ZapGossip

Mark Ronson mistook for Nile Rodgers


Mark Ronson thinks he has excelled himself on his new album because people mistake it for someone else’s music.

The producer played ‘Uptown Funk’ – the lead single from upcoming LP ‘Uptown Special’ – to his stepfather Mick Jones and the Foreigner rocker praised the track, but mistakenly believed it was by Chic’s Nile Rodgers.

Mark said: "He said: ‘Oh, that’s good, is that Nile Rodgers?’

"That’s what I’ve done. I’ve made something so good that people don’t actually think it’s me."

The 39-year-old producer recently previewed some tracks from the album during a DJ gig and was relieved they went down well with the young audience because he felt it was proof the record is strong.

He told The Guardian newspaper: "2,500 kids were totally going for it, which I thought was kind of amazing.

"It’s so different to what everyone’s ears are attuned to right now, but it completely works. That just kind of makes me psyched for music. You know, ‘Oh, it’s not just that I like it because I’m an old man,’ or whatever."

As well as well-known vocalists including Stevie Wonder and Bruno Mars, Mark has teamed up with singer Keyone Starr on the record.

He found the unknown musician while looking for a soul voice in Mississippi and was impressed not only by the talented singers but their dedication to church over fame.

He recalled: ""It was kind of amazing. You’d meet these people that could out-sing anyone in the top 10, but they’d explain that they didn’t really enjoy singing secular music or Beyoncé or whatever, because unless they’re really singing for God, they just don’t feel it.

"In the era of music reality shows, where people basically start singing in order to become famous, it’s so anti that, it’s incredible. You’d start talking to them, like, ‘We’re making this record, would you be interested in coming up to LA to record a song?’ and they’re like, ‘Well, I can never miss my choir rehearsal on Wednesdays and Thursdays,’ which is really touching."