This article was written by Gus Anderson, DET’s Editor-in-Chief based on the book launch of Mark Ronson in Holborn, London: Night People: How To Be A DJ In ’90s New York City.
For all the hot funk and rock ’n’ roll he’s given the world, legendary DJ, producer, and songwriter Mark Ronson turns the volume down in his latest venture — a deeply personal paperback memoir: Night People.
Rather than another retrospective or coffee-table anthology, Ronson uses this book to reflect on the memories, people, and places that shaped his life — from his chaotic Notting Hill childhood to the studios of New York, and the artists who helped define his sound: Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, and of course, Amy Winehouse.
Where it All Started for Ronson
Born into a privileged but musically intense household, Ronson doesn’t shy away from the dissonance of his youth. He recalled waking up to Robin Williams peering over his bed at one of his parents’ infamous parties on Circus Lane. Yet beneath the glamour, he speaks of a “not so great” childhood — one where privilege often bred pressure rather than ease.
As Ronson spoke about his childhood, it was visible that there was an unspoken backstory unexplained both on stage and across his book.
Mark Ronson: “I was never amazing at certain things — unlike my peers — in music,” he reflects. “I had to find that one thing I was really good at; that turned out to be DJ'ing.”
It was this restless pursuit of rhythm that carried Ronson to New York in the 1990s, where he found both anonymity and inspiration.
The Ultimate Collaboration: Ronson and Amy Winehouse
Ronson mentions meeting Amy for the first time: she came in rather nonchalant in the room and asked “how I was, thinking I was this older man with a beard, I think.”
His encounter with Amy Winehouse years later became a defining collaboration.
Mark Ronson: “It only took 20 minutes for Amy to come up with Back to Black,” he recalls. “She was that kind of talent.”
A Marathon to Write: Uptown Funk
His next chapter arrived with the Grammy-winning phenomenon Uptown Funk, a collaboration with Bruno Mars that took nearly eight months to perfect.
Ronson recalled following Mars on tour across the U.S., recording between shows and obsessing over every beat until the track finally clicked — proof that precision and persistence can coexist with spontaneity.
Uptown Funk won a Grammy, after its release in 2014, sustaining No.1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. for 14 consecutive weeks. The track also won best selling single of 2015.
The Art of Collaboration: Producer and Artist
When speaking about his work with Lady Gaga on Shallow for A Star Is Born, Ronson emphasised the art of collaboration over control. “I always think about what I can bring to the table with every artist,” he said, “regardless of how big they are and what suits their style.”
He recalled Gaga arriving at the studio in knee-high cowboy boots and a wide-brimmed hat. “I thought, we need something more earthy here,” he laughed, hinting at how visual cues can inspire sonic direction.
Hiya Barbie, Hi Ken: Margo Robie and Ryan Gosling
That adaptability resurfaced during his latest cinematic venture: Barbie.
With only two weeks’ notice, director Greta Gerwig asked Ronson for two key tracks — one dance anthem and one introspective ballad for Ken.
Mark Ronson: “I texted Dua to see if she was onboard,” he recalled. “Luckily she was... and free.” Together they reworked the song to fit Gerwig’s vision. “The original track didn’t quite match Margot Robbie’s portrayal,” he noted.
“Dua’s usual attitude” ... confident, playful... “didn’t align with Robbie or Barbie.”
Looking ahead, Ronson teased possible collaborations with Drake and Kendrick Lamar, artists he admires for their lyrical precision and emotional depth. Yet he ultimately circles back to the heart of his memoir: the memories, the people, and the places special to him.
These are three forces that continue to define his sound and sustain his creative drive, which is so evident even on stage today.
As the book’s title suggests, Night People isn’t just about success; it’s about survival, collaboration, and the noise behind the music. In a world where so many artists lose themselves to fame, Ronson remains anchored in the stories that shaped him. The names, the nostalgia, and the instrumentals form the backbone of his ascendance, one that began in the ’90s, but can only be fully understood now.
His decision to write from where it all started feels as intentional as his choice to bring that reflection to life on stage — not as a retrospective, but as a living conversation with the past.
NOTE: This article was written by Gus Anderson, DET’s Editor-in-Chief based on Mark Ronson’s book launch in Holborn, London: Night People: How To Be A DJ In ’90s New York City.
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