Mark Ronson: Why America Loves Amy Winehouse

Speaking to Gigwise, producer extraordinaire Mark Ronson has explained just why he thinks Amy Winehouse has what it takes to become a superstar in America.

Winehouse is currently on promo duties in the states, where she has appeared on high profile chat shows as well as performing some well-received.

And Ronson, who famously worked with the UK tabloid darling’s latest record ‘Back To Black’, is only too keen to praise the singer.

The New York producer told us: “I think the thing is traditionally, ‘black music’ like hip hop and soul music, it’s always been hard because that stuff comes from America even though there’s a lot of talented English artists that do it, so, they’re always a bit sceptical.

“But the Amy stuff is just so good and just so refreshingly honest and raw and pure and obviously she’s wrote some great songs and she’s interesting to read about because she says honest things. Amy’s contemporaries, going with the people who are popular, you’re looking at like Britney and all these people… they’re not bad people, but it’s just cookie cutter.”

He continued: “I feel like they’re saying what they actually feel, no one’s making music that’s really going to be around to listen to and enjoy in ten years. You come to Amy, it just feels incredibly real. I think that’s why the Americans are blown away by her right now.”

Ronson also believes that her music will also outweigh the column inches she receives for being a heavy drinker.

He continued: “I think if the music wasn’t as good as it was maybe she would become maybe just tabloid fodder, but there’s no denying that talent.  There’s nothing you could say.”

Mark Ronson releases his artist album of covers, ‘Version’, on April 16. It’s preceded by his take on The Smiths classic ‘Stop Me’ a week earlier.