Thursday, November 27, 2008

Ronson denies Amy 'anger' stories

By Georgie Rogers

Mark Ronson has denied reports that he is still angry with Amy Winehouse over their scrapped Bond theme.

Newspaper reports had claimed their relationship had soured after they dropped plans to produce a theme to Quantum of Solace.

But Ronson said the singer was still "a really good friend".

The producer added that the pair were currently trying to finish a cover version of Lesley Gore's You Don't Own Me for Quincy Jones.

"Basically it's a Quincy Jones record and he's got all sorts of different people doing songs that he either produced or wrote, kind of a tribute record.

"Hopefully we'll get that done."

The duo's much-rumoured Bond theme failed to materialise because Winehouse was not ready to make music, Ronson said in May.

Speaking about his current relationship with Winehouse, he told BBC 6 Music: "I haven't been in England in a while. I always go and see her when I'm there and I saw her about six weeks ago but I haven't spoken to her in a little while.

"She's a really good friend and I'm there for her."

'More grown up'

Ronson is currently in Australia gearing up for the Sydney and Brisbane leg of the Global Gathering festival, in which he appears with German electro pioneers Kraftwerk.

The Brit Award-winner has become one of the most in-demand pop producers over the last couple of years, working with the likes of Kaiser Chiefs, Christina Aguilera and Take That.

But he said he had been unable to team up with former collaborator Lily Allen for her second album, It's Not Me, It's You, which is due out next year.

"We didn't work together on this record but Lily's a great friend and I think she's one of the best melodic writers of her generation.

"I've heard a lot of the new record and I think it's great. She's somebody that fills a void in pop music.

"The way she sings and says things, and puts words together, that no one else does. I'm a huge fan of her, whether as a friend or not."

"I think it's more of a mature record," he added. "The first record was a lot of fun and it had a lot of influences of the things that she loved growing up, whether it was The Specials, Dizzee Rascal, a lot of reggae infused samples and things like that.

"It was closer to a hip-hop record in its spirit and I think this record is more grown up and melodically based. I think it's really good."

At present, Ronson is finishing his production duties on the Rumble Strips' album which is due out in March or April 2009.

He said he then plans to produce an LA band called The Light, before working with Slash on his solo record in February.

After that, Ronson hopes to start his next solo record - a follow-up to the 2007 covers album, Version.

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