Sometimes artists getting a chance to collaborate is because of sheer coincidence. Others times, the collaborations seem to be fated. For Mark Ronson and RAYE, it looks like both factors might have been in play. The two musicians have been in each other’s orbit in some way for a while. However, it took the two becoming brand ambassadors for luxury watch brand Audemars Piguet to finally bring them together to make musical magic for the brand’s AP x Music program. And the result of those sessions is the swanky new cut “Suzanne.”
Mark and co-producer Tommy Brenneck lay out a backdrop that’s lounge-y with elements of classic soul and jazz baked into the sound. Aiding in this is a full bass line played by Mark himself and a tight, brassy horn arrangement that transports us into a supper club at night as we settle in to listen to RAYE perform.
Speaking of RAYE, the singer paints the picture of a sophisticated lady whose beauty and demeanor demand everyone’s attention. RAYE describes her to a T on the verses, from her ocean blue eyes to her green-painted fingernails, drawing the audience into her allure. But it’s the chorus where she finally makes her play, singing, “Suzanne, I would love to hold you if I can / Suzanne, Suzanne / If you’d allow my left arm and my right arm to collide inside the small of your back / Just like that / Oh, Suzanne, how I need you / Ooh, you look so good tonight.”
Instead of a video that follows the song’s narrative, Mark and RAYE opt for a clip that includes footage of them creating the song in the studio. In addition to that, we also get moments of the two looking stylish as they go about their day separately thanks to set pieces that add a dramatic visual flair to the proceedings. Ultimately, though, the clip’s main focus is the song and the craft that went into it.
It’s safe to say that Mark Ronson and RAYE make beautiful music together. While “Suzanne” might be a one-off, we hope that these two find more time in the studio together soon. Listen to a stream of “Suzanne” right here and then scroll down to watch the song’s music video and a featurette from Audemars Piguet about the song’s creation.
