The Spray Q&A: Mark Ronson

Mark Ronson is one of the most highly sought-after producers around, having helped push Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse into the big league; plus Mark Ronson is the only DJ around who can apparently froth Tom Cruise into a frenzy of finger-guns.

Later this month Mark Ronson releases Version, his eagerly-anticipated follow-up to his Ghostface-starring, Mos Def-starring, Saigon-premiering debut Here Comes The Fuzz. And Version is totally different animal - all the hip-hop stylings have been replaced by Motown horns and more soul than you can fire a gun at. By the way, Mark Ronson called the album Version because it's a covers album. Covers of The Kaiser Chiefs and The Zutons. Surprisingly, Version is a bloody good listen. 

We briefly caught up with Mark Ronson to discuss Curly Wurlies, gansta mispronunciation of his name and Foreigner. Because Mark Ronson's Dad was in Foreigner…

Who are you and where are you?

Mark Ronson, I'm in my studio in New York City.

Tell us about Version. It's an album of covers, correct?

It is an album of covers of some of my favourite songs redone with horns and good singing.

Were there any covers you wanted to do but couldn't/didn't?

I wanted to do an Usher song but the thought of him getting paid off my album was too much to bear.

Any plans to perform the album live? Because that would be kinda cool.

I did a bit last summer. I will again this summer. We will storm the stages at Creamfields, Wireless and the like.

What's your favourite Foreigner tune?

Fool For You Anyway or At War With The World.

You've produced tracks that both Robbie Williams and Amy Winehouse have sung on. What is it about your music that sends people to rehab?

There's a lot of toxins in a great baritone sax line.

We've listened to Ooh Wee from your first album about a million times now and we're certain that Ghostface calls you 'Mark Bronson' in it. Does it hurt your feelings that he couldn't even get your fucking name right?

Yes, I'm still going to a therapist. In his defence, he said he made it 'Bronson' so it sounded tougher, like Charles Bronson.

Hecklerspray turns two in a few weeks. How much would we have to pay to have you come DJ for us?

One Curly Wurly.

The Tom Cruise wedding Take My Breath Away finger-gun rumour… true?

Ummmm…… not really.

Any ideas about your next album yet?

It's a collection of seminal songs from Tom Cruise films - such as Kokomo, You've Lost That Loving Feeling and Hans Zimmer's Spectres In The Fog from The Last Samurai - redone as klezmer (a popular jewish folk music) tunes.

Version by Mark Ronson is released on April 16 & he'll be performing at all the festivals he just mentioned, plus an impromptu yet legally binding birthday set for hecklerspray in return for a solitary Curly Wurly at some point.

Mark Ronson's official website