Samantha Ronson

Samantha Judith Ronson, born on August 7, 1977, in Camden, London, England, grew up immersed in the music industry. Her mother, socialite Ann Dexter-Jones, and one-time music executive Laurence Ronson divorced when Samantha was six. She then moved to New York City with her mother and stepfather, Mick Jones of Foreigner, who influenced her early exposure to music. Ronson’s family also includes her older brother Mark Ronson, a music producer, and her fraternal twin sister Charlotte Ronson, a fashion designer. She attended the Chapin School and pursued creative writing and philosophy at New York University before her career in music began unexpectedly.

Ronson’s DJ career started by chance when she received a call from a club she frequented. She quickly gained recognition, becoming a full-time DJ known for spinning live at major events such as MTV’s New Year’s Eve show, the Super Bowl, Sundance Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, American Music Awards, and MTV Video Music Awards. She has performed at private events for numerous celebrities including Stevie Wonder, Jimmy Kimmel, Nicole Richie, and Jay-Z. Her versatility led to her becoming the first rock act signed to Roc-A-Fella Records. Although her initial album on Roc-A-Fella was unreleased, she did record four songs, including “Built This Way” which was featured in the film *Mean Girls* and “Pull My Hair Out” in *The Woodsman*.

In 2011, Ronson independently released her album *Chasing the Reds* on her own label, Broken Toy Records, showcasing her songwriting and drawing inspiration from personal experiences. This album featured collaborations with artists like Wale, Alex Greenwald, and Slash. Her career also expanded into fashion, with sneaker designs for Supra in 2009, 2010, and 2014, and an appearance in a 2011 campaign for Boy London. From 2016 onwards, Ronson has been a member of the band Ocean Park Standoff, alongside Pete Nappi and Ethan Thompson, releasing their debut single “Good News” and an EP through Hollywood Records in 2017.