Big on production

Studio whiz Mark Ronson delves into the tools of modern musicmaking with a who’s who of famous guests

Mark Ronson is best known for “Uptown Funk,” his hit single with Bruno Mars, but the producer’s fingerprints have been all over music in the 21st century. He’s won seven Grammy Awards and an Oscar for his work with artists such as Mars, Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga.

Now Ronson is providing a look at the process as the host of the Apple TV+ docuseries “Watch the Sound With Mark Ronson.” Each episode tackles a different piece of music technology: Auto-tune, sampling, reverb, synthesizers, drum machines and distortion.

Ronson mixes personal stories about the music of his childhood (his stepfather is Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones) and his working life as well as interviews and side trips, like the one Ronson takes to the Inchindown Oil Tanks in Scotland, home to the longest reverberation in any manmade structure.

The highlight for many fans, however, will be Ronson talking and making music with guests including Paul McCartney, Kevin Parker from Tame Impala, members of the Beastie Boys, ‘80s new wave icon Gary Numan (who seems surprised and flattered to get his historical due) and Gang Starr’s DJ Premier, a personal favorite of Ronson.

Ronson spoke about discussing synths with Parker, distortion with Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age, and the voice of John Lennon with both McCartney and Sean Ono Lennon.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

QWho is the audience for this? Are you looking to entertain casual music fans or inspire and educate musicians?

AOf course, I want the music fan — whether they like King Princess or The Beatles — to say, ‘Oh wow, so that’s how they did that.’ But I also really want musicians to say, ‘I’m

JOE PUGLIESE / COURTESY OF APPLE+ “Watch the Sound With Mark Ronson” covers music production tools from reverb to synthesizers.