RAYE & Mark Ronson Team Up for New Song ‘Suzanne’
The collaboration comes as part of the pair’s roles as Audemars Piguet brand ambassadors.
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There’s always a slight trepidation when artists come together for a sponsored collaboration. Are they doing it for love or the money? In reality, probably both, but that doesn’t mean they can’t create magic.
British songstress RAYE and producer Mark Ronson, who both serve as ambassadors for luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet, were brought together to write a song to celebrate the brand’s 150th anniversary.
‘Suzane’ was co-written by RAYE and Ronson alongside Tommy Brenneck and Eric Hagstrom. The song itself is everything you could want from the duo, with RAYE’s powerful vocals soaring over Ronson’s jazzy production.
It’s very much in the vein of Ronson’s work with Amy Winehouse, with RAYE also possessing a rich and identifiable voice.
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“I’ve admired RAYE’s artistry for years now, watching her evolution from songwriter to the powerhouse artist she’s become. When Audemars Piguet brought us together through their APxMusic program, it felt like the stars were aligning at exactly the right moment,” Ronson says.
“This collaboration isn’t just another project – it’s something we’ve poured ourselves into completely…all night tracking sessions in London, New York and Los Angeles. The music we’ve created together carries both our musical DNA but takes us somewhere neither of us would have reached alone.”
RAYE adds: “Everything about how this song came to exist, and this moment with Mark and AP, feels meant to be. I used to work in Mark Ronson’s London studio when I was a baby artist focusing on my songwriting craft, and always dreamed of the day I could one day work with the musical genius that is Ronson.
“From the feeling in my heart that the song should be called ‘Suzanne’ within minutes of hearing the music Mark created, to learning of Suzanne Audemars and the joy I feel in my bones whenever I play this song in my headphones, the overwhelming consensus of emotions is gratitude and pride.”
This won’t be a one-off, with RAYE and Ronson also collaborating on another song called ‘Grandma Calls The Boy Bad News’, which is set to be featured on the soundtrack for Brad Pitt’s upcoming movie F1.
‘Suzanne’ by RAYE and Mark Ronson is out now via Sony Music UK/RCA Records.
