Photo: Press
Mark Ronson will release his fourth studio album Uptown Special in January, featuring Tame Impala's Kevin Parker, Hudson Mohawke, Bruno Mars and acclaimed author Michael Chabon.
The first single 'Uptown Funk' has also been unveiled online (it will be physically be released on 11 January). It's an unapologetic disco funk throwback - as Popjustice described it, a "solid gold wedding disco banger" - featuring Mars channeling the Gap Band while discussing riding in limousines, drinking fine liquor and his own inate handsomeness, particularly his ability to carry off Chuck Taylors with Saint Laurent tailoring.
Listen to Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars
The album is inspired by Ronson's formative years in New York in the Nineties. "No matter how my taste in music and DJ-ing veers over the years, I always find myself coming back to that music I would play out in hip-hop clubs in NY in the late 90s/early 2000s”, Ronson explained. "Biggie, Chaka Khan, Amerie, Boz Scaggs, Missy, Earth Wind & Fire, N.O.R.E….Those songs would set alight the dance floor. The NY club scene was filled with girls, boys, dancers, drug dealers, rappers, models and skateboarders who came mostly for one reason: to dance. And regardless of genre or era, if the song was good - if it had dope drums, if it had soul to it - they danced. Before smart phones, bottle service and smoking bans, people came to the club, found their spot and stayed all night, absorbed in the music. With Uptown Special I set out to capture the feeling I remember from those New York nights".
The album features contributions from Tame Impala's Kevin Parker, Andrew Wyatt (from Miike Snow), Simian Mobile Disco's James Ford, Hudson Mohawke and DJ Zinc. Ronson is also particularly excited by young gospel singer Keyonce Starr who they discovered on a road trip across the US. A majority of the lyrics come from Michael Chabon, the author behind The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay.
Mark Ronson and Mars will appear as musical guests on Saturday Night Live for the Thanksgiving show on 22 November which will be hosted by Cameron Diaz.
As well as Mars, Ronson has revealed he has also been in the studio with Action Bronson, Chance The Rapper and Vic Mensa. "There’s this whole new wave of young rap talent that I find invigorating," he explained to Cuepoint.
