Mark Ronson wants to produce country album

OHMYGOSSIP — Mark Ronson has admitted he is keen to produce a country after duo The Shires asked him whether he would be prepared to do so.

The 39-year-old musician has revealed he would consider working on a country and western record because he loves the genre, and he also didn’t rule out working with The Shires in the near future.

When asked on Chris Evans’ BBC Radio 2 show earlyer today (16.01.15) by the country/pop duo – who are made up of singer/songwriters Crissie Rhodes and Ben Earle – if he would ever consider producing a country album, he replied: “I actually love country and I really think you guys sound great … so yeah.

“Two great voices in harmony … nothing more immediate than that.”

Mark was impressed when The Shires played their new track ‘Friday Night’ on the radio show and threw an impromptu version of his latest single ‘Uptown Funk’ into the middle of their own song.

Following the rendition, he said: “That was awesome.”

Crissie said: “It was really exciting to be on Chris’ show this morning and chat to Mark, we are big fans.

“Ben cheekily asked him if he would ever produce a country act and he said he loved country music and that we sounded great, so you never know.”

Ben added: “We thought it would be fun to segue a cover of Mark’s ‘Uptown Funk’ in the middle of playing our new single ‘Friday Night’. Mark said it was ‘awesome’ so it seemed to go down well.”

What’s more, The Shires have become the first act to sign to the newly-revived Decca Nashville label, which was originally set up 80 years ago and was home to a host of country superstars including Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn.

The Shires’ new single ‘Friday Night’ and debut album ‘Brave’ will both be released on February 23.