Mark Ronson released his single "Uptown Funk" featuring Bruno Mars on Monday, starting your work week with an old-school Motown-esque funky jam.
British DJ and producer Ronson's new album "Uptown Special" will be released on Jan. 26. Bruno Mars, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Michael Chabon and Kevin Parker (Tame Impala) worked with Ronson on the album, according to USA Today.
"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," the 39-year-old Ronson said, according to Digital Spy.
"Biggie, Chaka Khan, Amerie, Boz Scaggs, Missy, Earth Wind & Fire, N.O.R.E... Those songs would set alight the dance floor," Ronson explained, according to Digital Spy. "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," Ronson continued. "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."
Bruno Mars seems to be excited. He posted this message to "friends and family" on his webpage on Oct. 30:
"For the past year, my buddy Mark Ronson has been secretly working on his album. I had the privilege to hear some of the material early on and I was blown away!! Even though I was on the road I told him I had to be part of it. After countless sessions and sleepless nights, we somehow managed to write a couple tunes that I am so proud of and couldn't be more excited for you guys to hear. Sooooooooooo, with that being said, it gives me great pleasure to announce that the first single off his amazing project is coming out on November 10th. See you real soon, Brunz #UptownFunk"
Ronson and Mars will be the musical guests on Saturday Night Live on Nov. 22, according to SNL's Twitter account.
