‘Saif and Sound’ caught up with English musician Mark Ronson on Radio 1. Ronson is the man behind UK’s fifth biggest selling single of all time, ‘Uptown Funk’. Mark Ronson performed alongside Labrinth in Abu Dhabi recently.
Saif: You performed in Dubai a couple of months ago, when the Radio 1 breakfast show caught up with you. What have you been up to ever since? Any new projects or new music?
Mark: Most of the summer I was on tour. We did a lot of summer festivals in the UK and Europe. We also toured in Australia this year. I’ve been back in the studio working on projects for next year. So it’s been a combination of playing at shows and making music – that’s really all I do!
Saif: Cool! This is your first performance in Abu Dhabi?
Mark: Well, I actually DJ’d at a party a few years ago during the Formula 1 at some bougie club (laughs). But this is definitely the first time I’m playing for a bigger community and I was excited to perform.
Saif: What’s performing with Labrinth at Green Grooves like? Had you guys met before or know each other?
Mark: Yeah I know Labrinth for a while. He’s been doing amazing in the UK for a while now. The first time I heard one of his productions was when he produced ‘Pass Out’ with Tinie Tempah. I don’t know him too well but I like him. He is talented.
Saif: Do you prefer DJ’ing in clubs or performing in concerts?
Mark: I like both. There’s something really amazing just performing in a sweaty club with 300 people, but to be honest the great thing about getting to play at outdoor concerts is when you catch a vibe with everyone in there. It’s really powerful; I love that!
Saif: We want to talk about your biggest song today, ‘Uptown Funk’ with Bruno Mars. At the moment you were recording the song with Bruno Mars, did you expect any of this to happen? Did you have an idea that this song was going to be as big as it is right now?
Mark: No, we had no idea. Nobody did. If this song has only gone number 1 for one week, it would have been the greatest thing ever. It would have been so exciting. The fact that it went on for two weeks at number 1 is amazing. I guess what’s cool is that it is a record we really loved; we put our heart and soul into the music that we love the most. It’s not that we were trying to make something commercial, we just wanted to make the kind of music that we wanted to listen to, and if we went up to a club, it’s what we would want to hear. It’s great that something came from an honest place and made this record with guys that I really love and respect. I am so grateful for all of this and I love the fact that whenever the song comes up people go nuts and feel happy.
Saif: That is absolutely true! When I first heard the record, I said the same thing to myself…that it sounds so different from any other record that we play on the radio. It’s just so unique and it has its own style and its own swag.
Mark: Yes. Thank you for playing it!
Saif: No problem. I’m pretty sure you have been in the studio with a lot of different artists including Bruno Mars. Who was your favourite person to work with?
Mark: Honestly, I couldn’t answer that question without getting myself in a lot of trouble.
Saif: (Laughs) I wanna get you in trouble. That’s why I asked you.
Mark: I know this sounds like a cop out answer but I really get a lot out of anyone I work with, whether it’s a new artist I’ve discovered making their first record, or someone who is as big as Bruno, Paul McCartney, Action Bronson or Chance The Rapper. It really doesn’t matter because I love being inspired by somebody in the studio – their ideas and energy when both of your ideas fuse to make something neither of you expected. I am really lucky that people that I’ve worked with are really special people.
Saif: How does it feel to be in the UAE?
Mark: I am super excited to come out and play for my UAE fans!
Listen to the full interview on www.soundcloud.com/saifandsound
===
Saif and Sound: The Quick Roundup
Talking with ‘Persian Pink Panther’ Maz Jobrani
Saif talked to standup comedian Maz Jobrani on his show on Radio 1. Also known as Persian Pink Panther, Iranian-American Jobrani is part of the “Axis of Evil” comedy group and has appeared on Comedy Central. Listen to the interview on www.soundcloud.com/saifandsound.
‘A Day in the Life of Saif’ by VKLYBEZ TV
Check out ‘A Day In The Life of Saif’ where Saif walks you through his daily routine as an entertainer. Shot by Vklybez in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the video covers Saif’s role as a media entrepreneur, a radio host, a DJ and an entertainer.
===
Catch Saif and Sound on RADIO 1 (100.5) for the latest in showbiz, movies, technology and more. Or party with Saif at Etoiles, Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi (Thursday), ‘Revival’ at People by Crystal, Abu Dhabi (Friday), ‘The Project’ at Sax Club, Abu Dhabi (Saturday) and La Terrasse, Radisson Blu, Downtown Dubai (Tuesday).
