately, Night People is a story about devotion to music, craft, and the communities built in dark rooms.

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