The Great Creators with Guy Raz

Mark Ronson on His Instant Connection with Amy Winehouse, Producing the Music for "Barbie", and Staying Relevant

Sep 12, 2023

Mark Ronson, a well-known producer, talks about his instant connection with Amy Winehouse while producing 'Back to Black', as well as working with Greta Gerwig to produce the music for 'Barbie'. They also discuss Mark's start DJing in New York and his distinct style as a producer.

01:07:44

Episode guests

Amy Winehouse

Greta Gerwig

Mark Ronson

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Understanding and channeling the emotions of artists to create authentic and impactful music is crucial for a producer.

Producers should support and complement an artist's vision while acknowledging the complexities surrounding copyright infringement in music.

Mark Ronson's successful collaboration with Amy Winehouse on 'Back to Black' catapulted his career as a producer and showcased his ability to perfectly complement an artist's unique style.

Deep dives

Mark Ronson's Journey from DJ to Producer

Mark Ronson shares his journey from being a DJ to becoming a successful producer, working with artists like Nika Costa and Amy Winehouse. He explains the importance of understanding and channeling the emotions of the artists he collaborates with to create authentic and impactful music. Ronson also reflects on the challenges of staying relevant in the music industry, facing feelings of insecurity and self-doubt. Despite his success, he always wants to ensure that his music resonates with listeners and maintains its authenticity.

Introduction

2min

Mark Ronson's Journey as a Producer and DJ

5min

The Influence of MTV and FM Radio

18min

Transitioning from DJ to Producer and Mark's First Record

5min

Unconventional Genres and Collaborations

25min

Imposter Syndrome and Finding Balance

10min

Future plans, past projects, and finding inspiration

5min

Mark Ronson’s work has found its way into tons of the biggest pop hits in the world over the past two decades. And in that time he became a new kind of artist: a producer whose style is so distinct that his name became the marquee name. In this episode, Guy talks with Mark about his start DJing in New York, his instant connection with Amy Winehouse while producing "Back to Black", and working with Greta Gerwig to produce the music for "Barbie".

Links from the show:

Here Comes the Fuzz

Everybody Got Their Something - Nikka Costa

Back to Black

Valerie

Uptown Funk

Nothing Breaks Like a Heart

Barbie Soundtrack

Barbie Score

Mark's TED Talk on the history of sampling

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