Performing songs off their debut album, “Chasing the Reds,” Samantha Ronson and The Undertakers pleased the intimate crowd at the Malibu Inn last Wednesday night. The band’s set list, which included original songs such as “Captain Jack,” “Sometimes When You Win You Lose” and “Chasing The Reds,” showcased the band’s eclectic style. During the hour-long set, they performed multiple covers including a soulful rendition of Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe.”
Ronson was in good company on stage, supported by Charlie Paxson on drums, Jimmy Messer on lead guitar and Billy Moehler on base. The Undertakers’ incredible talent only further complimented Ronson’s vocal abilities. Though “Chasing the Reds” was released less than a year ago, each member has an extensive history in the music industry including performing with Kelly Clarkson and Enrique Iglesias.
When asked to describe her musical influences, Ronson said they include “everyone from Jay-Z to Foreigner.” Ronson’s wide range of musical influences is evident through the band’s collaboration with Wale on “Summer of Sam” and Slash in “Love Song.” While Slash recorded the guitar solo in “Love Song” for the album, Messer’s intoxicating performance Wednesday night rivaled Slash himself.
Ronson proved to be an engaging entertainer with dynamic stage presence, shown through her witty jokes onstage, and her comfort stepping offstage to sing with the crowd.
From a young age, Ronson’s love of music was fostered by her family. Her mother Ann Dexter-Jonas was a music executive and her older brother Mark Ronson is a DJ and music producer. Ronson is known best for her work as a DJ, spinning at high profile events such as the Superbowl, MTV Video Music Awards and the Sundance Film Festival.
While it may seem difficult to transition from spinning behind the turntables to performing live on stage, Ronson revealed that each allows her a unique way to express herself. As a successful DJ, Ronson knows exactly how to adapt to her audience by “playing what the kids want, not what I want to hear.”
However, when writing her own music, Ronson is liberated from the constraints of pleasing an audience and can say exactly what she feels. When asked which she preferred, DJ-ing or performing with her band, she revealed she started Dj-ing to pay for her band.
Furthermore, she explained that even though it is more profitable for her to DJ, above anything her passion is to be an entertainer regardless of whether she’s performing her own music or playing other artists’ music.
The music industry has evolved greatly and become much more competitive since Ronson broke through in the early 1990s. Early in her career, Ronson used actual vinyl records, whereas now the Internet has made it possible for anyone to access music. The rising trend of celebrities becoming DJs only proves Ronson’s frustration that “anyone with a bank account and a hard drive can now become a DJ” without needing to have any talent, such as Paris Hilton and Pauly D.
While details of Ronson’s personal life have been tabloid fodder over the past few years, there is much more to her than has been portrayed in gossip columns. What the tabloids fail to mention is that Ronson is an intelligent, college-educated businesswoman. She is an entrepreneur who started her own record label, Broken Toys, and partnered with Supra in 2010 to design limited edition Lil’ Red Skytop II sneakers.
Rather than seeking an education in music, Ronson attended New York University where she studied philosophy and literature. Ronson explained that she thinks “going to school to learn how to be a DJ is like going to school to win the lottery. You either have it or you don’t.”
Her advice for a Pepperdine student who may be aspiring to emerge in the competitive world of DJ-ing is “to never spend more on it than you will make.”
While there are certain skills that can be learned at schools such as the Scratch Academy in Los Angeles, Ronson believes that it is not worth it to spend a fortune on DJ-ing education since the industry is so competitive.
Samantha Ronson and The Undertakers will be performing Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 9:30 pm at the Malibu Inn.
To find out more about Samantha Ronson and The Undertakes, visit http://www.samantharonson.com/ or follow Samantha on Twitter @SamanthaRonson. “Chasing the Reds” is available now on iTunes.
